- Internal data from Kiwi.com, a leading travel technology company, shows a sharp rise in interest in travelling to Spain, coinciding with Pope Leo XIV’s visit in June.
- Searches for flights and bookings to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands have seen a marked increase compared with the start of the year and the same period in 2025.
In the case of Barcelona, for travel between June 9 and 11, the volume of searches on Kiwi.com during the week of May 11–17 was approximately 3.5 times higher than that recorded in the first week of January 2026. The largest increases occurred in early March and early May.
In addition, confirmed bookings to Barcelona for those dates have grown by 54.8% year-over-year, while the number of passengers has increased by 49.4% compared to the same period last year. The pace of new bookings continues to accelerate in the weeks leading up to the trip.
Madrid, where the first part of the papal visit will take place from June 6 to 9, is showing even more pronounced growth. Bookings have increased by 175% year-over-year, and passenger volume has grown by 152%, while search volume has increased 3.6-fold since January.
According to Kiwi.com, the difference between the two destinations is significant: Madrid is seeing particularly strong growth from markets in Southern Europe and Latin America, while Barcelona stands out due to the influx of travelers from Central and Eastern Europe.
Growing international markets
In Barcelona, the international markets with the highest percentage growth are Poland (+154%), Portugal (+110%), Ukraine (+81%), and Ireland (+71%). The United Kingdom continues to lead in the total number of international visitors to Barcelona.
In Madrid, the increases from Portugal (+1,267%), Brazil (+423%), France (+410%), and Italy (+256%) are particularly notable.
Meanwhile, Tenerife and Gran Canaria are showing a more moderate upward trend, with a 70.7% increase in bookings and a 45.6% increase in passengers compared to the same period last year. Kiwi.com notes that the performance of the Canary Islands reflects patterns more closely linked to vacation tourism and bookings made further in advance.
Short trips organised specifically for the evento
The data also reveals a travel pattern clearly linked to the religious event. In Barcelona, 58.9% of bookings are for return trips, with an average stay of around five days. In the Canary Islands, the profile is more holiday-oriented, with longer stays and around 70% of trips being return journeys.
About Kiwi.com
Kiwi.com is a leading travel technology company and online travel agency that helps travellers find the best flight deals from millions of routes. It offers a unique combination of low fares and peace of mind thanks to the Kiwi.com Guarantee, which provides support and protection when travel plans change.
Source: SERGAT Comunicación