Monthly Bookkeeping Packages as low as $250/month ~ First month is free!

Tourist Taxes to Expect for Americans Abroad in 2026

As you dream about visiting London, Paris, or embarking on a Mediterranean cruise in 2026, prepare for a new line item on your travel receipts: tourist taxes. Globally, governments are increasingly implementing visitor levies and entry fees to finance infrastructure, preserve historic sites, and manage tourist influx— with several notable changes slated for 2026.

For American travelers, this doesn’t imply staying home. Instead, it’s essential to acquaint yourself with upcoming changes, ensuring those "little extras" don’t catch you off guard during your travels.

Image 2

Here's an overview of significant tourist taxes expected to impact U.S. travelers in 2026, starting with London.

London & England: Visitor Levies on Overnight Stays

London is inching closer to joining the roster of global cities imposing a tourist tax on hotel and short-term rental stays. With ongoing discussions, the UK government is now considering empowering English mayors to enact overnight visitor levies under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, targeting growth in non-metropolitan locales.

Mayor Sadiq Khan supports a "modest" tourist levy akin to systems in Paris, New York, and Tokyo. Current models suggest a tax set at around 5% of the room cost per night—approximately £10–£12 (about $12–$15).

Key points for 2026:

  • Who could pay: Individuals staying overnight in hotels, B&Bs, and short-term rentals in London and possibly other English city-regions where mayors opt for the levy.
  • Funding usage: Local transport, street improvements, cultural venues, and tourism infrastructure.
  • Timing: Powers are under finalization; English city levies (potentially including London) might launch in 2026, with specific dates and rates hinging on local deliberations post-consultation.

For clients heading to London, the pragmatic takeaway is clear: anticipate a minor per-night fee added to your accommodation bill in 2026, supplementing VAT and service fees.

Edinburgh: The UK’s Pioneering Visitor Levy

If Scotland is on your itinerary, Edinburgh is set to lead as the UK's first city with an officially sanctioned visitor levy, under new Scottish legislation. The Independent notes Edinburgh will be the first UK city to lawfully charge visitors for overnight stays in early 2026, while other English destinations remain in consultation.

Travel insights indicate Edinburgh’s levy will be 5% of accommodation costs, applicable to the initial nights—mirroring European cities. Condé Nast Traveller earmarks the Edinburgh model for London’s proposed levy, launching a 5% charge in July, applicable to the first five nights.

Image 3

Implications:

  • A family spending £200 per night at a central Edinburgh hotel may face about £10 per night in visitor levies.
  • This charge will appear as a separate invoice line, collected by venues and conveyed to the city.

For Americans eyeing Scotland in 2026, this serves as a budgeting alert rather than a deterrent—yet another reason to scrutinize the fine print when comparing hotel options.

Venice: Day-Trip Levies on Specific 2026 Dates

Venice has been notorious for its tourism-related measures, and in 2026, the city will experiment with a day-trip fee scheme aimed at cruise passengers and short-stay visitors.

According to travel industry reporting, Venice’s "access contribution" will be levied on selected dates between April 18 to July 27, 2026, costing €5 for advance bookings and €10 for last-minute entries. This levy differs from existing "city taxes" for overnight stays.

Practically speaking:

  • Who pays: Day-trippers entering Venice without overnight stays on specific dates.
  • How it works: Travelers secure entry online (for reduced fees) or pay higher fees closer to arrival. Enforcement focuses on busy access points and peak days.

Clients planning Mediterranean cruises including Venice, or rapid train day trips from other Italian cities, should be aware of this fee to avoid confusion. It’s wise to review cruise details and local guidance for 2026 port arrivals.

France in 2026: ETIAS Fees & Higher Museum Pricing

France is escalating various costs for non-EU tourists, notably Americans, in 2026.

International tourist tax summaries spotlight that as of late 2026, travelers from visa-exempt nations, including the U.S., must acquire a €20 ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) clearance to enter France and other Schengen-area nations—an increase from earlier €7 proposals. ETIAS resembles the U.S. ESTA system, serving as a single authorization for multiple short-term trips.

