The extra-long Carnival weekend was consolidated as a strong driver of economic activity at the start of 2026. According to official data and private-sector figures, 3 million people traveled across the country, with hotel occupancy levels above 80% in the main destinations, in what is already considered a historic peak for a Carnival holiday.
According to the survey by the Argentine Confederation of Medium-Sized Enterprises (CAME), tourist activity represented a 7.2% year-on-year increase compared with the same weekend last year. The report also detailed that total spending reached $1,007,793 million, concentrated mainly on food, beverages, lodging, transportation, recreation, and miscellaneous purchases.
"Total direct spending by tourists grew 6% at constant prices compared with the same weekend last year, and daily spending, which averaged $111,605 per tourist, fell 7.7%", the CAME report highlighted, a figure that reflects greater efficiency in consumption without sacrificing the volume of activity.
The average stay was 3 days, with a strong concentration in traditional Carnival calendar destinations. Among the most popular, towns in Entre Ríos, Corrientes, Tucumán, Salta, and Jujuy stood out, along with various points on the Atlantic Coast, San Carlos de Bariloche, and other major cities in Patagonia.
The business association also emphasized the exceptional nature of tourist activity: "The 2026 Carnival numbers were a historic record in terms of the number of tourists. The best mark had been achieved in 2023, with 2,925,000 travelers", they noted. Meanwhile, the Tourism Secretariat released its own report, in line with the private data. "The first extra-long weekend of 2026 had an occupancy rate of more than 80 percent across the country", the agency indicated.
2026 Carnival destinations
According to consolidated data from CAME and the Tourism Secretariat, these were the main occupancy levels recorded:
Buenos Aires Province:
Valeria del Mar, Ostende, Pinamar, and Cariló exceeded 90% occupancy.
Mar del Plata reached 85%.
Buenos Aires City:
Average hotel occupancy of 83%, the best figure of the last five years for Carnival holidays.
