Madrid’s tourism revenue reached €10 billion (£8.5 billion) in the first half of 2026, marking an 11.4 per cent rise from €8.9 billion (£7.6 billion) recorded during the same period in 2025, according to Spain’s National Statistics Institute. The increase coincided with 5.6 million visitors and 11.9 million overnight stays reported by Madrid City Council.
Visitor origins and growth
International tourists made up 59 per cent of the total visitors to Madrid. The United States was the largest foreign market with 567,158 visitors registered in the first six months of 2026. Tourism from Italy and the United Kingdom also grew, with 228,576 and 180,463
visitors respectively, exceeding the figures from 2025.
Official assessments of tourism’s role
Almudena Maíllo, Madrid’s tourism city councillor, described the city’s rising tourism figures as a reflection of “the enormous appeal that Madrid has cultivated, both nationally and internationally.” Maíllo called tourism “an engine of development for the city, generating economic activity in neighbourhoods and creating stable employment for thousands of Madrid residents.” She added, “Every euro spent by visitors benefits the city and the services enjoyed by Madrid residents.” Employment within Madrid’s tourism sector increased by more than 5 per cent during 2026 so far.
Measures and challenges linked to overtourism
To manage overcrowding, the Museo del Prado introduced caps
on visitor group sizes starting January 2026, addressing last year’s peak attendance. Museo del Prado director Miguel Falomir stated, “the Prado doesn’t need a single visitor more.” Meanwhile, overtourism concerns continued in other parts of Spain. On 26 July 2026, protests took place in Mallorca against the negative effects of mass tourism on housing availability and living conditions.
In response to housing pressures attributed to the increased popularity of holiday rentals, the Spanish government announced a plan in April 2026 to triple its investment in public housing nationwide.
