Spain welcomed a record 80,502,143 international tourists between January and September 2026, up 5.2 percent on the same period last year, according to figures published by the National Statistics Institute (INE) on 4 November. The headline figure counts overnight tourists only; day visitors and transit passengers are excluded.

Spending grew even faster than arrivals. International tourists spent €114.38 billion in the first nine months, up 8 percent year on year, INE's Tourist Expenditure Survey (EGATUR) found. September alone brought 10,139,650 visitors, up 4.3 percent, who spent €14.49 billion, up 8.1 percent. The average visitor spent €1,429 in September, or €212 a day.

The United Kingdom remained Spain's biggest source market, sending 16,158,336 visitors in the nine months, up 5.6 percent. France followed with 10,332,305, up 1.1 percent, while Germany sent 9,486,867, down 0.4 percent. Visitors from the United States rose 11 percent to 4,554,163, and arrivals from Italy grew 9.9 percent to about 4.96 million.

Aiming for 100 million visitors

Catalonia was the most visited region, with 16,429,628 international tourists, up 4 percent, followed by the Balearic Islands with 13,950,805 and Andalusia with 12,630,581, up 9.8 percent. Catalonia also led on spending, taking 18.9 percent of the national total.

Spain set a full-year record of 96.8 million international arrivals in 2025. With 80.5 million already recorded by the end of September, the country would need about 19.5 million more visitors in the final three months to reach 100 million for the first time. The World Travel & Tourism Council forecasts travel and tourism will contribute more than €269 billion to the Spanish economy in 2026.