Madrid Times

Spanish Filmmakers Win Major Awards at Venice Film Festival

Several Spanish directors received top honours at the Venice International Film Festival, with acclaimed productions focusing on contemporary inequality and the legacy of the Spanish Civil War.

Spain Approves Major Stadium Upgrades Ahead of 2030 World Cup

Sports authorities and municipal governments approved renovation plans for major stadiums in Madrid, Barcelona and Seville as Spain prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Morocco.

Spain Proposes Primary Care Overhaul to Address Doctor Shortages

The Health Ministry unveiled reforms intended to improve pay and working conditions while reducing administrative burdens for primary care doctors as Spain responds to persistent staffing shortages and strikes.

Spain Expands Trade and Renewable Energy Agreements With Brazil, Chile and Colombia

Spain concluded new investment agreements with Brazil, Chile and Colombia aimed at securing corporate access to critical minerals while expanding Spanish renewable energy partnerships in Latin America.

Spanish AI Regulator Issues First National Rules for Automated Corporate Decisions

Spain’s artificial intelligence supervisory agency introduced guidelines requiring companies to conduct algorithmic audits when using AI systems for human resources and financial evaluations.

Iberdrola Secures More Than €1 Billion for Mediterranean Offshore Wind Projects

Spanish utility Iberdrola formed a joint venture with a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund that will provide more than €1 billion to accelerate floating offshore wind projects along the Spanish and Italian coasts.

Andalusia Imposes Tougher Water Restrictions as Reservoir Levels Fall Below 20%

Andalusian authorities introduced stricter limits on agricultural water use for olive and citrus growers after reservoirs in the Guadalquivir basin fell below 20% capacity following three consecutive years of severe drought.

Spain and Portugal Record Negative Electricity Prices as Solar Generation Surges

The Iberian wholesale power market posted several hours of negative pricing during peak daylight periods as record Spanish solar generation created excess supply and highlighted the need for additional battery storage.

Spain Secures EU Support to Accelerate H2Med Green Hydrogen Pipeline

Spain has secured European Union co-financing for the H2Med project, which is designed to transport Iberian green hydrogen to industrial customers in France and Germany.

Balearic Islands Cap Palma Cruise Arrivals at Two Ships a Day From 2027

The Balearic Islands have agreed to limit cruise ship dockings at Palma to two vessels a day from next year, responding to protests over overtourism and environmental pressure.

Spain Records 32 Million International Tourists During July and August

Spain received a record 32 million international visitors across July and August, generating unprecedented tourism revenue while adding to concerns over overcrowding, housing pressure and infrastructure capacity.

Spain Records More Than 21 Million Workers as Post-Summer Employment Holds Up

Spain ended August with more than 21 million people contributing to the social security system, indicating stronger employment retention beyond the traditional summer tourism peak.

Spain’s Core Inflation Falls to 1.9% in August

Official data showed Spanish core inflation eased to 1.9% in August, bringing underlying price growth below the European Central Bank’s target and providing relief for households facing elevated borrowing costs.

Spanish Banks Report More Than €8 Billion in Record Third-Quarter Profits

Santander, BBVA and other major Spanish banks posted combined quarterly profits exceeding €8 billion as high interest rates supported earnings, even as political pressure grows for higher exceptional banking taxes.

Spain Tightens Short-Term Rental Rules as Housing Affordability Crisis Deepens

The Housing Ministry has finalised a national registry and stricter licensing requirements for holiday rentals, seeking to return more properties to the residential market as housing pressures intensify in major cities.

Spain’s Population Surpasses 49 Million as Migration Drives Growth

Spain’s permanent population has exceeded 49 million for the first time, with immigration from Latin America and Europe offsetting the country’s continuing demographic decline.

Spain Accelerates Submarine and Frigate Procurement for Mediterranean Security

The Defence Ministry approved additional funding for Navantia to speed delivery of S-80 submarines and F-110 frigates as Spain strengthens its naval capabilities amid growing instability around the Mediterranean and North Africa.

Spain Confirms Additional Air Defence Support for Ukraine

Spain’s Defence Ministry said it will deploy additional advanced anti-aircraft missile systems and military training personnel to Ukraine, maintaining Madrid’s support for Kyiv despite criticism from parts of the governing coalition.

Bank of Spain Raises 2026 Growth Forecast to 2.8%

Spain’s central bank lifted its annual economic growth forecast to 2.8%, citing resilient domestic consumption, record exports and continued support from European Union recovery funding.

Amazon Web Services Announces €15 Billion Cloud and AI Expansion in Aragon

Amazon plans to invest €15 billion over the long term to expand data centres and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Spain’s Aragon region, reinforcing the country’s growing role in southern Europe’s cloud computing sector.

Spain Urges European Union to Increase Funding for North African Border Security

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for substantially greater European Union support for Morocco and Mauritania, arguing that Spain cannot bear the operational costs of protecting the bloc’s southern maritime border alone.

