Spain received 58.1 million international tourists from January to July 2026, marking a 4.6% rise compared with the same period in 2025, according to data from the Spain National Statistics Institute (INE). Tourism revenues reached €82.05 billion during these seven months, reflecting a 7.8% increase year-on-year.
In July 2026 alone, Spain recorded 11.5 million international arrivals, up 4.6% from July 2025. Visitor spending surged 10.9% to €18.22 billion over the same month, with accommodation expenses representing 19.8% of total visitor expenditure, followed by package holidays at 19.3% and international transport at 19.2%.
Source Markets and Visitor Growth
The United Kingdom remained Spain’s largest source market,
contributing 11.5 million tourists from January through July 2026, a 4.6% increase. France was second with over 7.2 million visitors, growing 1.2%. Germany provided approximately 6.9 million visitors but declined slightly by 0.5%. Italy experienced the strongest growth among the major source countries, with 3.5 million visitors representing a 10.3% rise.
Visitors from other countries increased by 16.9% to 717,000 arrivals, with spending rising 24.5%. In July, British visitors numbered 2.2 million, a 5.6% increase year-on-year, contributing €3.04 billion in spending, up 4.8% over the previous July.
Regional Visitor Distribution
Catalonia was Spain’s most visited autonomous community for January to July 2026 with
11.94 million visitors, a 2.9% increase. The Balearic Islands hosted 9.16 million visitors, up 1.8%. The Canary Islands attracted 9.02 million tourists but declined slightly by 0.6% from 2025.
Andalusia matched the Canary Islands’ visitor count at 9.02 million but showed stronger growth of 8.2%. Madrid’s arrivals expanded 9.6%, and the Valencian Community grew by 8.9% in the seven-month period. In July, Valencia welcomed 1.63 million tourists (+9.5%) and Madrid 800,000 (+11%).
Tourism Milestones and Forecast
Spain set a new record in 2025 by hosting 96.8 million international tourists. Rising tourist arrivals in 2026 have positioned Spain to surpass the 100 million visitor mark
this year if current growth rates continue. Spain would need a 3.3% increase to achieve this, while arrivals are currently up 4.6% over the first seven months.
A Deloitte and Google study projects Spain could become the world’s most visited country by 2040 with approximately 110 million tourists annually, surpassing France, which hosted 102 million visitors in 2025. Despite receiving fewer tourists, Spain generated €134.7 billion in international tourism revenue in 2025, far exceeding France’s €77.5 billion.
Visitor Expenditure and Travel Patterns
The most common length of stay among international visitors was between four and seven nights, accounting for 5.7 million travelers, up 8.7% year-on-year.
Package holiday travelers in July 2026 numbered nearly 3.1 million, while independent travelers totaled approximately 8.5 million.
Official Comments and Strategic Approach
Spain’s Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu promotes a strategy of “calm growth” that focuses on increasing the economic value of tourism while spreading visitors geographically and seasonally. He aims to boost inland, cultural, gastronomic, and nature tourism to manage the sector’s expansion sustainably.
Deloitte and Google noted their forecasts are intended to “help travel operators and distributors anticipate and adapt to future trends.” Spain’s tourism growth remains one of the fastest among major European destinations, with revenues increasing at a rate exceeding that of
visitor growth.
European and Global Tourism Outlook
Spain’s arrival figures in the first seven months of 2026 strengthen its position as a leading global tourist destination. The country is rapidly closing the gap with France, currently the world’s most visited country. Strong tourism spending and rising visitor numbers indicate ongoing expansion, underscoring Spain’s appeal as a premier European destination.
