A 2026 full of plans enticing you to visit Spain

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There are always millions of reasons to visit Spain. But if you're looking for a little extra motivation, here's a selection of reasons unique to the year 2026 - take your pick!

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Rosalia concert © Ben Houdijks / Shutterstock

Live music

The concert calendar of international artists is packed. You choose!- Top in 2026The urban rhythms of Nathy Peluso will come to Barcelona and Madrid on 14 and 17 February, respectively. In addition, several legendary rock bands will be performing on our stages. Europe will play at Barcelona's Palau Sant Jordi on 2 May; Rod Stewart will perform in Valencia on 30 June; Deep Purple are playing several cities in July; and Marilyn Manson will perform at Seville's Plaza de España on 6 July.On 10 and 11 July, Bruno Mars will visit the Spanish capital as part of his tour 'The Romantic Tour 2026'. Bad Bunny will break all records by performing 10 concerts at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid and two more at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona in May and June. The Weeknd are performing four shows in both stadiums, from 28 August to 1 September. The guitar skills of Eric Clapton can be enjoyed on 7 May in Madrid and 10 May in Barcelona. And if you like classical music, you can be thrilled by the melodies of Hans Zimmer in Valencia, Barcelona and Madrid at the end of May, and by André Rieu in late January in these cities and in Malaga.But one of the biggest musical hits is undoubtedly Spain's Rosalía and her album “Lux”. She will be kicking off her world tour - Lux Tour - in 2026. Although tickets for the Madrid and Barcelona concerts are sold out, who knows if new dates will be announced. We advise you to stay tuned!- BonusAnd there's more. After many years of absence, Linkin Park returns to Spain with a new singer, specifically to Rivas-Vaciamadrid (Madrid) to perform on 23 and 24 June. Get ready to party with Jamiroquai in Seville on 16 July and with Anastacia on 22, 24 and 25 October in San Sebastián, Gijón and Pamplona. And finally, the Germans Tokio Hotel will fill the Palacio Vistalegre in Madrid on 23 November.There will also be room for indie and electronic sounds. Foo Fighters and Moby are playing the Mad Cool Festival in July, and David Guetta is headlining A Summer Story in Arganda del Rey, Madrid.
Façade of Toledo Cathedral

Cultural anniversaries: Gaudí, Falla and Toledo Cathedral

Every important event is a great opportunity to visit us and connect with our history. - Top in 2026 Barcelona, World Capital of Architecture 2026, is preparing for an extensive calendar of events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of modernist genius Antoni Gaudí. Sagrada Familia will unveil its tallest tower in the summer, the Museu d'Història de Catalunya will hold an immersive exhibition, and the Gaudí monuments outside Catalonia will also offer multiple commemorative events. Another of Spain's greats is the classical composer Manuel de Falla, who was born 150 years ago. His best-known works, such as El amor brujo, will be performed on stages all over the country. Click here for the concert schedule. It is not only illustrious personalities who celebrate anniversaries. Construction of the Primatial Cathedral of Toledo, the pinnacle of Gothic architecture, began eight centuries ago. To celebrate, the cathedral will host the “Primatial” exhibition between May and October, bringing together 350 masterpieces by El Greco, Zurbarán, Velázquez and other great artists. It will also host the Lumina show, which was voted the best videomapping in 2024. Another unforgettable immersive experience will be held in the Alcázar of Seville, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This marks the 500th anniversary of the wedding of Emperor Carlos V and Isabella of Portugal, which was held there. Technology will immerse you in that event, which inspires the outdoor “Arras” Naturaleza Encendida show. - Bonus We suggest other exclusive opportunities. The majestic Banco de España building, in the centre of Madrid, will be open to the public until June 2026, showcasing its most iconic spaces and extensive art collection. At the nearby María Cristina Masaveu Peterson Foundation, you can see the exhibition “From Picasso to Barceló” until July, which offers an excellent overview of key figures in 20th-century Spanish art. And Barcelona's Fundació Joan Miró is refreshing its collection from April.
Formula 1 in Madrid © Madring

Sporting events of international interest

Spain is an iconic destination for sport. You can attend elite competitive events any month. - Top in 2026 One of the sporting milestones is the return of the Formula 1 to the capital 45 years later. And it will do so on the Madring urban circuit, which will host the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid for the first time, from 11 to 13 September. Not to be missed! As every season, Spain will be the epicentre of world motorcycling. The calendar opens with the Spanish Motorcycle Grand Prix in Jerez, from 24 to 26 April. This will be followed by the Catalan Motorcycle Grand Prix in Barcelona, from 15 to 17 May, the Aragon Motorcycle Grand Prix, from 28 to 30 August, and the Valencia Motorcycle Grand Prix in Cheste, from 20 to 22 November. Other sports will also attract many fans. The European Badminton Championships will be held in Huelva from 6 to 12 April. It is the hometown of Carolina Marín, three-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist, who plans to retire at this tournament. At the same time, several triathlon events at the highest level will be held in Spain. These include the World Tour T100 (Pamplona, 23-24 May), the Olympic-Distance European Championships (Tarragona, 13-14 June) and the World Triathlon Finals (Pontevedra, 23-27 September). - Bonus The competition is almost the least important thing at the Gay Games, which will be held in Valencia from 27 June to 4 July. These are held every four years, like the Olympics, bringing together sport, cultural events and promotion of LGTBIQ+ rights. Anyone can sign up and fun is guaranteed.
Tabanco Cruz Vieja in Jerez de la Frontera © José y yo Estudio / Shutterstock.com

Gastronomy and other special events

You can eat more than well in any part of Spain, but in 2026 the flavours of the south will take centre stage.- Top in 2026Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz) is the new Spanish Capital of Gastronomy. Jerez is the land of world-famous wines, which makes the Wine Harvest Festival an unmissable event. But any time of year is a good time to visit its wineries and traditional “tabancos”. Its wines, which are the stars of the major Vinoble exhibition held in the magnificent Alcázar, also complement the exquisite local dishes you can try, such as “berza jerezana” (Jerez-style bean stew), potato salad and lamb kidneys.- BonusAnother major event - very different but which also generates a lot of excitement - is the San Diego Comic-Con, which will be held in Malaga again in 2026. And the protagonists of the acclaimed series “Stranger Things” will be the stars at a fan meeting in Madrid in April.
Tourist in Cádiz

Spanish destinations in international rankings

Although there are millions of destinations, cities and places all over the world, the Spanish always appear on the most prestigious lists. You will see why.- Top in 2026: Cadiz is the fifth of the 25 “Best in Travel” Destinations in the famous Lonely Planet travel guide. On the Atlantic coast, beautiful, cheerful and lively, it brings together some of the best of Andalusia: heritage, gastronomy, flamenco and one of the best carnivals.National Geographic has been an authority on travel since the 19th century. Its experts have published the 25 “Best of the World” places to visit in 2026, which includes the Basque Country. Come and check it out! It will steal your heart with three cities that are all as attractive as they are unique (Bilbao, Donostia-San Sebastián and Vitoria-Gasteiz) and with its natural wonders, its world-class food and its language (Basque) of unknown origin.- Bonus: National Geographic says that the Basque Country will be one of the best places to see the total eclipse of the sun on 12 August. It is the first in more than a century in Spain and will be seen in 13 of the country's 17 regions.And there are thousands of other things for you to do before and after this unique astronomical phenomenon. Discover them at spain.info!