The match marks the start of Fitur, the year's biggest tourism showcase.

MadridFitur 2026 will be remembered as one of its saddest editions. The international tourism fair, held in Madrid for over 40 years, opened this Wednesday under a somber atmosphere. Mid-morning, a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the tragic train accident in Adamuz, Córdoba, left the Ifema fairgrounds in silence. From the Turespaña stand, adorned with black ribbons, the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, led the tribute. His will be one of the few institutional presences among the 12 pavilions hosting the world's largest tourism fair, which, at least for these days, will be open from today until January 25th. At the Catalonia stand, the minute of silence also included a strong remembrance of the train driver who died Tuesday night in the derailment of a commuter train to Gelida.

The train accident and the subsequent declaration of three days of official mourning in the State has led to the cancellation of some events, especially the more festive ones organized in conjunction with the fair. The Generalitat, for example, has suspended the presentation of Catalonia 2026 The event scheduled for Wednesday evening at the Cine Callao, where details of the Tour de France's departure to Barcelona and the agenda for the Gaudí Year were to be announced, was to feature Catalan chef Ramon Freixa, the recent recipient of a second Michelin star. However, the tragic accident has also impacted the official opening of Fitur, which is still underway and scheduled for Thursday. The presence of Salvador Illa has been ruled out due to medical leave, while there are doubts about the attendance of Pedro Sánchez, who is traveling to Brussels tomorrow to participate in the meeting on Greenland's control, as well as the Royal Household. Before Sunday's train accident, the organizers anticipated around 255,000 visitors. In the pavilions housing Spanish companies and public administrations, the festive atmosphere has been reduced to a minimum, with only private meetings and gatherings and some cultural or gastronomic exhibitions taking place. Many of the stands display black ribbons, starting with Andalusia's, which features a giant one in the center. The regional government has also opened a book of condolences for the families of the victims of the train accident. Furthermore, the spaces housing the three train operators in Spain are empty or nearly deserted: Iryo, Renfe, and Ouigo have also canceled their schedules of public events, a decision joined by Adif, Paradores, Amadeus, Iberia, and Aena.

Mexico, partner country

In contrast, the atmosphere is different in the pavilions with an international presence. The crowds make it more difficult to move around, especially when a country takes the opportunity to recreate a tradition, attracting the attention of visitors. This year, Mexico arrived as the event's main partner. The Latin American country is counting on this global showcase to achieve its goal of becoming one of the world's top five tourist destinations by 2030.

The number of participating companies has risen to 10,000, while 161 countries are present—18 more than last year, from Africa and Asia-Pacific—and there are almost a thousand exhibitors, with significant growth in the number of international exhibitors. Among them, the presence of countries like Lebanon, Syria, and Israel stands out, despite the ongoing war in the Middle East. In the case of Israel, which attacked the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Jerusalem this Tuesday, the motto is Land of Creation, which translated into Catalan means Land of Creation.