Traveling around Mallorca in 2026: what’s new?

Are you considering or planning a trip to Mallorca in 2026? I’ve put together a summary of everything that’s changing and everything you need to know about this year: access, openings, closures, tourism in general, new hotels, and more.

Here’s everything that’s changing for your trip to Mallorca in 2026.

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What you need to know about Mallorca in 2026

In 2026, Mallorca is no longer quite the same destination it was in 2019 or even 2022. The island is clearly moving towards a more sustainable model, while continuing to upgrade its hotels.

If you only want to know the essentials, here’s what has really changed for your trip:

• New luxury hotels and resorts have opened or are planned for 2025–2026.
• Mallorca is pushing much harder to position itself as a sustainable destination: Sustainable Tourism Observatory, tourist tax reinvested in concrete projects, Mallorca Pledge initiative launched in 2025.
• Air traffic to the Balearic Islands reaches record levels in early 2026, with more flights and seats available.
• The issue of jellyfish is becoming a real concern for swimming, with more frequent
• Intercity public transport (TIB) is better structured and more prominent
• No major changes or closures to attractions
• Access to Cap Formentor in 2026: Access restrictions apply from May 15 to October 15. During this period, please note that you cannot use the entire road.

Attractions: New additions, reopenings, closures, and renovations

Major renovation

An unmissable classic! The Sóller train has been running since 1912 and offers a nostalgic experience between Palma and Sóller through the orange groves. It’s much more than just transportation: it’s a delightful stop on your Mallorcan journey. It was suspended in November 2025 for improvements. But it will resume service on February 1. It will therefore be operational for the tourist season

Closures/reopenings

All of the island’s attractions are open according to their usual months and hours.

No major changes.

For lots of ideas, see my articles:

Things to do in Mallorca: 35 ideas
The 7 most beautiful caves in Mallorca
15 talayots and other archaeological sites in Mallorca
The 21 most beautiful villages and towns in Mallorca

Restrictions at Cap Formentor

The dates for access restrictions to Cap Formentor have been published.
The road will be closed from May 15 to October 15.
During this period, between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., you will not be able to continue by car on the last section of the MA 2210 road.

At the Mirador de ES COLOMER, you will find a large parking lot, and access to the Faro de Formentor is possible on foot, by bike, or by public transport.
Outside these hours, you can get there by car.

Beaches, coves, and marine environment

This is probably the most noticeable change to your beach experience.

In 2024–2025, the Spanish coastline saw a marked increase in jellyfish sightings, particularly the so-called “fried egg” jellyfish (Cotylorhiza tuberculata) and the Portuguese man o’ war, with a rise in medical consultations for stings.

This trend, linked to rising sea temperatures, overfishing, and changes in the ecosystem, did not reverse in 2026. On the contrary, the authorities are communicating more on the subject, and some beaches have dedicated signage.

For you, in 2026, the new thing is that it is no longer enough to look at the color of the flag: I recommend that you get into the habit of checking tools such as MedusApp, which list jellyfish sightings in real time, before choosing your beach for the day.

See our article on the most beautiful beaches in Mallorca.

Traveling to Mallorca in 2026

Son Sant Joan Airport has always been massive, but what will change in 2026 is the level of traffic.

At the very beginning of 2026, the Spanish airport operator broke a record with more than 10,900 commercial flights in a single weekend across its network, a performance that reflects the rise in connections to hubs such as Mallorca.

For you, in concrete terms, this means more frequencies, more seats, and increased pressure on “interesting” slots (weekends, school holidays), which means you’ll need to book your tickets even earlier than before.

It’s time to book!

Compare everything: airlines, prices, schedules, and availability.

Getting around Mallorca

Bus

In terms of local transportation, I see a real improvement compared to pre-COVID times: the TIB network has been restructured and promoted, with interurban hubs, more user-friendly routes, and clearer communication, including for visitors who don’t speak Spanish.

In 2026, it will be much more realistic to imagine a trip where you combine intercity buses, a few private hire vehicle/taxi journeys, and possibly a bit of walking, where a car seemed almost essential a few years ago.

Renting a car and driving in Mallorca

No major changes have been identified in 2026 regarding roads or traffic rules. The road infrastructure remains stable, although increased tourism-related traffic creates congestion during rush hour, particularly when leaving Funchal for hiking spots.

I still think it’s really worth renting a car to explore the whole island!

See my article on driving in Mallorca.
And I’ve updated my article on renting a car in Mallorca in 2026, with my agency recommendations.

Uber and Bolt

These services have been operating in Mallorca since January 2025, covering Palma and the south coast, including the airport. I really appreciate the convenience of being able to book directly through the app for one-off trips in

New hotels and repositioning of the offering

This is probably the most visible change if, like me, you follow the hotel industry closely.

In 2025, Ilunion strengthened its presence in Mallorca with the opening of a large hotel in Palmanova (Calvià): approximately 256 rooms over 16,000 m², with several swimming pools, a spa, restaurants, and, above all, sustainability certifications such as BREEAM and Biosphere, which are no longer just a marketing ploy but a standard that is being promoted. See photos and availability

The Four Seasons Formentor reopened its doors in 2025 – See photos and availability

The new Cas Català boutique hotel in Sineu opened its doors with great charm – See photos and availability

For 2026, several high-end projects are confirmed on the island: luxury boutique hotels and resorts backed by international brands (including a resort under the Destination by Hyatt brand in Mallorca), clearly showing an upmarket trend and renewed interest in the island by major groups.

At the same time, major players such as RIU Hotels & Resorts have committed to a target of 100% locally produced renewable electricity for their establishments in the Balearic Islands over the period 2025–2027, drawing on Mallorca’s technology park.

For more ideas, see my articles:

Where to go in Mallorca (and where to stay)?
Where to stay in Palma de Mallorca: neighborhoods and hotels

State of tourism in Mallorca in 2026

Visitor numbers

In 2024, Mallorca welcomed 13.4 million tourists.

In 2025, tourism in Mallorca is up slightly, but this seems to be more related to “visiting friends and family.”

Sustainable tourism

In recent years, Mallorca has made a clear shift towards sustainable tourism.

The Sustainable Tourism Observatory monitors the impact of tourism and informs public policy, with more than €100 million from the tourist tax already invested in projects to restore trails and protect natural areas and heritage, the effects of which are visible on the ground today.

In 2026, you will see more explanatory signs, restricted areas, messages about water, waste, and respect for marked trails than you would have seen during a visit before 2020.

In 2025, the authorities launched the Mallorca Pledge, a moral pact proposed to visitors: travel as if you were at home, limiting your impact, supporting local businesses, and respecting environmental rules.

Events in 2026:

There are major events every year, but certain events in 2026 may clearly influence your choice of dates for your stay.

June 12-14 – The Mallorca Live Festival returns in 2026 as one of the island’s major musical highlights, with an electro and pop lineup geared towards an international audience and widely publicized headliners.

Otherwise, you have:
– Sant Sebastia Festival in January
– Sa Rua Carnival in February with the S’Arenal Carnival Parade on February 14.
– March 1 is Balearic Islands Day

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