Short-term rental prices at the higher end of Madrid’s accommodation market have soared ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, while locals are complaining that the event will bring noise, mobility problems and pollution to the city.
Some apartments in the host neighbourhood of Valdebebas have seen rental prices increase by as much as 1,000% for the race period, from 11 to 13 September 2026, according to real estate agents in the Spanish capital and local media reports. Euronews found one flat in the district listed on Airbnb at €11,400 for four days, described as “a house designed for VIP groups”.
Other luxury properties, including those in the city’s historic heart and areas such as Salamanca, Chamberí, Chamartín and Los Jerónimos, are being listed at up to 10 times their usual rates, according to local media reports.
Hotel room rates have also gone through the roof, reaching an average of €1,071 per night for the race weekend, an increase of 147% compared with the previous week, according to consultancy Simon-Kucher.
It’s a phenomenon that goes beyond accommodation. Unsurprisingly, with tens of thousands of motorsport fans expected to descend on the city, parking spaces in local garages are going for as much as €500 over the race weekend.
The demand is being driven by the sheer number of motorsport fans who want to see the race. Around 120,000 tickets have been sold, while 345,000 people are expected to participate in Grand Prix-related activities across the city. More than 80,000 visitors are expected to travel to Madrid for the event, including around 45,000 international spectators. The influx is anticipated to generate €467 million and nearly 9,000 jobs, according to analysis from PwC.
The Grand Prix joins Shakira’s Madrid residency and Celine Dion’s return to live performance in Paris among the major events on Europe’s autumn calendar that are pushing tourism demand and receipts to new levels.
Despite those economic positives, some Madrileños may be glad to see the back of the F1 race, although it is set to return annually for the next decade under the current contract. Residents have formed protest groups such as “Stop Formula 1 Madrid” to oppose a project they say “will only create noise and mobility problems for thousands of households and workers”. They also cite studies suggesting the event will “be a significant source of air pollution”.
For now, residents will have to see how the inaugural race affects their neighbourhoods, with many reportedly fitting properties with noise meters to monitor the disturbance. As the general director of a local golf course affected by a partial closure for the weekend put it: “Let’s see how it goes this year. It’s the first time, so we don’t really know how it’s going to go. So we will wait, and then we can have discussions with organisers again.”
