International arrivals rose 9.2% in August to 12.26 million, with the United States, Italy and Switzerland among the markets recording strong growth. Andalucía led gains among Spain’s major destinations.
Spain welcomed 70.36 million international tourists between January and August 2026, an increase of 5.4% year on year, as visitor arrivals accelerated in August, according to figures attributed to the country’s National Statistics Institute (INE).
International arrivals reached 12.26 million in August, up 9.2% compared with the same month in 2025. The increase exceeded the 2.9% annual growth reported for August last year, pointing to stronger summer demand across several source markets.
The United Kingdom remained Spain’s largest source market in August, contributing 2.41 million visitors, up 9.3% year on year. France ranked second with 2.06 million arrivals, an increase of 2.1%, while Germany accounted for approximately 1.36 million visitors, up 4.5%.
Other European markets also delivered growth. Arrivals from Italy increased 10.6% to 893,562, while Portugal contributed 676,376 visitors, up 3.7%. Switzerland recorded particularly strong growth, with arrivals rising 29.3% to 249,032.
Demand from outside Europe strengthened further. Visitors from the United States increased 31.9% to 481,911, while arrivals from the rest of the Americas rose 14.1% to 550,334. Visitors grouped under the rest-of-world category increased 16% to 701,361.
Accommodation and travel patterns
Commercial accommodation, including hotels and rented properties, accounted for 10.19 million international tourists in August, up 7.8% year on year. Hotels received 8.04 million visitors, an increase of 6.6%, while rental housing recorded 1.5 million, up 13.7%.
Non-market accommodation, including stays in private holiday homes and with friends or relatives, accounted for 2.05 million visitors, an increase of 16.3%. Stays in visitors’ own holiday homes rose 15.6%, while visits involving accommodation with family or friends increased 13%.
Independent travel remained the more common option. Nearly 9.2 million tourists travelled without a package tour in August, up 9.3%, while approximately 3.1 million travelled on package holidays, an increase of 8.8%. Stays of four to seven nights remained the most common duration, accounting for more than 5.8 million visitors.
Balearic Islands lead August arrivals
The Balearic Islands remained Spain’s leading destination in August, attracting 2.5 million international tourists, equivalent to 21.2% of the national total. Cataluña followed with 2.3 million visitors, or 19.4%, while Andalucía received 2 million, accounting for 16.8%.
Andalucía recorded the strongest growth among these three destinations, with arrivals increasing 21.3% year on year. Cataluña rose 9.1%, while the Balearic Islands registered more moderate growth of 2.6%.
The Valencian Community welcomed 1.6 million international tourists, up 9.4%, while the Canary Islands recorded 1.2 million, a marginal increase of 0.3%. Madrid received 776,867 visitors, up 13.2%.
Cataluña leads year-to-date arrivals
For the January–August period, Cataluña remained Spain’s most visited autonomous community, welcoming 14.3 million international tourists, up 3.9% year on year. The Balearic Islands followed with 11.7 million arrivals, an increase of 2%, while Andalucía recorded 11.08 million, up 10.4%.
The Valencian Community received 9.3 million visitors, an increase of 9%, and the Canary Islands welcomed 10.2 million, down 0.5%. Madrid recorded 6.5 million international tourists, up 10%.
The figures indicate that Spain’s tourism growth is being supported by a broad mix of European and long-haul markets, alongside stronger performance in several mainland destinations. August’s increase in arrivals, particularly from the United States and selected European markets, reinforced the country’s positive year-to-date trend.
