FITUR 2026 Highlights Sports Tourism with Melilla and C.D. Leganés Initiatives

At FITUR 2026 in Madrid, Spain is spotlighting sports tourism through significant events and collaborations led by regional sports departments and football clubs. The Melilla Department of Sports kicked off a busy schedule focused on promoting the city as a sports tourism destination nationally and internationally. Key meetings include discussions with Rafael Louzán, president of the Spanish Football Federation, on hosting a beach football event in Melilla this summer, which will be part of the 2026 sports programming. In addition, talks with Felipe Pascual, president of the Spanish Volleyball Federation, aim to secure future collaborations and support for local teams. The agenda also involved strategic networking with major stakeholders like Armas Trasmediterránea and the new sports sponsor IAG7 Viajes to drive the Water Games project.

Meanwhile, C.D. Leganés engaged FITUR to showcase Ontime Butarque Stadium as a prime venue blending football and tourism. On January 24th, the club hosted a presentation titled “Fútbol + Turismo: Ontime Butarque, el Estadio Boutique de Madrid,” including a gastronomic tasting and virtual reality experiences with their mascot SuperPepino. They also announced a 50% discount on tickets for an upcoming match and raffled hospitality packages, seeking to enhance fan engagement and promote the stadium beyond its sporting function.

These initiatives underscore a strategic push to harness sports and related events as dynamic drivers of tourism growth in Spain. Officials emphasized the broad national and international impact of such collaborations, marking an intensive period focused on sports tourism development at the ongoing fair.