Spain’s Tourism Boom Hits New Records: What It Means for Residents in 2026

Spain is on track for another record-breaking tourism year, with close to 100 million foreign visitors and rising spending reshaping life in many regions in 2026. The boom brings jobs and investment, but also puts pressure on housing, prices and public services in the most popular areas.

Record visitor numbers and spending

Official figures for January to November 2025 already show that Spain has surpassed its pre-pandemic highs for international arrivals. By the time December is added, the total number of foreign tourists is expected to be around the 100 million mark, setting a new record.

Tourist spending is growing even faster than visitor numbers. Foreign visitors have spent well over one hundred billion euros in Spain over the last year, helped by more long-haul travel, city breaks and higher average daily spend. For businesses in hospitality, retail and transport, this is a major boost.

Where tourism is growing fastest

The United Kingdom remains Spain’s largest source of foreign visitors, followed closely by France and Germany, but arrivals from the United States and other non-EU countries are expanding quickly. This mix is helping to spread demand across both traditional resorts and major cities.

The Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Andalucía, Catalonia and the Valencian Community are all hitting or approaching new tourism records. Regions such as Valencia and Murcia report their best ever international visitor numbers, confirming that the boom is not limited to one or two destinations.

Pressure on housing, rentals and prices

One side-effect of the tourism surge is extra pressure on local housing markets, especially in coastal cities, islands and historic centres. Hotels are fuller for more of the year, and demand for short-term holiday rentals continues to grow.

Residents and expats in popular areas report higher rents, more competition for long-term accommodation and a shift towards year-round tourist use of central neighbourhoods. This can make it harder for local workers and families to find affordable housing close to jobs and schools.

Crowds, seasonality and everyday life

Spain has successfully promoted travel outside the traditional July and August peak, so heavy visitor flows now extend well into spring and autumn. Shoulder months that used to be relatively quiet are now busy with city breaks, sports events and cultural tourism.

For people living in Spain, that means busier streets, public transport and beaches in months that once offered breathing space. Local services such as waste collection, water supply and healthcare can face extra strain, particularly in smaller municipalities whose infrastructure was not designed for constant high-season demand.

How authorities are responding in 2026

National and regional governments are reacting to overtourism concerns with new measures. These include higher or expanded tourist taxes in some destinations, tighter rules for holiday rental licences and stricter enforcement against unregistered tourist accommodation.

Many town halls are looking at ways to direct extra visitor income into infrastructure, environmental protection and local services. In cities such as Barcelona and Valencia, authorities are also working to limit the spread of tourist apartments in central districts to protect residential housing stock.

What this means for residents and expats

For residents and expats, the tourism boom is a double-edged sword. On the positive side, it supports jobs, business opportunities and year-round services, making many communities more vibrant and economically resilient.

On the other hand, it contributes to higher living costs, crowded public spaces and tighter regulation of rentals and visitor behaviour. In 2026, people living in Spain can expect more debate about how many tourists popular areas can realistically absorb, and more local rules designed to keep the balance between a strong tourism economy and quality of life for those who call Spain home all year round.