These days, Madrid has won the title "The best destination in Europe for 2026". The Spanish capital received the title from the European Best Destinations website, which has been publishing an annual ranking of cities across the continent since 2009.
After an initial filtering that examined data such as the growth of the tourism industry and demand for various destinations in online searches, a long list of 42 destinations remained. From this list, travelers who participated in the survey were asked to answer the question: "Which destination would you most like to visit in Europe in 2026?". It was possible to vote for up to three destinations. Each voter was presented with an overview of each destination alongside selected images, and it was not possible to vote for a destination in the country of origin of those who voted.
Good reasons to visit Madrid in 2026
"Madrid stands out as a capital where heritage and modernity coexist perfectly: World-class museums, vibrant neighborhoods, green spaces, bold architecture, a thriving food scene and a joie de vivre that resonates deeply among travelers", the organization stated.
Music tourism has been on the rise in recent years, and in 2026 several of the biggest artists in the world will arrive in the city. For example, in April the Spanish singer Rosalía will perform for four nights as part of the LUX TOUR 2026. After her, the band Tame Impala, British singer Louis Tomlinson and American singer Ne-Yo will perform. At the end of May and the beginning of June, Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny, who performed during this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, will take the stage for 10 nights at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium, and later in the month the South Korean boy band BTS will arrive as part of an international tour. And this is only a partial list of additional big names that will perform in Madrid this year. In addition, car racing enthusiasts will be happy to discover that in September Madrid will host Formula 1 – the Spanish Grand Prix.
Culinary experiences
And for food lovers – the city currently has 31 Michelin-starred restaurants, including two new additions to the 2026 list: Ramón Freixa Atelier (two stars) and EMi (one star). The first, which received recognition only five months after opening, hosts 10 diners at a time and focuses on tasting menus of gourmet cuisine. The second offers a menu inspired by New Nordic cuisine, combining Japanese and Korean cooking techniques. In the field of culture, last October Espacio Mistral opened, a space dedicated to theater, music, dance, cinema and spoken word. The 2026 program includes plays, operas and festivals, as well as film screenings and talks with directors and actors.
Ramón Freixa Atelier restaurant
Italy dominates
Alongside Madrid, Italy stands out in the overall ranking, with no fewer than seven destinations in the top 20. For example, Verona (known as "The city of love") reached the highest ranking among the Italian destinations (fourth place). After it are the colorful island of Burano (eighth place) and Cefalù in Sicily (15th place). The other Italian destinations on the list are Bosa in Sardinia, Ravello on the Amalfi Coast, the island of Procida and Taormina in Sicily – where the second season of "The White Lotus" was filmed.
Ranking of the 10 best destinations for 2026:
Madrid, Spain
Nicosia, Cyprus
Stajerska region (Stajerska), Slovenia
Verona, Italy
Paris, France
Camara de Lobos (Camara de Lobos), Madeira, Portugal
Alaçati (Alaçati), Turkey
Burano, Italy
Lisbon, Portugal
Almeria (Almeria), Andalusia