Sweden tourism surge 2026

Sweden’s tourism sector continued to expand through the summer of 2026. In June, the country recorded a new high of 7.58 million guest nights, a 3 % rise over the previous year and 24 % above the 2016 level, with foreign visitors accounting for 28.7 % of stays. The largest source markets remained Germany, Norway, the United States, the Netherlands and Denmark, while southern‑European tourists, especially from France and Spain, posted sharp increases of roughly 20 % and 49 % respectively in June‑July.

Overall foreign overnight stays rose 6.4 % in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, driven in part by a growth in boat‑night activity. Industry officials highlighted the potential for job creation and soft‑power gains, noting a shift toward more dispersed, lower‑impact destinations to curb mass‑tourism pressures.

Despite the visitor boom, the hospitality sector faced strain: July 2026 saw a 21 % jump in bankruptcies among hotels and restaurants, and corporate bankruptcies rose 4 % nationwide, making the sector the hardest‑hit part of the economy.