Canary Islands 2026: stable climate, record inflows and an economy driven by tourism
The Canary Islands benefit from a mild subtropical climate that limits temperature variations. Winters are mild, summers are rarely stifling thanks to the trade winds, with an annual average of around 20–22°C.
This comfortable climate, combined with proximity to Europe, fuels an economy largely oriented towards tourism, services and, increasingly, medium- and long-stay trips for remote workers and retirees.
6.76M foreign travellers in 5 months (+4.1% y/y)
The recent tourism momentum illustrates the lasting appeal of the archipelago. Over the first five months of the year, the Canary Islands welcomed around 6.76 million foreign travellers, an increase of around 4.1% year-on-year.
In practical terms, this means:
- more visitor flows throughout the year, not just in the high season;
- growing demand for accommodation, including medium-term rentals;
- a direct impact on seasonal employment in hospitality, retail and services.
For a property buyer, this can translate into:
- good rental liquidity in the most established tourist areas;
- rising prices in certain micro-markets (seafront, historic centres, well-connected neighbourhoods);
- stronger competition for well-located and properly maintained properties.
The search data observed on Green Acres confirms this trend: international demand remains strong on the most connected islands, with marked interest in well-located properties but also in more out-of-the-way localities, as long as they remain accessible and have basic services.
Summer 2026: record peak in visitor numbers and spending
Forecasts for summer 2026 anticipate a new peak in visitor numbers in the Canary Islands, supported by:
- a loyal European clientele (United Kingdom, Germany, Nordic countries, France, Italy);
- the rise of multi-island stays (combining Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura);
- higher spending per visitor, particularly on accommodation and experiences (excursions, gastronomy, water sports).
For those considering living there year-round, this implies an island pace that changes with the seasons:
- in high season, more traffic, noise and nightlife, but also more services available;
- off-season, a calmer atmosphere, ideal for a more relaxed daily life, while keeping infrastructure open on the larger islands.
Looking ahead to 2026, regional authorities are also considering how to better distribute tourist flows to ease pressure on certain coastal areas. This may open up opportunities in slightly more inland localities that are still well served.
Living in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura: services, energy prices and buyer profiles
The four main islands – Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura – concentrate the majority of the population, healthcare services, schools and shopping areas.
For a life project, property searches tend to focus on these islands first, before possibly turning to smaller islands once you are well settled.
Full urban areas, insular cost of living to anticipate
Tenerife and Gran Canaria have fully fledged urban areas built around:
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife and La Laguna;
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and its metropolitan area.
You can find there:
- modern hospitals and clinics;
- universities and international schools;
- shopping centres, cultural offerings and structured public transport;
- administrative and professional services (lawyers, notaries, banks, accountants).
In these island capitals, property markets reflect their role as service hubs. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, for example, properties span a wide spectrum, from city-centre apartments to houses with sea views, allowing a variety of profiles (families, retirees, remote workers) to find a compromise between affordability and access to services.
Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are slightly less dense but still well-equipped for comfortable everyday living, especially around:
- Arrecife, Costa Teguise, Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca (Lanzarote);
- Puerto del Rosario, Corralejo, Caleta de Fuste (Fuerteventura).
In Arrecife, the urban heart of Lanzarote, second-home searches show a preference for relatively compact properties, suitable for year-round living or extended stays.
It is important, however, to anticipate certain effects of the insular cost of living:
- a share of consumer goods is imported, which can push up the price of certain products;
- rents and purchase prices can be high in the most touristy areas;
- access to some specialised services may require travelling to the island capitals.
In a living budget, it is therefore important to:
- plan a margin for inter-island and mainland travel;
- compare private healthcare and insurance costs;
- analyse in detail co-ownership fees and maintenance costs, particularly for properties with a pool or on the seafront.
Who buys where? Focus on Tenerife and Gran Canaria
Beyond tourist flows, the structure of foreign property demand says a lot about usage patterns. According to search data recorded by Green Acres, international buyers in Tenerife are divided in particular between:
- many Italians, attracted by medium-sized apartments in seaside resorts and well-connected urban areas;
- French, German, Swiss and Belgian buyers, who tend to target larger properties for mixed use as a second home and semi-main residence;
- profiles from Central Europe (Romania, Poland, Slovakia), who often look for smaller but well-located properties.
