Tourists are returning to Ireland. After a more difficult year for the sector in 2025, overseas visitor numbers have risen sharply since the start of 2026. Between January and July, nearly 3.9 million overseas visitors spent at least one night in the country, up 13% year on year.
However, the latest figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) paint a more nuanced picture than a simple tourism “boom”: Ireland is primarily returning to the visitor levels seen in 2024. Behind these millions of visitors, several notable trends are emerging in terms of who is currently travelling to the island.
Nearly 3.9 million tourists in Ireland since January
Visitor numbers up 13% on 2025
The figures are fairly encouraging for Irish tourism. Between January and July 2026, the CSO estimates that around 3.917 million trips were made by overseas visitors who spent at least one night in Ireland.
Over the same period in 2025, there were around 3.456 million. Visitor numbers have therefore risen by 13% in the space of a year.
Comparison with 2024 nevertheless puts this rebound into perspective. Between January and July 2024, around 3.903 million trips were recorded. The 2026 figure is therefore only around 0.4% higher than in 2024.
Rather than a historic surge in visitor numbers, the figures primarily point to a recovery in Irish tourism following the decline recorded in 2025.
More than 676,000 overseas visitors in July alone
Summer visitor numbers continue to rise
July confirmed this improvement. Around 676,300 overseas visitors completed a trip to Ireland during July 2026.
That is 5% more than in July 2025 and around 3% more than in July 2024.
Together, these travellers spent around 5.2 million nights in the country.
The average stay was therefore 7.6 nights, down slightly from the 7.9 nights recorded in July 2025.
Where do tourists visiting Ireland come from?
British, European and North American visitors dominate
Irish tourism is underpinned by three major markets, which together account for the overwhelming majority of visitors.
In July 2026, travellers resident in Britain accounted for 32% of overseas visitors. Tourists from continental Europe also accounted for 32%, while visitors from North America made up 30% of the total.
Other parts of the world accounted for only 6% of visitors.
Among the most represented nationalities, the CSO recorded around 217,900 British residents who completed a trip to Ireland in July, along with 174,900 US residents and 45,700 German residents.
Visitor numbers from continental Europe saw the largest increase compared with July 2025, rising by 9%. Britain rose by 4% and North America by 2%.
Why do overseas visitors come to Ireland?
Holidays remain the main reason
Unsurprisingly, holidays are the main reason for travelling to Ireland.
In July 2026, around 337,400 people, or half of the overseas visitors surveyed, said they had come for holidays, leisure or recreational activities.
Visiting family and friends came second. This applied to around 193,900 travellers, or 29% of the total.
Business travel accounted for around 11% of trips.
These figures confirm the considerable importance of leisure tourism among Ireland’s overseas visitors during the summer season.
Tourists are spending more in Ireland
€681 million spent in July
The increase is not limited to visitor numbers. Spending is rising even faster.
In July 2026, overseas visitors spent around €681 million in Ireland, excluding the cost of transport to reach the country.
That represents an increase of 9% compared with July 2025, when spending reached around €624 million.
Average spending now stands at around €1,006 per visitor, compared with €965 a year earlier.
Including international transport fares, the total amount associated with travel reached around €944 million in July alone.
American tourists remain particularly high spenders
€300 million spent by North American visitors
North American visitors occupy a particularly important place in Ireland’s tourism economy.
While they accounted for around 30% of overseas visitors recorded in July, they generated around €300 million in spending, excluding transport fares.
That corresponds to 44% of all overseas tourism expenditure recorded during the month.
Visitors from continental Europe spent around €209 million, compared with €127 million for those from Britain and €45 million for those from other parts of the world.
The North American market therefore remains particularly strategic for Irish tourism, even when its visitor numbers are lower than those from Britain or continental Europe as a whole.
Hotels remain travellers’ first choice
44% of overseas tourists choose hotels
The statistics also provide a better understanding of how visitors arrange accommodation during their trip to Ireland.
In July, around 295,700 travellers, or 44% of overseas visitors, said that a hotel was their main type of accommodation.
One third of visitors stayed in their own accommodation or with relatives, while around 7% mainly used rented or self-catering accommodation.
This high use of hotels also helps explain why room availability and prices are an important consideration when planning a trip to Ireland during the high season.
Does the return of tourists change anything for travellers?
Plan further ahead during the high season
For travellers currently planning a stay in Ireland, these statistics do not, of course, mean that every tourist site will be overcrowded.
They do, however, confirm that tourism demand remains high during the summer, particularly for accommodation.
For a trip in July or August, booking sufficiently early therefore remains particularly worthwhile, especially in the most sought-after destinations such as Dublin, Galway, Killarney, Kerry or certain stops along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Travellers with greater flexibility may also consider periods just before or after the high season. May, June and September generally offer the chance to discover Ireland with fewer visitors than at the height of summer, while still benefiting from long days for sightseeing and road trips.
Is 2026 really a record year for Irish tourism?
The figures need some perspective
The 13% increase reported since the start of the year is striking when compared with 2025. But it would be premature to speak of a new tourism record.
Over the first seven months of 2026, visitor numbers were only 0.4% higher than those recorded over the same period in 2024.
2026 therefore primarily marks a strong rebound compared with 2025 and a return to the levels seen two years earlier.
The figures for the coming months will show whether this momentum continues through the autumn and whether Ireland ultimately finishes 2026 above its recent levels.
Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Inbound Tourism July 2026, statistics published on 27 August 2026.
