Canarias Storms Rhône-Alpes Shock Europe as Short-Term Rental Tourism Explodes to 258.8 Million Nights in 2026

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Tourists spent 258.8 million nights in short-term rental accommodation across the European Union between April and June 2026, highlighting continued growth in platform-based travel and alternative accommodation.

According to Eurostat, the number of guest nights booked through online platforms such as Airbnb, Booking and Expedia increased by 5.3%, or 13.1 million nights, compared with the second quarter of 2025.

The latest figures also show a much stronger increase over the same period in 2024. Guest nights were 23.9% higher, representing an additional 50 million nights compared with the second quarter of that year.

The figures underline the growing role of online short-term rental platforms within Europe’s tourism economy as travellers increasingly use alternative accommodation alongside traditional hotels and other forms of lodging.

How much did short-term rental tourism grow across the EU?

The EU recorded 258.8 million guest nights in short-term rental accommodation booked through online collaborative platforms during the second quarter of 2026.

That represented an increase of 13.1 million nights, or 5.3%, compared with Q2 2025.

The longer-term comparison is even more significant. Compared with Q2 2024, the number of nights increased by 50 million, equivalent to growth of 23.9%.

The figures indicate that platform-based accommodation has continued to expand rapidly within Europe’s tourism market. The growth also reflects the scale of demand generated during the key spring and early summer travel period.

Eurostat’s monthly data provides an increasingly detailed picture of this segment, allowing tourism authorities and industry stakeholders to track changes in short-stay accommodation demand across Europe.

Which European regions led short-term rental demand in early 2026?

At regional level, Canarias in Spain and Rhône-Alpes in France were the most popular destinations for short-term rental accommodation booked through online platforms during the first quarter of 2026.

Both regions recorded 8.8 million guest nights.

Andalucia in Spain followed with 8.3 million nights, placing the Spanish region among the strongest-performing destinations in Europe.

The results demonstrate the continued appeal of destinations combining established tourism infrastructure with strong leisure demand, particularly coastal, mountain and nature-oriented regions.

Canarias, for example, benefits from its year-round tourism proposition, while Rhône-Alpes provides access to major mountain and outdoor tourism markets.

Why are Canarias and Rhône-Alpes attracting so many visitors?

Canarias and Rhône-Alpes represent two different but highly successful tourism models.

The Spanish archipelago has long been a major European leisure destination, offering warm weather, beaches and outdoor experiences. Its climate also allows tourism demand to extend beyond the traditional European summer season.

Rhône-Alpes, meanwhile, combines mountain landscapes, outdoor recreation, cultural attractions and access to major French tourism markets.

The fact that both regions recorded 8.8 million nights in platform-based accommodation during Q1 2026 highlights the diversity of Europe’s short-term rental market.

Travellers are using online platforms for different types of holidays, ranging from warm-weather breaks to mountain escapes and nature-focused trips.

How important is Spain to Europe’s short-term rental market?

Spain was particularly prominent in Eurostat’s regional rankings for the first quarter of 2026.

Five of the 10 most popular European regions for short-term rental accommodation were located in Spain.

Canarias led jointly with Rhône-Alpes, while Andalucia ranked third with 8.3 million nights. The strong representation of Spanish destinations demonstrates the country’s continued importance to European tourism.

Spain’s combination of coastal destinations, island tourism, major cities and rural areas gives travellers a wide range of accommodation choices.

The prominence of Spanish regions also suggests that platform-based accommodation is supporting tourism demand across multiple destination types rather than being concentrated exclusively in large urban centres.

Which other countries dominate the top European regions?

France and Italy also featured prominently among Europe’s leading regional markets.

Of the 10 most popular regions during Q1 2026, three were in France and two were in Italy, alongside the five Spanish regions.

The distribution demonstrates the geographic concentration of platform-based tourism across some of Europe’s most established travel markets.

These countries benefit from extensive international connectivity, strong tourism brands and a broad portfolio of destinations. Their presence among the leading regions also indicates that online accommodation platforms have become an established part of the European tourism ecosystem.

What does the growth mean for Airbnb, Booking and Expedia?

The Eurostat figures cover short-term accommodation offered through online platforms, including major services such as Airbnb, Booking and Expedia.

The 258.8 million nights recorded in Q2 demonstrate the scale of consumer demand flowing through this distribution channel.

For travellers, online platforms provide access to a wide range of accommodation types, including apartments, houses and other short-stay properties.

For destinations, however, the expansion also creates a need to understand how platform-based accommodation interacts with traditional hotels, housing markets, local communities and tourism infrastructure.

The continued growth therefore has implications extending beyond booking volumes and visitor numbers.

Is Europe’s short-term rental market becoming a bigger part of tourism?

The latest Eurostat data strongly indicates that short-term rental accommodation has become an important component of European tourism.

The 23.9% increase compared with Q2 2024 demonstrates substantial expansion over a two-year period.

The growth is particularly relevant because platform accommodation can provide travellers with different options from conventional hotels. Larger properties, self-catering facilities and residential-style accommodation can appeal to families, groups and longer-stay visitors.

At the same time, the segment provides destinations with additional accommodation capacity during periods of high tourism demand.

Its continued expansion means tourism policymakers increasingly need detailed and timely data to understand the market.

What does the latest data mean for European tourism destinations?

For European destinations, the figures provide evidence of sustained demand for alternative accommodation during a crucial tourism period.

The increase in guest nights suggests that travellers continue to embrace platform-based accommodation despite the wide range of options available across the European hospitality market.

Destinations such as Canarias, Rhône-Alpes and Andalucia are particularly well positioned because of their established tourism infrastructure and diverse visitor propositions.

The data may also encourage destinations to examine how short-term rental accommodation contributes to visitor spending, regional tourism distribution and seasonal demand.

Why is Eurostat tracking online platform accommodation?

Eurostat’s monthly data on short-stay accommodation offered through online platforms provides a more detailed understanding of the European tourism market.

The latest release published data for the second quarter of 2026 at national level and the first quarter of 2026 at regional level.

This allows policymakers, tourism organisations and industry stakeholders to assess both national trends and the geographical distribution of platform-based accommodation demand.

Eurostat’s data is based on online platform activity and provides an important complement to traditional tourism statistics.

The figures are particularly useful as the accommodation market becomes increasingly diversified and travellers have more choices beyond conventional hotels.

What could the growth mean for the 2026 European tourism season?

The second-quarter figures point to continued momentum in European travel during 2026.

With 258.8 million nights recorded in platform-based short-term accommodation between April and June, online rentals accounted for a substantial volume of visitor stays during the spring and early summer period.

The 5.3% annual increase suggests that demand continued to grow despite the already high levels recorded in 2025.

Meanwhile, the 23.9% increase over 2024 highlights how significantly the market has expanded over two years.

The continued performance of major destinations such as Spain, France and Italy will remain important to the wider European tourism outlook.