At the centre of the celebration is PRIMADA, a landmark exhibition taking place inside the Cathedral from May to October 2026, presenting more than 350 masterpieces spanning paintings, sculpture, codices and liturgical objects. The exhibition route will cover over 2,000 square metres through key spaces of the Cathedral and will include works by El Greco, Velázquez, Zurbarán, Bellini and others, drawn from more than fifty public and private collections.

A major component of the anniversary will be a comprehensive programme of restoration works designed to preserve and enhance the Cathedral’s artistic legacy for future generations. Key projects include the restoration of El Transparente, the Juan de Borgoña paintings, medieval stained glass, sculptures and liturgical ornaments in the Cathedral. Additionally, the conservation of the historic realejo organs and choir carillons will represent an investment of €60,000 across four months.

The Jubilee Year will also introduce a range of accessibility and cultural initiatives, including a partnership with ONCE to ensure accessible routes for the Cathedral’s Lúmina experience and a new Cathedral Youth Orchestra, reflecting the celebration’s commitment to community engagement. In addition, the International Musicology Symposium, scheduled from 8 to 10 October 2026, will bring together leading scholars to explore the Cathedral’s musical heritage.

The Jubilee will officially open on 25 October 2026 with the ceremonial opening of the Puerta de Reyes, followed by a rich calendar and underscoring the Cathedral’s enduring role as a centre of spirituality and culture within Spanish history.

For more information on Spain as a tourist destination, visit https://www.spain.info/en/

For all press enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor on Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or the Spanish Tourist Office’s PR agency LOTUS on spain@wearelotus.co.uk

On 17 February, the Spanish Tourist Office (UK) held a Virtual Media Briefing for UK media, revealing tourism travel trends that point to a more sustainable future for British tourism to Spain. The session, led by Spanish Tourist Office Director Manuel Butler, highlighted two major developments: a clear redistribution of visitor flows beyond the traditional summer peak, and a significant rise in demand for Spain’s northern regions.

UK travellers embrace shoulder seasons, easing pressure on summer peaks:

Spain welcomed 19.1 million UK visitors in 2025, continuing its leading position as an overseas destination for British holidaymakers. But rather than returning to pre‑pandemic patterns, visitor behaviour is evolving in a way that supports a more balanced and sustainable model of tourism. Growth across the year was increasingly concentrated in spring and autumn, while the previously dominant July to August peak stabilised.  

Between January and May 2025, UK arrivals outpaced both 2024 and 2019 levels, with end of year also surging as October to December 2025 recorded double‑digit growth on pre‑pandemic figures, confirming that travellers are travelling to Spain during its cooler, quieter months. Meanwhile, the June to September period remained flat compared to 2019, signalling reduced use of local infrastructures during the hottest and busiest months.

In accommodation trends, hotel overnight stays by British travellers climbed above both 2024 and 2019 benchmarks, but again, the strongest momentum came from visits outside the peak season.

Green Spain leads demand for nature‑rich, low‑impact travel:

The briefing highlighted a second major shift: a surge in British interest in Green Spain, the northern stretch of the peninsula across Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country. Known for its Atlantic coastline, forests and mountainous landscapes, the region offers a distinctly slower and more nature‑focused experience, aligning closely with growing UK demand for sustainable and outdoor‑focused travel.

Several destinations recorded remarkable growth, exceeding the national average, as Galicia saw visitors soar by +47.4%, while the Basque Country also reported a major uplift to +40.1%, attracting significantly more travellers seeking food, culture and coastal scenery. Asturias, celebrated for its national parks and wildlife, continued its upward trajectory with solid growth of +18.7%.  

This growing preference for cooler, greener destinations contrasts with the flatter trends in long‑established sun regions such as the Balearic Islands (-0.5%), Catalonia (-1.5%) and Madrid (-3.9%), suggesting a rebalancing of UK demand towards trips with lower environmental impact and a deeper connection to nature.

Under‑the‑radar regions benefit from the sustainability shift:

Alongside the north, several inland and lesser‑known regions also benefitted from shifting travel habits. Aragón recorded the fastest growth of any Spanish region in 2025, with British arrivals surging +167.9%, while the Region of Murcia continued to build momentum up 19% year‑on‑year in UK visitors.

For more information on Spain as a tourist destination, visit https://www.spain.info/en/

For all press enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor on Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or the Spanish Tourist Office’s PR agency LOTUS on spain@wearelotus.co.uk

Spain’s luxury tourist train, Al Andalus, is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary with an exciting new route that brings Madrid into the spotlight. Starting in 2026, the Spanish capital will mark either the starting point or the end destination of this exclusive journey for the very first time.

The updated itinerary will preserve the train’s signature format of seven days and six nights, offering travellers an experience of elegance and comfort. In addition to its classic Andalusian stops, the route will expand to include destinations in Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, and the Community of Madrid, creating a richer and more diverse exploration of the region.

This new chapter for Al Andalus reinforces its status as one of Europe’s most luxurious trainlines, combining exceptional service with a curated journey through Spain’s most captivating destinations.

Ahead of travelling to Spain and its islands, visitors should check the requirements of the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) which is gradually being implemented across the destination: 

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees  

For all press enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor on Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or the Spanish Tourist Office’s PR agency LOTUS on spain@wearelotus.co.uk

Spain is set to take centre stage in global sports tourism with two landmark events that will attract thousands of international visitors and reinforce the country’s reputation as a top destination for sports enthusiasts.

