- Travellers spent 144.3 million nights in short-term rentals booked via Airbnb, Booking and Expedia in the EU in Q1 2026, an increase of +9.7% year-on-year (Eurostat).
- Spain dominates: 5 of the 10 most booked regions in Europe are Spanish, with Andalusia leading (9.9 million nights), ahead of the Canary Islands and Île-de-France.
- Over the whole of 2025, the platforms came close to one billion nights in the EU.
Short-term rental is no longer an alternative: it is now a structural pillar of European tourism. The figures published by Eurostat in early July confirm this: never before has a first quarter generated so many nights via Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia. And the top three, Spain, France, and Italy, concentrate the majority of demand.
A record Q1 2026: +9.7% year-on-year
From January to March 2026, travellers accumulated 144.3 million nights in accommodation booked via the major platforms within the European Union, an increase of 9.7% compared to Q1 2025 and 16.6% over two years. The momentum far exceeds the post-pandemic catch-up effect: it reflects a lasting change in booking behaviour, even during the low season.
Spain dominates the regional rankings
In the latest regional data available, the 10 most booked regions in Europe are located in just 3 countries: five in Spain, three in France, and two in Italy. Andalusia leads with 9.9 million nights, ahead of the Canary Islands (8.2 million): the Spanish coast and archipelagos confirm their status as the continent’s leading market, both in winter and summer.
France and Italy complete the podium
On the French side, Île-de-France is the 3rd region in Europe with 7.2 million nights, driven by Paris and its tourist basin. Italy has two regions in the top 10, thanks to the density of its urban and cultural heritage. Three countries thus concentrate the majority of the European short-term rental market.
What this means for the hotel industry
For hoteliers, short-term rental is no longer a marginal competitor but a market benchmark that shapes expectations: entire homes, customisation, local immersion. The sector’s response lies in what platforms cannot industrialise: service, consistency, and signature experiences. This is precisely the niche of hybrid brands (luxury residences, premium apart-hotels) that capture both clienteles simultaneously. Note: the European regulation on short-term rentals, applicable since May 2026, now requires platforms to share their data with authorities, a turning point for the regulation of urban markets.
Our perspective
The market is maturing and segmenting: on one side, a massive stock of standardised apartments; on the other, a rapid upgrade of villas and exceptional properties, on which Airbnb is pushing its Luxury offerings. For the luxury hotel industry, the battle is no longer about the price per night but about the memorable imprint of the stay: dining, spa, concierge services, and everything that a property, however beautiful, does not offer.
