Madrid generated €10 billion (£8.5 billion) in international tourist spending during the first six months of 2026, marking an 11.4% rise over the same period in 2025 when it recorded €8.9 billion (£7.6 billion). Aligning with this increase, the Madrid City Council reported a 4.1% year-on-year growth in visitors, exceeding 5.6 million arrivals between January and June 2026.
Domestic visitors and overseas tourists comprised the total visitor count, with international travelers representing 59%. Among key foreign markets, the United States led with 567,158 recorded visitors, followed by Italy with 228,576 and the United Kingdom with 180,463 in the first half
of the year. Madrid also registered approximately 11.9 million overnight stays during this period. The tourism sector saw employment rise by over 5% in 2026, according to Madrid’s City Council.
Measures to Address Overtourism Challenges
The Museo del Prado implemented a maximum group size limit in January 2026 to combat visitor overcrowding, after a peak in attendance the previous year. Prado director Miguel Falomir stated, “the Prado doesn’t need a single visitor more,” signaling concern over managing the museum’s capacity amid growing tourist numbers.
Protests and Government Response to Tourism Pressures
Despite Madrid’s rising tourism figures, overtourism has prompted public dissent in other parts of Spain. On 26 July 2026, the Mallorca-based
protest group Menys Turisme, Mes Vida organized demonstrations against mass tourism, citing an “unprecedented housing crisis and a progressive decline in living conditions” for residents due to holiday lettings.
In response, the Spanish government announced in April 2026 a plan to triple investment in public housing aimed at mitigating adverse effects linked to holiday rental markets. Madrid City Councillor Almudena Maíllo emphasized tourism’s role as “an engine of development for the city, generating economic activity in neighbourhoods and creating stable employment for thousands of Madrid residents,” adding that “every euro spent by visitors benefits the city and the services enjoyed
by Madrid residents.”
