Spain expects about 100 million visitors in 2026

Spain is moving toward another record tourism year, with official data showing international arrivals kept rising through May and industry forecasts pointing to roughly 100 million foreign visitors in 2026. Spain received 36.8 million international tourists in the first five months of the year, up 5.0% from the same period in 2025, according to the National Statistics Institute, or INE. In May alone, arrivals reached 10.3 million, a 9.5% annual increase. Those figures have reinforced forecasts from the government and travel industry that Spain could approach or surpass the 100 million mark this year. ### How strong has Spain’s 2026 tourism start been? INE said on July 2 that Spain logged more than 36.8 million international visitors between January and May, the highest opening five-month period on record in the current series. The same release said the United Kingdom remained the largest source market in May, with almost 2.2 million visitors, followed by France and Germany at about 1.3 million each. May’s 10.3 million arrivals matter because they came before the peak summer stretch. EFE reported on July 6 that Spain expects 43 million international tourists between June and September, up 6% from the same period of 2025, based on figures released by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. ### Where does the 100 million figure come from? Jordi Hereu, Spain’s industry and tourism minister, has repeatedly described 2026 as a record season in the making. Europa Press reported on July 6 that Hereu said Spain expected 43 million foreign tourists this summer and 64 billion euros in spending over the June-September period. EFE reported on June 20 that Spain could exceed 100 million international tourists in 2026, citing an Oxford Economics estimate that stronger demand, shifts away from Middle East destinations and a tendency for Europeans to stay closer to home this summer could support the increase. That estimate has circulated alongside official monthly arrivals data rather than replacing them. ### Why is Spain still trying to spread visitors out? SEGITTUR, the state-backed tourism innovation agency working with Spain’s Secretariat of State for Tourism, says its “Smart Tourism Destinations” model is designed to promote sustainable tourism development while improving residents’ quality of life. The agency says the model is based on governance, technology, sustainability and accessibility. The same policy effort includes the Smart Destinations Platform, which SEGITTUR says is meant to help destinations, businesses, tourists and residents manage pressures tied to sustainability, digitalization, territorial planning and local economic development. Spain has also promoted tourism experiences in rural areas and in primary-sector regions through its destination network, according to SEGITTUR. ### Is Spain trying to curb tourism growth? Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, said in July 2025 that the country was expecting more than 100 million tourists that year and described Spain as “safe, open and tolerant,” according to Europa Press. At the same time, Spanish officials have increasingly framed policy around managing where tourism goes and how destinations absorb it, rather than around reducing demand outright. That approach reflects the pressure on Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and other high-traffic destinations during peak periods. Government-backed destination programs have focused on steering demand toward less-congested areas, including inland and rural destinations, while using digital tools to manage flows and services. ### What should readers watch next? INE’s next FRONTUR release will show Spain’s June 2026 international arrival figures and give a clearer reading on whether the country is tracking toward 100 million visitors. The summer data will also test the Ministry of Industry and Tourism’s forecast for 43 million foreign tourists between June and September.