Canary Islands Seek Emergency Assistance After More Than 2,000 Migrants Arrive in 48 Hours

The Canary Islands government requested urgent financial and logistical support from Madrid after maritime rescue services intercepted more than 2,000 migrants from West Africa in two days, straining local reception capacity.

Sánchez Opens Difficult Talks to Secure Spain’s 2027 National Budget

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s minority government has begun negotiations with regional and separatist allies over the 2027 budget, facing demands for investment and tax concessions as it seeks enough parliamentary support to pass the sp...

Spain’s Supreme Court Reviews Amnesty Appeals Affecting Exiled Catalan Leaders

Spain’s Supreme Court has begun considering final procedural appeals over the national amnesty law, with the outcome determining whether prominent exiled Catalan separatist politicians can return without immediate detention.

Spain Advances Catalonia Fiscal Autonomy Plan With Expanded Tax Collection Powers

Spain’s central government and Catalonia are making progress on a financing agreement that would give the region unprecedented tax collection authority, intensifying constitutional and political disputes over Spain’s system of regional f...

Tour de France Draws Nearly 2.8 Million Spanish TV Viewers

Spanish broadcasts of the Tour de France attracted audiences of nearly 2.8 million, highlighting continued strong domestic interest in professional cycling despite the absence of a dominant Spanish contender.

San Sebastián Film Festival to Premiere Tilda Swinton Climate Musical ‘The End’

The San Sebastián International Film Festival will screen “The End,” an apocalyptic musical starring Tilda Swinton that examines climate catastrophe and wealthy survivalists.

Foreign Buyers Rush to Spain’s Golden Visa Program Ahead of Planned Abolition

Wealth managers and property developers report increased demand from non-European investors seeking Spain’s residency-by-investment program before the government’s planned abolition of the scheme takes full effect.

Spanish Companies Increase Sustainable Commuting Incentives for Employees

Large companies in Spain are expanding incentives for cycling and public transport following research linking commuting patterns with health outcomes and corporate carbon emissions.

Spain’s Supreme Court Weighs Export of Painting Attributed to Velázquez

Spain’s Supreme Court is considering whether a damaged portrait tentatively attributed to Diego Velázquez can be exported and sold internationally, in a case that could affect national rules protecting cultural heritage.

Repsol Shares Rise as Oil Prices and Dividend Appeal Support Investor Demand

Shares in Spanish energy group Repsol opened September with gains on the IBEX 35 as firmer oil prices and continued investor interest in its dividend policy supported the stock.

Spanish Researchers Develop Climate-Resilient Wheat Using Wild Genetics

Spanish and international scientists have demonstrated the use of resilient wild wheat genetics in commercial crops, aiming to improve food security as extreme heat and drought intensify.

Málaga to Host 2026 Global Photonics Economic Forum

Málaga will host the Global Photonics Economic Forum in late September 2026, reinforcing Andalusia’s efforts to attract investment in photonics, semiconductors, artificial intelligence infrastructure and digital engineering.

Spanish Infrastructure Groups Expand Overseas Bidding as Domestic Projects Mature

Major Spanish construction and infrastructure companies are increasing bids for projects in North America and the Middle East as domestic public works programs begin to stabilize.

Spain Restructures Barcelona’s Zona Franca to Meet Rising Logistics Demand

Spain’s central government and Catalonia have introduced new administrative arrangements for Barcelona’s Zona Franca as the industrial hub adapts to rising e-commerce and supply-chain demand.

Spanish Mortgage Market Stabilizes as Euribor Holds Near High 2.7% Range

The 12-month Euribor rate has stabilized around the upper 2.7% range, maintaining pressure on Spanish households with variable-rate mortgages after months of volatility.

Spain’s Fintech Sector Expands Beyond 400 Active Companies

Spain now has more than 400 active fintech companies, concentrated largely in Madrid and Barcelona, as the national regulatory sandbox attracts investment while maintaining formal compliance requirements.

Foreign Tourist Spending in Spain Jumps 23.7% During Peak Summer Months

Spending by international visitors rose 23.7% during Spain’s peak summer season, reflecting stronger expenditure from higher-value travelers across the country’s hospitality sector.

Spain’s Tourism Spending Rises 14.4% Despite Overtourism Protests

Total domestic and international tourism spending in Spain increased 14.4% year on year during the summer, according to BBVA data, even as protests against mass tourism continued in several major destinations.

Bizum Expands Into Physical Retail Payments Across Spain

Spanish mobile payment platform Bizum is moving deeper into physical point-of-sale transactions as it seeks to compete more directly with global card networks for everyday consumer spending.

Banco de España Joins European Central Bank Digital Euro Pilot Preparations

Spain’s central bank is taking part in preparations for the European Central Bank’s digital euro pilot alongside 18 other national institutions, positioning the country’s digital payment system as a testing ground for the project.

Salvador Illa Sets Out Pragmatic Strategy to Counter Catalan Separatists and Far Right

Catalan President Salvador Illa is focusing his government on wealth inequality and housing shortages as part of an effort to reduce support for pro-independence and far-right political movements.