Fitur 2026, opening marked by rail tragedy

21-01-2026

Madrid, 21 January 2026. The International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR 2026, officially opened its doors today at IFEMA Madrid in a context deeply shaped by the tragedy of the high-speed train accident in Adamuz, Córdoba—an event that has shocked Spanish society and has cast an atmosphere of sobriety and mourning over the start of one of the world’s leading tourism gatherings. This new edition has begun in a climate of respect and remembrance, with institutional gestures honoring the victims and expressing support for their families, while the tourism sector has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining an event that is essential to the economy and to the international projection of destinations.

The rail disaster, which occurred only days before the fair began, has led to the cancellation or scaling back of numerous institutional agendas and has forced adjustments to the usual format of the opening day, traditionally characterized by a festive tone and strong political presence. In its place, FITUR 2026 has opened with a restrained ceremony, defined by silence and reflection, mirroring the emotional impact the accident has had both on the public and on a sector closely linked to mobility, connectivity, and travelers’ confidence. This exceptional context has placed the debate on transport safety and infrastructure reliability at the center of many informal conversations already taking place across the pavilions.

Nevertheless, beyond the mourning that has marked its inauguration, FITUR 2026 is emerging as an edition of significant strategic relevance for global tourism and, in particular, for Spain. The organizers expect attendance to surpass previous records, both in the number of professionals and in public visitors, consolidating the fair as the sector’s foremost meeting point at the start of the year. Forecasts point to a notable increase in international participation, with delegations from more than 150 countries and near full occupancy of exhibition space, reinforcing FITUR’s role as a showcase for trends, innovation, and business opportunities.

This edition also arrives at a time of particular dynamism for the tourism industry, following several years of strong recovery and sustained growth in traveler flows. FITUR 2026 aims to be the stage on which positive outlooks for the sector are confirmed for the year ahead, with special focus on market diversification, sustainability, digitalization, and the transformation of the tourism experience. Despite the circumstances, companies, destinations, and organizations have maintained their presence and their commitment to the fair, aware of its value as a platform for visibility and partnership-building.

Over the coming days, IFEMA Madrid will host thousands of professional meetings, presentations of new products and destinations, specialized forums, and high-level encounters designed to define tourism’s roadmap in an increasingly competitive global context. Strong demand for accreditations and intense activity in the lead-up to opening day confirm the level of interest in this edition, which is expected to break participation records and strengthen FITUR’s positioning as one of the world’s three major tourism events, alongside the fairs in Berlin and London.

The contrast between the atmosphere of restraint with which the fair has begun and the dynamism expected in the coming days defines the distinctive character of FITUR 2026. The sector has chosen not to forgo a key annual appointment, but to adapt it to a reality marked by tragedy, demonstrating a combination of sensitivity and resilience. For many professionals, this inauguration also symbolizes the need to reinforce confidence in transport systems and to continue advancing safety standards that guarantee the mobility of millions of travelers.

In this way, FITUR 2026 will remain in collective memory as an edition shaped by the impact of a tragic event, but also as a fair that, despite the circumstances, projects strongly toward the future. A contained and solemn opening gives way to a decisive week for international tourism, in which the expectation is not only to surpass attendance records, but also to send messages of stability, innovation, and commitment from a sector that remains one of Spain’s great economic and social engines.

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