The Spanish capital was named the best destination in Europe for 2026 by European Best Destinations, which has published an annual ranking of the continent’s cities since 2009. After an initial review that looked at data including tourism growth and demand, a long list of 42 destinations was voted on by travelers to determine the 20 places people most want to visit in the coming year.
“Madrid stands out as a capital where heritage and modernity coexist effortlessly: world-class museums, vibrant neighborhoods, green spaces, bold architecture, a thriving culinary scene and a unique joie de vivre that resonates deeply with today’s travelers,” says European Best Destinations.
Music tourism has seen a major boom in recent years, and 2026 will bring some of the world’s biggest stars to the city.
In April, Spanish singer Rosalía will perform four consecutive concerts at the Movistar Arena as part of her LUX TOUR 2026. She will be followed by Tame Impala, Louis Tomlinson and Ne-Yo.
In late May and early June, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny – who performed at this year’s NFL Super Bowl halftime show – will perform 10 nights at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium. Later that month, South Korean boy band BTS will embark on their first world tour since returning from military service.
Other big names set to play in Madrid this year include Linkin Park, Bruno Mars, My Chemical Romance and The Weeknd.
Formula 1 is coming to Madrid
In addition to the music scene, the city will also welcome motorsport. In September, Madrid will host the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The new Madring street circuit, located around the IFEMA exhibition centre, is currently under construction. The current host, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, will host the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in alternating years from 2028, while in 2027 the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps will take over.
A star-studded culinary scene
Foodies also have reason to rejoice. The city now has 31 Michelin-starred restaurants, with two new additions for the 2026 edition:
• Ramón Freixa Atelier (two stars)
• EMi (one star)
Ramón Freixa Atelier has been awarded the accolade just five months after opening. The restaurant has just 10 seats and offers a refined tasting menu.
EMi is the first solo project by chef Rubén Hernández Mosquero. His menu draws inspiration from New Scandinavian cuisine, combining Japanese and Korean cooking techniques.
Culture without a break
Last October, Espacio Mistral opened its doors – a cultural space dedicated to theatre, music, dance, cinema and literary events.
The 2026 programme includes plays, operas, festivals and film screenings with discussions and meetings with directors and actors.
Italy dominates the 2026 ranking
Last month, European Best Destinations named Nicosia in Cyprus as the continent’s best cultural destination – and it came in second overall. But it is Italy that dominates the ranking with seven destinations in the top 20. Verona – the city of love, takes fourth place, followed by the colourful island of Burano in eighth position.
Cefalù in Sicily is in 15th place, while the other Italian destinations in the top 20 are:
• Bosa in Sardinia
• Ravello on the Amalfi Coast
• Procida Island near Naples
• Taormina – the location where the second season of the series “The White Lotus” was filmed.
Strongly represented countries
Spain has two destinations in the ranking:
• Almeria (10th place)
• Begur (14th place)
Portugal also stands out with:
• Camara de Lobos on the island of Madeira (6th place)
• Lisbon (9th place)
• Costa Vicentina (12th place)
Greece is represented by:
• Ano Koufonisi (13th place)
• Avlemonas (16th place)
Other destinations include Paris (5th place), Alacati in Turkey (7th place) and Stavanger in Norway (11th place).
Third place goes to the Styria region in Slovenia. Last year, the region’s largest city, Maribor, was named the Best Wine Capital by European Best Destinations, while nearby Ptuj was named the Best Heritage City in Europe.
How the ranking is determined
European Best Destinations monitors nearly 500 cities, towns and regions in Europe. Data such as:
• international arrivals
• number of overnight stays
• growth rates
• online searches on major search engines
• international media presence
• activity and growth on social networks
From these, a long list of 42 destinations with the strongest “momentum” for the coming year is compiled. A vote is then held among travelers, who can cast up to three votes, but not for a destination in their own country. A total of 1.3 million votes were cast, although the organizers do not disclose how many people participated in the survey.
Illustrative Photo by Luis Quintero: https://www.pexels.com/photo/view-of-royal-palace-in-spain-1500598/
