FITUR Wraps Up Record Breaking Year
Madrid´s most important trade fair, FITUR,wrapped up with a record-breaking year.
According to organisers, IFEMA MADRID, by the time the flagship international travel fair had finished some 255,000 visitors had passed through its doors over the 5 day duration.
More than 10,000 companies from 161 countries were represented, on top of the 967 main exhibitors. The economic impact of FITUR 2026 on Madrid reached €505 million, while supporting the maintenance of 3,753 jobs, confirming the fair’s position as one of the region’s most significant international events of the year and a key contributor to economic and tourism activity.
According to UN Tourism, international tourist arrivals worldwide exceeded 1.5 billion, while Spain welcomed 97 million international tourists, according to data from the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.
The 46th edition opened on Wednesday 21 January with a minute of silence, reflecting the tourism sector’s solidarity with the victims of recent railway accidents. The gesture was echoed during the official opening on Thursday 22 January, when Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain signed the book of condolences at the Andalucía stand.
The strong attendance translated into intense activity across the nine exhibition halls, where destinations, companies and institutions from around the world showcased new products, strategies and projects.
During the professional days, the Knowledge Hub emerged as one of the fair’s central pillars, featuring eight auditoriums, ten conference programs, more than 200 sessions and over 250 speakers.
