Madrid, 27 August 2026 — September is becoming increasingly important as a month for travel in Spain According to the seasonal report published today by the Observatorio Nacional del Turismo Emisor (ObservaTUR), 17 per cent of Spaniards plan to take a holiday in September. At the same time, around 65 per cent of these travellers are choosing a destination within Spain. Compared with 2022, the share planning a September holiday is up five percentage points.
Lower prices after the peak season are a key factor. According to an analysis presented on 27 August 2026 by the travel website Kayak flights in September and October are, on average, 25 per cent cheaper than in July and August. Hotels are on average 21 per cent cheaper, and hire cars 27 per cent cheaper, it says. The platform explicitly attributes the trend to lower fares outside the peak months.
ObservaTUR bases its findings on regular surveys of travel behaviour in Spain. The observatory sees the shift into the shoulder season as a trend that has persisted for at least three years. Kayak points to its internal search and listing data. Both publications are dated 27 August 2026. These are snapshots in time; results may vary by region and destination.
Several structural factors lie behind the trend. First, demand has recovered since the pandemic, while holiday plans remain more flexible. Second, inflation and higher interest rates are putting pressure on household budgets, making travellers more price-sensitive. Third, demand is spread more evenly across the year, which can ease overcrowding and peak prices in high summer. According to ObservaTUR, older travellers and families with more flexible schedules are particularly likely to travel in September.
The stronger demand in September presents both opportunities and challenges for the tourism industry. Providers can shift capacity into the shoulder season and adjust pricing models. At the same time, extending the season requires staffing and service planning beyond the traditional peaks in July and August. Transport companies and the hotel industry benefit from more even occupancy, but must respond to short-term fluctuations in demand.
In summary, the data published today suggest that September is consolidating its role as a more affordable and predictable alternative to high summer. Whether the trend grows further will depend on price movements in aviation and hotels, household purchasing power overall, and weather- and calendar-related effects in the low season.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).