Madrid experienced its best September for tourism, with 942,642 guests staying in hotels, representing a 7.6% increase compared to the same month in 2025. Overnight stays reached 1,965,259, an 8.5% rise, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). This month, the city hosted the Spanish Grand Prix of Formula 1 and concerts as part of Shakira's musical residency.
International tourism accounted for 1,356,230 overnight stays, an 8.8% increase from September 2025, with 597,488 visitors, up 9.3%. Japan saw the highest percentage growth in visitors at 35.3%, followed by the United Kingdom at 25.2%, and Mexico at 22%. The United States remains the top source market, contributing 109,128 visitors, a 10.4% increase.
Domestic visitors also rose by 4.8%, with overnight stays increasing by 7.7%. The Balearic Islands (+25.9%) and the Valencian Community (+22.3%) were the standout regions for domestic tourism. The hotel sector reported its highest employment figures, with 15,863 workers, marking a significant 8.5% increase from the previous year.
Overall, the growth in overnight stays in Madrid outpaced the national average in Spain, which stood at just 1.7%. Almudena Maíllo, the city’s Councillor for Tourism, emphasised the importance of distributing tourism offerings throughout the year to attract high-value markets. She noted that Madrid demonstrated impressive organisational capacity with the Formula 1 event and concerts, generating considerable economic activity for the city.
In September, the United States continued to lead international markets with 109,128 visitors and 253,081 overnight stays, reflecting increases of 10.4% and 9.9%, respectively. The United Kingdom followed, with a 25.2% rise in visitors and a 26.8% increase in overnight stays, while Mexico reported a 22% increase in visitors and 21.8% in overnight stays. The Asian market also performed well, with Japan seeing a 35.3% rise in visitors and a 33.5% increase in overnight stays, while China recorded increases of 16.1% and 11.9%, respectively.
Among domestic markets, the Balearic Islands reported a 25.9% increase in visitors and a 31.7% rise in overnight stays, while the Valencian Community added 34,714 visitors, a 22.3% increase, and 55,399 overnight stays, up 20%. The hotel sector achieved its highest employment figures in history in September, with 15,863 workers, reflecting an 8.5% increase compared to September 2025.
The Spanish Grand Prix of Formula 1 generated an economic impact of €545 million in Madrid, nearly €100 million more than initially projected, and created 11,000 jobs. Meanwhile, Shakira's musical residency contributed an economic impact of €400 million to the city.
