TORONTO — Spain capped off a stellar 2025 in the Canadian market with a celebration at Toronto’s Portland Square Social Club earlier this week, bringing together travel and lifestyle media to highlight the destination’s growth and preview exciting plans for 2026.
The event showcased Spain’s rising popularity with Canadians, with longer stays, record arrivals in peak months, and new direct flight options making travel easier than ever. Spanish officials also offered a sneak peek at initiatives designed to strengthen connections, spotlight authentic experiences and make 2026 another banner year for the destination.”
“As Canadian travellers continue to change their preferences and embrace new destinations, there’s no question that Spain’s mix of climate, history, cultural diversity and gastronomy is creating greater connectivity between our two countries,” said Isabel Martín Benítez, Director of The Tourist Office of Spain. “2025 saw Canadians choose to stay two extra days (eight vs. six) in Spain compared to 2024, and arrival numbers in May and July of 2025 eclipsed even the peaks of 2024. As we look ahead to 2026, we see this momentum and friendship continuing to grow.”
Spain recorded the largest increase in tourist arrivals in the first five months of 2025 over 2024 among major European destinations. The Tourist Office credited this growth in part to new direct flights from carriers including WestJet and Air Transat, which enhanced Canadian access to Spain through Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Halifax.
Maintaining this momentum will be a trio of new direct flights launching in 2026, including Montreal to Palma de Mallorca via Air Canada, Halifax to Madrid with WestJet, and Toronto to Madrid through Iberia.
The year was also marked by active engagement in the Canadian market, including press trips to regions such as Galicia, Andalucia and Valencia, the successful staging of the ACTA conference, and the Canadian launch of the sustainability-focused Spain Talks series.
Looking ahead to 2026, Martín Benítez said Canadians can expect the relationship with Spain to strengthen further. She shared plans to promote Spain as a winter destination, highlight authentic experiences in the Canary Islands, Basque Country, and Galicia, and collaborate with Canadian media on new familiarization trips. The Tourist Office will maintain a strong in-market presence through events such as World Tapas Day, the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Spain Tourism Summit in Montreal, and expanded flight promotions.
For more information, visit spain.info.
Lead image: From l-r: Alegria Narvaez, Trade & Travel Manager, Tourist Office of Spain in Toronto; Isabel Martín Benítez, Consul for Tourism Affairs, Embassy of Spain in Canada; Maria Jose Ibañez Silla, Tourist Office of Spain in Toronto; María Canfran Almiñana, International Tourism Advisor, Tourist Office of Spain in Toronto
