FITUR Cruises 2027 will return to Madrid from 20 to 24 January with its largest exhibition space to date, as the cruise tourism section of the International Tourism Fair continues to expand its role as a meeting place for the Spanish-speaking cruise industry. Organised by IFEMA MADRID in collaboration with Cruceroadicto, the event will bring together cruise lines, ports, destinations, travel agencies and travellers for its sixth edition.
The 2027 edition will move to Hall 4, creating more space for companies and organisations connected to the cruise sector. Discover Puerto Rico will serve as the event’s global sponsor. Organisers say the larger venue reflects the steady increase in participation over recent editions and is intended to make it easier for exhibitors, tourism professionals and visitors to connect.
The expansion comes as the global cruise industry reports continued growth. According to the Cruise Lines International Association’s State of the Cruise Industry Report 2026, 37.2 million passengers took cruises worldwide in 2025, the highest figure recorded by the sector. The report also found strong levels of passenger satisfaction and repeat interest, with almost 90 percent of passengers saying they intend to take another cruise in the future.
FITUR Cruises was launched in 2022 and has since developed a model that brings together four major parts of the cruise market: cruise lines, destinations and ports, travel agencies and travellers. The organisers describe it as the only Spanish-language event focused on bringing these groups together under one platform.
That combination gives the event both a business and consumer role. Industry professionals can use the fair to build contacts and explore commercial opportunities, while travellers can learn more directly about cruise holidays and the companies operating in the market.
The 2027 programme will include several activities that have become part of FITUR Cruises, including Plaza Cruise Market, Cruise Campus, Cruise Scavenger Hunt and the “Todos a bordo!” activities for travellers. The Cruceroadicto Awards will also return as part of the programme.
The professional programme will examine some of the issues shaping the cruise industry as demand and the range of cruise products continue to increase. Discussions are expected to cover cruise line strategies, changing traveller preferences, the role of ports and destinations, sustainability, technology and the challenge of managing capacity.
One of the central discussions will look at how the cruise experience itself is changing. The debate will consider whether passengers continue to view cruises mainly as a way to visit several destinations during one trip, or whether the ship is increasingly becoming a major part of the holiday experience in its own right.
This question reflects a broader shift in how cruise holidays are being designed and marketed. As cruise lines expand their products and seek to attract different types of travellers, the balance between the destinations visited and the onboard experience has become an important part of the industry’s development.
FITUR Cruises will once again divide its programme between industry activity during the professional days of FITUR and consumer-focused initiatives over the weekend. The format is designed to connect business discussions with direct interaction between the cruise industry and potential passengers.
With its move to Hall 4 and its largest exhibition area since its launch, FITUR Cruises 2027 will give the cruise sector a larger presence within FITUR while continuing to connect companies, destinations, travel sellers and travellers in the same setting. The event will take place in Madrid from 20 to 24 January 2027.