Madrid Formula 1 Grand Prix

From 2026, the Spanish Grand Prix will move to Madrid following a historic agreement with IFEMA MADRID. The all-new circuit will combine street and non-street sections, stretching 5.47km with 20 corners and a projected daily capacity of over 110,000 fans. Located just five minutes from Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport, the venue will be one of the most accessible on the Formula 1 calendar, with direct connections via Metro, train, and city lines. This development marks a new era for motorsport in Spain, promising world-class racing and an unforgettable fan experience.

Tour de France in Barcelona

Meanwhile, Barcelona will make history in July 2026 as the official starting point of the Tour de France, the world’s most elite cycling event. While the city has featured in the competition before, but never as the starting point, it’s an honour that underlines Catalonia’s passion for cycling and its focus on sustainable mobility. On 4 July, the opening stage will take off from Fòrum and finish at Estadi Olímpic, while on 5 July the second stage will commence at Rambla Nova, Tarragona, and conclude at Estadi Olímpic. By hosting this historic event, Barcelona solidifies its role as a premier sports destination and an attractive choice for international tourism.

Ahead of travelling to Spain and its islands, visitors should check the requirements of the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) which is gradually being implemented across the destination:

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees

For all press enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor on Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or the Spanish Tourist Office’s PR agency LOTUS on spain@wearelotus.co.uk

The Spanish Tourist Office is attending World Travel Market in London from 4th to 6th November 2025.

Spain will be focusing on its sustainable tourism strategy which places emphasis on seasonal and geographical diversification as well as economic, social, and environmental sustainability. 

EVENTS

THE SPANISH TOURIST OFFICE (STO) IN UK

Stand Number: N6-210

The Spanish Tourist Office (STO) in the UK is the official representation of Turespaña working to promote Spain as a leading destination among British travellers through strategic partnerships, media relations, trade engagement, and consumer marketing. Spain's tourism strategy focuses on geographical and seasonal diversification and the new campaign “Think you know Spain, think again” encourages visitors to venture into lesser-known areas and second cities.

MEETING WITH THE MAYOR'S OF SPAIN'S NETWORK OF TOURISM MUNICIPALITIES (ALIANZA DE MUNICIPIOS TURÍSTICOS)

Stand Number: N6-210

Date & Time: Tuesday 4th November at 11:45am - 12:15pm

Theme: This discussion will bring together the mayors from Spain’s most popular tourism destinations to discuss practical and actionable solutions for improving social sustainability within the tourism sector.

Note – this discussion will be in Spanish and therefore is suitable for Spanish speaking media and delegates.

To register your interest, please email jessica.harvey@tourspain.es. 

Note – if you are a non-Spanish speaker but would like to receive the summary of this discussion, please use the same email.

SPAIN’S SECRETARY OF STATE TO PRESENT ‘SPAIN’S TOURISM AGENDA 2030’

Location: Stand (N6-210)

Date & Time: Wednesday 5th November at 10:30am – 11:10am

Spain’s Secretary of State for Tourism will provide an update on the recently approved ‘Spain Tourism Agenda 2030’, a bold national plan that places sustainability, climate action, and economic growth at the heart of Spain’s future as tourism destination.

Following this, the Spanish Tourist Office (UK) will present its ‘Stay Longer, Discover More’ campaign, encouraging visitors to embrace slow travel and explore Spain’s lesser-known regions.

Places for these presentations are limited and available to relevant travel media.

Please register interest via Spain@wearelotus.co.uk.

THE WANDERLUST SPAIN AWARDS

Stand Number: N6-210

Date & Time: Wednesday 5^th November at 11:30am - 12:00pm

The Spanish Tourist Office (UK) will host an on-stand awards ceremony in collaboration with Wanderlust Magazine to celebrate the most sustainable tour operators to Spain. Places are limited and are available for relevant travel trade and /or media that sell holidays to Spain a/o write about the destination.

Please register interest via Spain@wearelotus.co.uk

INTERVIEWS

Very limited interview opportunities for Spain’s tourism heads are available for UK national newspapers and broadcast. Please email: spain@wearelotus.co.uk

For more information on Spain as a tourism destination, please visit www.spain.info

@Spain_inUK / Spain on Facebook.

For all enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor at the Spanish Tourist Office on 0207 317 2020 / Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or the Spanish Tourist Office’s PR agency LOTUS on spain@wearelotus.co.uk

From 30 May to 2 June, Madrid will be abuzz with some of the city’s most recognised spots acting as epicentres for the football frenzy. The opening ceremony will take place in Puerta de Sol, the city’s most central square, where the main stage will be set up. Over the course of the four-day festival DJ’s, bands and local performers will take centre stage to entertain the travelling fans.

Madrid’s Plaza Mayor, just a short five minute walk from Puerta de Sol, will welcome the UEFA Champions Pitch where a number of different activities will take place. Fans should look out for the UEFA Ultimate Champions Tournament which will see Champions League legends take part in a five-a-side tournament. Many of the other activities taking place are centred on UEFA’s #EqualGame campaign and will include an amputee football match where fans have the opportunity to take blindfolded penalties and play on crutches as well as exhibition games involving the Homeless World Cup and European Powerchair Football Association.

Visiting fans have an array of activities at their leisure such as a visit to the UEFA Royal House of Football, meeting UEFA Champions League stars at ambassador autograph sessions, have their photo taken with the trophy or visit the UEFA Champions League Superstore in Plaza del Callao.

For visitors lucky enough to have a ticket to the big game, the extensive festival activities will take place just a 45 minute Metro ride from the Wanda Metropolitano stadium. The 68,000 seater stadium reopened in 2017 has become one of the most modern in Europe with 900 high-resolution screens and an innovative 100% LED lighting system that will make the game and historic trophy lift a spectacle to behold.