The Instituto de Mayores y Servicios Sociales (Imserso) will begin marketing its state senior tourism programme for the 2026/2027 season in mid-September. According to the authorities, sales nationwide start on 14 September 2026. In several Autonomous Communities – including the Canary Islands – priority users will be able to book from 16 September, and other users from 17 September. Trips from unallocated places are also due to become available to book from 19 September.
In preparation, Imserso began sending personalised letters to people already accredited in the second half of August. The letters contain a four-digit reference number, the recipient’s individual booking date and a list of permitted companions (usually the person named on the application and, where applicable, their spouse, registered partner or children with disabilities). Changes and bookings can also be made through the Sede electrónica of Imserso.
In addition to the Canary Islands, the following were named for the 16 and 17 September stages: Asturias, Catalonia, Castile-La Mancha, with Valencian Community, Ceuta, Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Murcia and the Basque Country. Staggered access is intended to manage demand and give priority groups first access to highly sought-after dates.
The dates reflect preparations for the season, which have already been completed: the tender was published on 13 June 2026 in the BOE, with 879,213 places planned. The Ministerio de Derechos Sociales refers to a set price structure and defined discounts. Sales follow the established procedure used in previous years, in which personal reference numbers and fixed start dates prevent misuse and standardise the process.
Imserso trips remain economically significant for the tourism sector, particularly in regions with pronounced seasonality, such as coastal and island destinations. They help stabilise occupancy outside the peak season and support jobs in accommodation, hospitality and travel sales. For older travellers, early notice of the dates makes planning easier; at the same time, staggered access makes clear that popular travel periods and destinations are likely to sell out quickly.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).