In the Las Palmas province (Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura), the hierarchy is fairly similar: Italian demand remains in the lead, closely followed by French buyers, with intermediate median budgets, often targeting apartments close to the coast or lively centres.
For someone planning to settle there, this gives an indication of potential competition: some very international seaside areas will see more dynamic prices than inland localities or more residential neighbourhoods.
Growing cultural offering and seasonal labour market
Life in the Canary Islands is not just about the beach. The cultural offering is developing, driven by:
- music, film and theatre festivals in the main cities;
- museums and art centres (particularly in Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote);
- a very lively calendar of traditional events (carnivals, patron saint festivals).
This strengthens the islands’ appeal for year-round residents, who can enjoy:
- an exceptional natural environment (volcanoes, hiking trails, surf spots, diving, sailing);
- an international social life, particularly in certain neighbourhoods popular with expats;
- a sense of safety appreciated by families and retirees.
On the employment side, the market remains strongly oriented towards:
- tourism and services (hospitality, catering, leisure activities);
- retail and distribution;
- personal services and self-employed professions (freelance, remote work).
Seasonal work is very present, especially:
- in summer and during the winter holidays;
- in seaside resorts and areas close to airports.
In the most touristic areas of Fuerteventura, such as Corralejo or Caleta de Fuste, seasonal activity directly drives demand for small apartments or terraced houses, a segment that is clearly visible among the houses for sale in Corralejo.
For a life project financed by a local job, it is therefore essential to:
- carefully assess your real career prospects;
- plan for a financial transition period;
- consider, if possible, an income that is independent of the season (remote work, online activity, pension).
Air connectivity and infrastructure projects
Living on an island raises a double question: how to get out of the archipelago easily, and how to travel between the islands on a regular or even daily basis.
The Canary Islands have an exceptionally dense network of airports for a territory of this size, complemented by regular maritime links.
Tenerife Sur expansion programme (target capacity 20M pax)
Tenerife South Airport (Tenerife Sur – Reina Sofía) plays a key role in connecting the archipelago to Northern and Continental Europe.
An expansion programme aims for a target capacity of around 20 million passengers per year. This increase translates into:
- better management of peak traffic in high season;
- the possibility of increasing frequencies on certain existing routes;
- room to welcome new airlines and new routes.
For residents as well as investors, this type of project sends a strong signal:
- it confirms the intention to maintain the Canary Islands as a major tourist hub;
- it secures, in the medium term, the value of a well-located and well-connected property;
- it improves travel comfort, especially for frequent trips to the mainland.
AENA data: steady flows and growing services
Data from airport operator AENA show steady passenger flows to major European urban areas, with:
- frequent direct routes to mainland Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, etc.);
- numerous flights to and from the United Kingdom, Germany, the Nordic countries, France, Belgium and Italy;
- the growing presence of low-cost airlines, which push prices down during certain periods.
This strong air connectivity is an asset for:
- remote workers who need to return regularly to their home country;
- binational families or families spread across several countries;
- investors who want to closely follow the management of their property.
At the scale of the archipelago, the combination of:
- frequent inter-island flights;
- daily ferries between certain islands;
- a generally well-maintained road network,
makes possible a lifestyle in which you can work on one island, live on another, or simply alternate atmospheres as the months go by.
The Canary Islands, a temperate living environment with year-round services
Behind the image of eternal holidays, the Canary Islands above all offer a temperate and relatively structured living environment, which explains why so many people live there year-round.
For a property project, it is useful to keep a few key principles in mind:
- the weather is a major asset, but microclimates can vary greatly from one valley to another;
- large cities and resorts offer full services, but also higher prices;
- tourist seasonality affects daily life (traffic, noise, jobs), while still allowing for genuine stability over the year as a whole.
Living in the Canary Islands means accepting a certain island rhythm:
- slower than in major European metropolises;
- often oriented towards the outdoors (terraces, beaches, hiking);
- with a strong emphasis on neighbourhood life and informal relationships.
For those considering a change of life, it may be wise to:
- test the archipelago over several seasons (winter, spring, summer) before buying;
- explore several islands to get a feel for their unique atmospheres;
- talk to long-term residents to refine your project.
In this exploratory phase, market data from specialised platforms can also help verify the match between your budget, your space needs and the reality of the properties available in the different living areas.
Once these benchmarks are in place, buying a property – a city apartment, a house in an estate, a small finca in the hinterland – can become the anchor point for a new way of living, gentler but just as connected.
