25,000 March Through Palma as Mallorca's Anti-Tourism Protests Escalate for Third Year

Third consecutive summer of mass protest

About 25,000 people, according to the National Police, filled the centre of Palma on Sunday evening, 26 July, for the third consecutive year of mass demonstrations against overtourism. The march, called by the platform Menys Turisme, Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life), drew support from at least 134 entities, including unions CCOO and UGT, housing groups, and ecologist organisations. The route ran from Plaça d'Espanya through La Rambla and the Passeig del Born, ending at Ses Voltes by the cathedral. Restaurant terraces were removed to avoid the tense scenes witnessed in 2024.

It is very important to come out this year. It is the last summer before the elections and we are exceeding all records, all limits.

The slogan "Mallorca al límit" (Mallorca at the limit) had been used by the environmental group GOB in 2000, when the archipelago received about half the tourists it does today.

Housing emergency and gentrification

The protest's primary driver was the housing crisis. Organisers argue that homes have become speculative financial assets, pushing local residents out of the market.

I decided to come out because of the emergency we have when buying a house, the overcrowding and how everything is getting more expensive.

The platform demands a ban on speculative purchases by non-residents and investment funds, the elimination of short-term holiday rentals, and a large-scale programme of public housing construction. Regional president Marga Prohens (PP) says her government is prioritising resident access, but participants dismissed those measures as insufficient.

Arrests and controversy around direct action

The rally was held in a climate of heightened tension. Two activists were detained by the Guardia Civil two weeks before the march, accused of belonging to a criminal group for spray-painting the windows of five luxury real estate agencies in Santa Maria del Camí. Organisers had also circulated a manual that suggested actions such as graffiti and lock-blocking at tourist businesses, drawing sharp public criticism.

A tourism model under strain

The Balearic Islands welcomed a record 18.9 million visitors in 2025, roughly double the figure of 2000. This summer is expected to surpass that record, and Dani Comas warned that the total solar eclipse visible from the archipelago on 12 August could push tourist pressure even higher. The platform is calling for a reduction in tourist bed capacity, water restrictions on large consumers (golf courses, hotels), a ban on speculative housing purchases, and the promotion of sustainable mobility. The protest followed a human chain at Es Trenc beach weeks earlier in defence of natural spaces.

Political momentum ahead of regional elections

With regional elections looming, organisers framed this summer as a critical moment to force a shift away from what they term a "tourism monoculture." Political representatives from PSIB-PSOE and MÉS per Mallorca joined the march, while over 145 collectives lent their support. The event closed with a manifesto reading and a performance of Mallorca's anthem.