Barcelona tourist tax set to rise from 1 April 2026 under Catalonia deal

Barcelona and the wider Catalonia region are preparing higher tourist tax rates from 1 April 2026, following a political agreement expected to be approved in February 2026. The change affects overnight stays (hotels, short lets, campsites, youth hostels) and many cruise calls, and it increases the regional part of the tax in Barcelona while changing how municipal surcharges can be applied.

Key takeaways

• The planned start date is 1 April 2026, aligned with Catalonia's next tourist-tax settlement period.

• Barcelona's regional IEET rate for 5-star and luxury hotels is set to rise to €7 per person per night (up from €3.50).

• Barcelona's separate city surcharge is currently €4 per person per night, and the agreed framework allows it to rise up to a maximum of €8 by 2029 (exact timing depends on city decisions).

• Outside Barcelona, Catalonia will use a phased approach: higher rates from 1 April 2026, with a further step-up from 1 April 2027.

• A municipal surcharge is expected to become available across Catalonia (not only Barcelona), capped at €4 and not allowed to exceed the regional fee for that accommodation type.

• The tax is charged per person per night (or per day or part-day), with a maximum of 7 consecutive nights per person in the same accommodation.

• Minors under 17 and certain stays (health, social programmes, force majeure) are exempt under Catalan Tax Agency rules.

What changed

Catalonia's tax on stays in tourist establishments (often called the IEET) is made up of a regional fee, and in Barcelona city there is also a municipal surcharge that is added on top.

Under a PSC-ERC-Comuns agreement reported in January 2026, the regional IEET amounts are set to increase from 1 April 2026. Barcelona city rates would move immediately to the new higher level, while the rest of Catalonia would increase in two steps (2026 and 2027).

The same agreement also changes how municipal surcharges work: Barcelona would keep the ability to apply a surcharge with a higher ceiling (up to €8), and other Catalan municipalities would be able to add their own surcharge (capped at €4 and not higher than the regional fee for the relevant accommodation type).

Who it affects

This change matters most for:

Overnight visitors in BarcelonaIf you stay in a hotel, guesthouse, tourist apartment or short-let, campsite, rural accommodation, or a youth hostel providing tourist accommodation, you will normally see the IEET as a separate line on your bill.

Cruise passengers calling at Barcelona or other Catalan portsCruise calls are covered under the IEET framework, with different amounts depending on time in port.

Families and groupsThe fee is charged per person, so total impact scales with group size.

Exempt travellersUnder Catalonia Tax Agency guidance, stays by people under 17 are exempt. Certain stays for health reasons, stays subsidised by qualifying social programmes, and stays due to force majeure can also be exempt (documentation may be required).

When it starts

Planned approval: February 2026 (as reported by Catalan and Spanish media covering the agreement).

Planned effective date: 1 April 2026.

Phasing outside Barcelona:From 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, the rest of Catalonia would move to intermediate rates, then from 1 April 2027 to the full doubled rates.

Important note for travellers: Some parts of what you pay depend on municipal decisions (especially any surcharge outside Barcelona, and any changes to Barcelona's own surcharge over time). The regional IEET rates are set in Catalan rules, while surcharges are applied by municipalities.

Costs and how to pay/apply/book

How it is chargedIn Catalonia, the tourist tax is usually collected by the accommodation provider (or cruise company) and shown on the invoice for your stay. The Catalonia Tax Agency also notes that the IEET amount forms part of the VAT tax base.

Cap on nights chargedThe IEET is charged per person per day (or part-day), up to a maximum of 7 consecutive nights per person in the same accommodation.

Current Barcelona totals (rates in force as of 1 October 2024)These amounts combine the regional fee plus Barcelona's current city surcharge:

• 5-star and luxury hotel: €7.50

• 4-star and 4-star superior hotel: €5.70

• Tourist-use dwelling (many short lets): €6.25

• Other establishments: €5.00

• Cruise ship: €6.00 (over 12 hours) or €7.00 (12 hours or less)

Planned Barcelona regional IEET rates from 1 April 2026 (agreement reported 13 January 2026)Barcelona's regional IEET portion is reported to rise to:

• 5-star and luxury: €7.00

• 4-star and 4-star superior: €3.40

• Tourist accommodation (including many tourist apartments): €4.50

• Youth hostels: €1.00

• Other establishments and campsites: €2.00

• Cruise ship (12 hours or less): €6.00

What this means for a typical bill in BarcelonaYour total in Barcelona is the regional IEET rate plus the Barcelona city surcharge. Today, that surcharge is €4.00 per person per night. If the surcharge stayed at €4.00, a 5-star hotel stay would move from €7.50 to €11.00 per person per night from 1 April 2026.

However, the agreed framework allows Barcelona's surcharge to rise up to €8 over time (reported as a gradual increase through 2029). If Barcelona eventually applied the maximum €8, the combined total for a 5-star stay would reach €15 per person per night.

Prepaid bookingsThe Catalonia Tax Agency notes that for advance reservations, the applicable tariff can depend on the rate in force at the time of booking if the reservation and the tax are paid at that time. In practice, many travellers will see the final amount confirmed at check-in or on the final invoice.

What travelers are asking - Barcelona tourist tax 2026

Will this apply to my April 2026 trip to Barcelona?

If your stay includes nights from 1 April 2026 onward, you should expect the higher regional IEET rate to apply, subject to the February 2026 legislative approval.

Is the Barcelona tourist tax one charge or two?

It is effectively two parts: the regional IEET fee plus a Barcelona city surcharge that is added on top.

How much will I pay per night in 2026?

It depends on your accommodation type and the city surcharge in force at that time. The agreement reports a higher regional IEET rate from 1 April 2026, and Barcelona's surcharge is currently €4 but could be increased later by the city (up to a maximum of €8 under the agreed framework).

Does the fee apply to Airbnb and short lets?

Yes, the IEET covers dwellings for tourist use and other tourist accommodation types. You should see it collected by the provider or platform as part of your stay charges.

Do cruise passengers pay this tax?

Yes, the IEET applies to cruise ships calling at Catalan ports, with different amounts depending on the length of the stop.

Is there a maximum number of nights I am charged?

Yes. Catalonia caps the IEET at 7 consecutive nights per person in the same accommodation over a continuous period.

Are children exempt?

Under Catalonia Tax Agency guidance, stays by people under 17 are exempt.

Are there other exemptions?

Yes. The Catalonia Tax Agency lists exemptions for certain stays for health reasons (with requirements), stays subsidised by qualifying social programmes, and stays due to force majeure.

Where do I pay it?

You normally pay it to your accommodation provider (or cruise company). It is typically itemised on your invoice.

Will other Catalan destinations add new surcharges?

The January 2026 agreement reports that other municipalities would be able to apply a municipal surcharge (up to €4 and not higher than the regional fee for that accommodation type). Whether you pay it will depend on whether the municipality where you stay decides to apply it.

What to do now

• If you are booking for April 2026 or later, factor a higher per-person, per-night tax into your budget for Barcelona.

• Check whether your booking confirmation states if the tourist tax is included, partially included, or payable on arrival.

• For groups and families, multiply the per-person tax by the number of chargeable nights (up to 7) to estimate the total.

• If you are cruising into Barcelona, confirm whether your cruise line itemises the Catalonia tourist tax and how it is collected.

• If you are staying outside Barcelona in Catalonia, watch for local municipal surcharge decisions as April 2026 approaches.

• Keep receipts or invoices showing the IEET line item in case you need documentation for business travel or reimbursement.