Tourism: Italy’s most visited regions in 2026

Record-breaking tourism in 2026, confirmed by the Interior Ministry: Calabria is out in front, but Sardinia will also see arrivals increase by 8.24%, a real boom in foreign visitors.

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The tourism figures come mainly from monitoring carried out via the Interior Ministry’s Alloggiati Web (source in Italian) platform, supplemented by official statistics from the Ministry of Tourism and Istat.

What hotel occupancy rates on online platforms tell us about Italy

Italy confirms its status as the most popular European destination for the summer of 2026.

The OTA saturation rate – that is, how full accommodation facilities listed on online platforms are – stands at 51.2%, higher than competitors such as Spain (42.8%) and France (32.9%), while the average nightly rate (153 euros) is lower than in Spain (170) and Greece (195).

In particular, according to data from the Statistics Office of the Ministry of Tourism, the highest saturation rates are recorded in Veneto (57.5%), Emilia-Romagna (56.7%) and the autonomous provinces of Trento (55.7%) and Bolzano (54.9%).

They are followed by Friuli Venezia Giulia (53.7%), Sicily (53.3%) and Tuscany (52.5%), all above the national average.

In June and July the saturation rate rises by 13.4% and 10% respectively compared with the same period last year.

It is not just seaside destinations that are in demand: lake districts have the highest saturation level (54%), followed by spa resorts and coastal destinations (both at 51%).

Compared with the previous year, growth is almost twice the national average, which remains below 4.5%.

Data from the Interior Ministry confirm that 2026 will be a golden year for tourism in Italy, and especially in Sardinia.

Which regions recorded the most tourist arrivals in 2026

In the first half of 2026 there was a marked increase in arrivals, up 4.43% on the same period in 2025 across the whole country.

Here is the ranking of the regions that saw the strongest growth in tourist arrivals in 2026:

1. Calabria
2. Umbria
3. Piedmont
4. Sardinia
5. Apulia
6. Liguria

Leading the way are Calabria (+10.54%), Umbria (+9.70%) and Piedmont (+9.22%); Sardinia (+8.24%), Apulia (+7.43%) and Liguria also post strong growth.

Both international arrivals are up, by 6.45% (with outstanding performances in Calabria +23.19%, Apulia +14.63%, Abruzzo +14.04%, Molise +13.14%, Basilicata +11.55%, Sardinia +11.44%, Piedmont +10.38%), and domestic arrivals (+1.97%), with peaks in Umbria (+13.64%) and Liguria (+8.89%).

Growth is particularly strong in the non-hotel tourism sector (+7.46%), while hotels have seen a 2.27% increase.

Why tourism is a pillar of Italy’s national economy

“These figures,” explains Tourism Minister Gianmarco Mazzi, “confirm that, in a world of global challenges, Italy’s tourism sector continues to deliver record results. The sector is proving increasingly strategic and is reaffirming its role as a pillar of the national economy. The ministry will continue to invest and to look to the future with optimism.”

“Italy is at the top of European tourism, a result that reflects our country’s beauty, the quality of our offer and the hard work of everyone in the tourism sector,” the prime minister Giorgia Meloni said with satisfaction.

“My thanks go to the entrepreneurs, workers and professionals in the sector who, every day, help make Italy an ever more attractive and competitive destination. The government will continue to play its part in supporting a sector that is strategic for our economy and for the country’s growth,” the prime minister concluded.