Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca holiday warning as tourists face major change in 2026

Locals and holidaymakers in the iconic Balearic Islands are bracing for what could be a major overhaul of vehicle rules in the Spanish archipelago next year. Representatives from the regional government and island council presidents will soon be meeting to examine the implementation of a regional limit on vehicles entering all the islands.

The government is looking to establish an umbrella law for the whole of the Balearics, as both Formentera and Ibiza have already implemented regulations on the issue. In Majorca, restrictions on the arrival of vehicles and hire cars are scheduled to be approved by the Council of Mallorca before the end of this year, followed by the Balearic Parliament in the first quarter of 2026. These restrictions are due to be in place before the start of the 2026 tourism season.

The draft bill for Majorca includes fines for individuals who violate regulations and for car-hire companies. Those who falsify entry credentials could face penalties of up to €10,000 (£), while car-hire companies could be slapped with €30,000 (£ fines for failing to report the registration numbers of all vehicles transported to Majorca.

Other penalties contemplate immobilising vehicles for up to four months and withdrawing their authorisation to be on the roads, preventing a company from obtaining a new one for a period of two years, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reported.

The draft proposals also include limiting the number of rental cars allowed on the island at any given time, a one-car-per-driver rule, especially for non-residents who currently own property, and priority access for low-emission or electric vehicles.

The path to the bill's approval, however, will not be straightforward. The far-right Vox party provides the main obstacle for the Partido Popular party (PP) in government and at the Council of Mallorca. The party has rejected the proposals for limits, so the PP will need the support of the opposition Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and the left-wing Més. If an agreement can be reached, the government hopes to set restrictions that are consistent across the archipelago.

Majorca, in particular, has been struggling to cope with the influx of cars. In 2023, 400,000 vehicles arrived at its port - double that of 2017.

This comes as Brits have been warned that they could face an increase in tourist tax when visiting the Balearic Islands next year. The CCOO, a leading trade union on the islands, has suggested raising the existing tourist tax to €15 per day (£13). The proposed tax would be applicable for stays during July and August, the peak months on these Mediterranean islands.

Currently, the Balearics impose a tourist tax ranging from €0.5 to €4 per day (approximately £0.44 to £3.49), depending on whether tourists visit during the high or low season and the type of accommodation they stay in.