With plenty of flight and accommodation options, as well as the promise of warm weather during the winter, the Spanish spot is a solid option for British Holidaymakers. 

Tenerife has proved to be the most popular island destination for 2026, according to search analysis by Travel Supermarket.

Over the past year, the Canary island has seen an impressive 50 per cent increase in interest.

It’s perhaps not surprising, as the sunny spot boasts high temperatures when the UK starts to drop and has expansive coastlines to enjoy. 

Lanzarote followed in second place, but saw a 40 per cent decrease in interest, while Malta ranked third. 

Gran Canaria, which has been a popular spot for Brits to head to for a sunshine holiday for years, placed fifth but experienced a 38 per cent decrease in searches.

It comes as last year anti-tourism protests took place across various locations in the Canary Islands, including Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.

‘These remain hugely important and popular destinations for British holidaymakers,’ Chris Webber, Head of Holidays and Deals at TravelSupermarket notes. 

Tenerife has proved to be the most popular island destination for 2026, according to search analysis by Travel Supermarket

Tenerife has proved to be the most popular island destination for 2026, according to search analysis by Travel Supermarket

Over the past year, the Canary island has seen an impressive 50 per cent increase in interest

Over the past year, the Canary island has seen an impressive 50 per cent increase in interest

‘Lanzarote holds the second position overall in our rankings, and Gran Canaria ranks fifth.’

Despite any protests, the Spanish destinations are still managing to prove popular with Brits. 

Chris adds, ‘The scale of tourism to the Canaries means even with some shifts in search patterns, they continue to dominate British holiday choices.’ 

Elsewhere, Fuerteventura ranked fourth, Majorca placed sixth, followed by Crete, Cyprus, Rhodes and Mauritius making up the top 10 island destinations for 2026. 

Brits seem to remain undeterred by any tourism politics in Tenerife, and its warm weather certainly helps. 

The sunny destination reaches highs of around 21°C in January and February.

It placed fifth in Good To Go Travel Insurance’s recent top destinations for winter sun rankings. 

Another Spanish location, Benidorm, is also proving to be popular with British holidaymakers. 

Last year anti-tourism protests took place across various locations in the Canary Islands, including Lanzarote and Gran Canaria

Last year anti-tourism protests took place across various locations in the Canary Islands, including Lanzarote and Gran Canaria

Top 20 island destinations for 2026

  1. Tenerife
  2. Lanzarote
  3. Malta
  4. Fuerteventura
  5. Gran Canaria
  6. Majorca
  7. Crete
  8. Cyprus
  9. Rhodes
  10. Mauritius
  11. Maldives
  12. Zante
  13. Sri Lanka
  14. Kos
  15. Corfu
  16. Barbados
  17. Madeira
  18. Cape Verde
  19. Gozo
  20. Ibiza 

Brits now outnumber Spaniards staying in the famous Costa Blanca resort for the first time in seven years.

National tourists claimed the number one spot in 2017 and it stayed that way right through to 2024, even though most foreign holidaymakers were still British.

But UK holidaymakers can now boast of surpassing every nationality, including homegrown tourists, according to new hotel stay figures released by a local association.

HOSBEC, the Valencian Community’s Hotel and Tourism Business Association which has a massive presence in Benidorm, says last year’s stats show visitors from the UK made up a staggering 42.5 per cent of all those who stayed in the Costa town’s hotel accommodation.



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By Steve

Spain is one of my favourite places to visit. The weather, the food, people and way of life make it a great place to visit.