Additionally, France plans to raise entry fees at major attractions for non-EU visitors starting January 2026. Prominent locations like the Louvre and Château de Versailles may charge roughly €25–€30 per ticket for non-EU guests.

Image 1

Moreover, France's longstanding Taxe de Séjour (tourist lodging tax) will persist, ranging from approximately €0.65 to €15.60 per person per night, contingent on the accommodation style and category—from campsites to high-end "palace" hotels.

Key 2026 changes for U.S. tourists in France include:

  • The €20 ETIAS requirement (in conjunction with airline taxes).
  • Increased pricing at iconic museums.
  • Pre-existing nightly lodging taxes that accumulate over extended stays.

Spain: Barcelona, the Balearic Islands & New 2026 Surcharges

Spain is also revisiting its tourist tax framework for 2026, with Barcelona and the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza, etc.) taking center stage.

Per industry reports:

  • Catalonia & Barcelona will persist with a regional tourist tax on overnight stays, fluctuating from about €0.60 to €3.50 per person per night, subject to accommodation star ratings.
  • In Barcelona, a new municipal surcharge will commence in 2026 at €5 per person per night, escalating gradually to €8 per night by 2029. Combined with the regional tax, this might elevate the total nightly levy to approximately €15 per person for luxury properties towards the decade's end.
  • The Balearic Islands will maintain their "sustainable tourism" tax, ranging from €1–€4 per person per night during high season (May–October), with reduced rates in the off-season.

For an American family of four lodging at a mid-range Barcelona hotel in 2026, expect an added €12–€20 per night from combined regional and municipal surcharges—vital for budgeting extended stays.

Mexico: Elevated Cruise Passenger Taxes in 2026

Tourist tax developments aren’t confined to Europe. Mexico has consistently imposed state and federal tourism fees, but a notable shift will affect cruise passengers traveling south in 2026.

Industry analyses state that Mexico's Federal Cruise Ship Passenger Tax, set at $5 per passenger in 2025, will rise to $10 in 2026, with further increments ahead. Cruise lines generally include this fee within overall port fees, preventing travelers from identifying specific cost increases.

Additionally, state-level tourism fees endure—for instance:

  • Quintana Roo’s Visitax, about 283 MXN (roughly $15) per foreign visitor, for locales like Cancún, Tulum, and Cozumel.
  • Baja California Sur’s state tourism tax approximates 470 MXN (around $36) per visitor staying beyond 24 hours.

For cruise aficionados, the concern is less about unexpected bills at ports and more about understanding why 2026 package prices might surpass those of previous seasons.

Tourist taxes aren’t vanishing—in fact, 2026 is poised to mark their emergence as the "new normal" in international travel budgeting.

Here's how this firm can assist in preparing for your 2026 travels:

  • Highlight these fees during planning discussions. Don’t shy away from discussing London, Edinburgh, Venice, or other major European destinations when consulting our office about 2026. We’ll gladly offer advice regarding overnight levies, ETIAS charges, and museum fee hikes within your travel budget.
  • Maintain receipts. Business travelers might be able to deduct some accommodation-related levies when traveling primarily for business. Preserve your receipts for future analysis.
  • Verify official sources during bookings. Many of these measures are still being finalized. We can guide you to local government tourism sites or primary travel advisories for current rates and schedules.

In conclusion, while tourist taxes generally won’t deter travel plans, their presence will be more conspicuous in 2026. A bit of foresight—and a clear depiction from a trusted advisor—can keep these added fees from becoming unwelcome surprises.

Share this article...

Want our best tax and bookkeeping tips and insights delivered to your inbox?

Sign up for our newsletter.

I confirm this is a service inquiry and not an advertising message or solicitation. By clicking “Submit”, I acknowledge and agree to the creation of an account and to the and .

Social Media

Location

649 N. Lewis Road, Suite 100-43
Limerick, PA 19468
Hours: By Appointment Only