Migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands plunge 85% in 2026

A total of 1,334 migrants arrived irregularly in the Canary Islands up to March 15, 2026, representing a 85.3% decrease compared with the same period in 2025 (9,062). These people reached the archipelago aboard 13 vessels, a 90.6% drop from last year’s 138 ships, according to data released on Monday by the Ministry of the Interior and cited by Europa Press.

Across Spain, 5,606 migrants entered irregularly by mid‑March, 50.1% fewer than the 11,231 recorded in the same period of the previous year. The report also shows that, by sea, 3,965 migrants have arrived in Spain so far in 2026, 63.8% less than the 10,948 arrivals recorded during the same timeframe last year. This year’s arrivals were made in 150 vessels, 104 fewer than in 2025.

By sea, 2,622 migrants have reached the Spanish Peninsula (1,469) and the Balearic Islands (1,153), 39.3% more than the 1,882 arrivals in the same period of 2025. These migrants came on 135 vessels, 21 more than the previous year.

• Peninsula: 456 more migrants than in the first half of March 2025, a 45.0% increase, arriving on 80 vessels (five more than in 2025).
• Balearic Islands: 284 additional migrants, a 32.7% rise, arriving on 55 vessels (16 more than in the first half of March 2025).

In the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, a total of 1,641 people entered irregularly by land this year, 479% more than the same period last year. Ceuta saw 1,604 migrants, 1,338 more than the previous year, while Melilla recorded 37 arrivals, compared with 17 in 2025.

By sea, the Interior Ministry reports that 9 migrants reached Melilla by March 15, 2026 (up from one the year before), whereas Ceuta recorded no arrivals, down from three in 2025.