Marseille continues on its momentum.
The Phocaean city presents a positive assessment of its 2026 tourism season, with a 5% rise in overnight stays by leisure visitors between May and mid-August, compared with the same period in 2025.
If the first three months of summer show a solid uptick, August, for its part, remained stable.
This momentum unfolds in a context marked by several heatwaves, which led some travelers to reconsider their vacation plans.
The programming of the “Marseille Summer” season, run by the City and the Office of Tourism, Leisure and Congresses, notably helped bolster activity.
The Phocaean city presents a positive assessment of its 2026 tourism season, with a 5% rise in overnight stays by leisure visitors between May and mid-August, compared with the same period in 2025.
If the first three months of summer show a solid uptick, August, for its part, remained stable.
This momentum unfolds in a context marked by several heatwaves, which led some travelers to reconsider their vacation plans.
The programming of the “Marseille Summer” season, run by the City and the Office of Tourism, Leisure and Congresses, notably helped bolster activity.
Des événements qui dopent la fréquentation
The events calendar proved to be one of the season’s engines.
From the month of May, four consecutive holiday weekends, paired with several major happenings, encouraged arrivals.
The matches of Top 14, Corsu Mezu Mezu and JUL concerts notably helped fill the accommodations.
The momentum continued in June with the concerts of ‘Alonzo, the Marsatac festival, the Top 14 semifinals at the Vélodrome Stadium or the Au Large festival.
July turned out to be the busiest month of the period. It also accounted for the largest share of foreign overnights, at 32% of the total during the period.
The Bad Bunny concert, held on July 1 at Cepac Vélodrome, epitomizes the impact of major events on tourist activity: overnight stays rose by 60% compared with 2025 on the evening of the concert.
From the month of May, four consecutive holiday weekends, paired with several major happenings, encouraged arrivals.
The matches of Top 14, Corsu Mezu Mezu and JUL concerts notably helped fill the accommodations.
The momentum continued in June with the concerts of ‘Alonzo, the Marsatac festival, the Top 14 semifinals at the Vélodrome Stadium or the Au Large festival.
July turned out to be the busiest month of the period. It also accounted for the largest share of foreign overnights, at 32% of the total during the period.
The Bad Bunny concert, held on July 1 at Cepac Vélodrome, epitomizes the impact of major events on tourist activity: overnight stays rose by 60% compared with 2025 on the evening of the concert.
Les clientèles internationales au rendez-vous
Germany remains the leading foreign market in terms of overnight stays, with a 14% year-on-year rise. The United States nonetheless shows the most dramatic growth among the major markets: +21%.
Spain rises by 3% and Switzerland by 11%. Conversely, British visitors fall by 20%. The Tourist Office explains this decline by the higher cost of holidays, which may have pushed some Britons to favor the domestic market, but also by the new Brexit-related formalities.
The American market could continue to expand with the opening, in June 2027, of a new direct connection between Marseille and New York.
On the French side, Nouvelle-Aquitaine (+14%), Occitanie (+10%) and Hauts-de-France (+6%) drive the growth. Île-de-France remains the leading source region, with 1.26 million overnight stays, steady compared with 2025.
Spain rises by 3% and Switzerland by 11%. Conversely, British visitors fall by 20%. The Tourist Office explains this decline by the higher cost of holidays, which may have pushed some Britons to favor the domestic market, but also by the new Brexit-related formalities.
The American market could continue to expand with the opening, in June 2027, of a new direct connection between Marseille and New York.
On the French side, Nouvelle-Aquitaine (+14%), Occitanie (+10%) and Hauts-de-France (+6%) drive the growth. Île-de-France remains the leading source region, with 1.26 million overnight stays, steady compared with 2025.
Près de 140 000 visiteurs renseignés
The tourism performance is also reflected in the hotel sector. Over the May-August period, the occupancy rate rises by an average of 2.3 percentage points. It reaches 81% in May (+4.5 points), 84% in June (+2.6 points), then 81% in July (+3.1 points). In August, the occupancy rate stands at 87%, a slight decline of 1.2 points.
Average prices have, for their part, risen by 1.9% across the entire period, enabling RevPAR to advance by 5% compared with 2025. Conversely, furnished rental accommodations record a 12% drop in reserved overnight stays from May to July. The City links this trend to its policy of regulating the tourist rental stock to promote long-term housing.
Beyond accommodation performance, the Office de Tourisme welcome programs also saw strong activity. Between May and August, travel counselors assisted nearly 80,000 people.
The “Hors les Murs” initiative, deployed notably in the Calanques, at the Mucem, on the Vieux-Port and through cargo bicycles, enabled informing nearly 60,000 additional visitors. In the face of high heat, the Office also adapted its guided tours, prioritizing morning and late afternoon time slots. A new evening tour, “Malmousque in the Evening,” offered at 18:30, was particularly well received.
Average prices have, for their part, risen by 1.9% across the entire period, enabling RevPAR to advance by 5% compared with 2025. Conversely, furnished rental accommodations record a 12% drop in reserved overnight stays from May to July. The City links this trend to its policy of regulating the tourist rental stock to promote long-term housing.
Beyond accommodation performance, the Office de Tourisme welcome programs also saw strong activity. Between May and August, travel counselors assisted nearly 80,000 people.
The “Hors les Murs” initiative, deployed notably in the Calanques, at the Mucem, on the Vieux-Port and through cargo bicycles, enabled informing nearly 60,000 additional visitors. In the face of high heat, the Office also adapted its guided tours, prioritizing morning and late afternoon time slots. A new evening tour, “Malmousque in the Evening,” offered at 18:30, was particularly well received.
Marseille mise sur les activités et la fréquentation à l’année
The Marseille Experience platform, which markets hundreds of local activities, also confirms its growth.
From May to August, its turnover surpassed €788,000, with particular success for water activities, the Petit Train and the City Pass.
For the City, the challenge is now to transform this summer momentum into sustained attendance, while limiting tourist pressure on certain sectors. The stated objective is twofold: to preserve residents’ quality of life and to better distribute tourist activity throughout the year.
A balancing act that is expected to persist as Marseille aims to strengthen its international appeal, driven by major events, foreign clientele and the opening of new flight connections.
From May to August, its turnover surpassed €788,000, with particular success for water activities, the Petit Train and the City Pass.
For the City, the challenge is now to transform this summer momentum into sustained attendance, while limiting tourist pressure on certain sectors. The stated objective is twofold: to preserve residents’ quality of life and to better distribute tourist activity throughout the year.
A balancing act that is expected to persist as Marseille aims to strengthen its international appeal, driven by major events, foreign clientele and the opening of new flight connections.
