1. EES (Entry/Exit System) is now live On April 10, 2026, the biometric border control system EES became fully operational across the entire Schengen Zone. Passport stamps have been replaced with digital records of entry and exit for third-country nationals. In Spain, the system captures a document scan, facial photo and four fingerprints. Data is stored for three years. The system automatically calculates how many of the permitted 90/180 days a traveller has remaining. Since launch, over 24,000 people have been denied entry — due to expired or fake documents, or inability to justify the purpose of their visit. Airport queues have grown by 70%, so arriving 1.5–2 hours earlier than usual is recommended. Important: holders of a Spanish residence card (TIE) are exempt from the system.

2. Important for digital nomads: registration and taxes Digital nomads in Spain are required to register on the social security immediately. If you're late — you can do it retroactively, but you'll lose 89 euros. For taxes: standard residents file model 100, non-residents file model 210, and those on the Beckham regime file model 151. One key nuance: you don't have to spend 183 days in Spain, but you are still required to pay taxes and social security contributions.

3. Spain is the most attractive country in Europe for foreign entrepreneurs According to the latest data, 14.28% of all new companies in Spain are founded by foreigners — three times the entrepreneurship rate among locals. Barcelona and Madrid concentrate most foreign startups: technology, AI, renewable energy, digital economy. Why now? Digital nomad visas, tax incentives for startups, relatively low cost of living compared to London or Berlin — all with Spanish quality of life included. Spain has quietly become the place where smart people from all over the world come to build businesses.

4. A Spanish village is calling foreigners: a free house, a permanent job — and a bar included The village of Arenillas in the province of Soria (just 45 residents) is offering any family willing to move there permanently: a fully refurbished municipal home at no cost, a permanent construction worker contract, and the option to take over the management of the local bar — the main gathering place for all residents. The offer is open to anyone with the right to live and work in Spain — EU citizens and foreigners with a residence permit. Children attend school in a nearby town on a free school bus. The village has internet for remote work. Arenillas is part of the "España vaciada" movement: depopulated Spanish villages are actively looking for new residents, and some even pay people to relocate. A genuine Spanish offer that's hard to turn down.

5. British people are no longer coming to Spain to retire — they're coming to work What a plot twist! For decades, the image of a British expat in Spain was one thing: a retiree on the Costa del Sol with a glass of wine. But fresh analysis by Agility EOR shows that working professionals under 45 now outnumber retirees among those moving from the UK to Spain. Foreign nationals now make up nearly 16% of the workforce. And the most surprising part: Spain has overtaken the United States and France to become the most popular destination for British remote workers. Madrid, Málaga, Valencia and Barcelona are turning into hubs for digital professionals who want city life without London prices. It turns out that while some British people are leaving the EU, others are quietly moving to live in its sunny centre.

6. Princess Leonor finishes military service and heads to university Princess Leonor completes three years of military training — she went through the army, navy and air force academies, and even flew solo in a Pilatus PC-21 aircraft. From September 2026, she will study Political Science at the public Universidad Carlos III in Madrid (Getafe campus). This is a historic decision: for the first time, an heir to the throne is attending a state university rather than a private one or studying abroad. The programme runs for 4 years — political science, law, economics, international relations. Her father Felipe VI studied law at the Autonomous University of Madrid, then completed a master's degree at Georgetown.

7. The Supreme Court has banned surprise company inspections The Supreme Court has ruled that labour inspectors can no longer arrive at a company unannounced if its registered address matches its actual location. A court order is now required — meaning they effectively have to give advance warning. This has triggered a wave of criticism from trade unions, lawyers and the Ministry of Labour. Inspectors say it "practically paralyses" labour inspections. The ruling affects thousands of companies and is especially relevant for autónomos whose office is also their home address.

8. Mass legalisation — collapse and queues In the first week of Real Decreto 316/2026, over 130,000 applications for regularisation were submitted. In Madrid, more than 5,500 people arrive daily — queues stretch for kilometres. Barcelona, Valencia and other cities also report overflowing offices. Fraudsters have already appeared: middlemen use bots to book free appointment slots and resell them for 50–700 euros. Total estimated scope of the programme: the government says 500,000 people, researchers say over 800,000. The application deadline is June 30, 2026.

9. 2 out of 3 young Spaniards live with their parents According to INE data for 2025: 67.1% of people aged 18–34 live with their parents. In the 18–25 age group — 93.4%, and in the 26–34 group — 44.3% (almost half!). The reason: 47.3% cannot afford to either rent or buy a home. Men stay with their parents more often than women (50.8% vs 37.5%). Among those earning less than 6,000 euros per year, 55.5% still live with their parents. The main reason: unaffordable housing prices.
10. After the blackout: carry 70–100 euros in cash On the eve of the first anniversary of the great power outage (April 28, 2025), the Bank of Spain called on everyone to keep 70–100 euros in cash per family member. During the blackout, ATMs without backup power went down, while those that did work quickly ran out of cash. The Bank describes physical money as "an element of freedom, security and privacy." The recommendation: keep enough cash to cover basic expenses for at least 72 hours.

11. Spain to speed up citizenship applications The Ministry of Justice has signed a contract with Neoris Spain for 1.7 million euros to process 256,000 backlogged citizenship applications. Over five years, Spain has received 1.14 million applications — and approved 1.07 million.

12. In 2025, Spain approved 85,564 foreign diplomas That's twice as many as in 2024 and 12 times more than in 2016. 93% of all recognitions are in medical specialities: doctors, nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists. Leading nationalities: Spaniards with foreign degrees (22.3%), Colombia (19.78%), Venezuela (8.69%). 8 out of 10 recognitions are for doctors. Between 2020 and 2025, medical homologations grew by 750% — from 3,580 to 30,303. Nurses account for 8.1%, psychologists 3.1%, physiotherapists 2.1%. In 2024, a new ministerial order was introduced that opens a file within one week and gives priority to Spanish residents and professions in high demand.

13. Important for Ukrainians with temporary protection From April 15, 2026, an official mechanism exists for transitioning from temporary protection to a standard residence permit — as an employee, autónomo, or under Law 14/2013 (digital nomad, startup, etc.). Protection has been extended to March 2027. Holders of temporary protection cannot participate in the mass legalisation programme — only the status modification route is available to them. Don't wait until March 2027! Start the transition process now. Why? 1. Documents take time to prepare — better to have a buffer. 2. If rejected, you'll have time to reapply or correct mistakes. 3. Peace of mind — you'll know your legal status is secured after March 2027. Waiting until the last minute and getting a refusal risks leaving you without documents.

14. Extranjería strike called off Trade union CCOO reached an agreement with the government: staff salaries will increase by an average of 10%, and up to 18% for lower-grade employees. Extended processing times are cancelled. Key terms: average pay rise of +10%, up to +18% for lower categories; new bonus system: fixed pay plus performance payments every 6 months; official government recognition of Extranjería's workload; improved remote working conditions; expanded training and online formats.

15. Housing market — a 20-year record 752,098 transactions in 2025 — the highest since 2007. Average price: 2,284 €/m² (+9.5% year-on-year). Only 100,000–120,000 homes are built per year against a demand of 250,000–300,000. In January 2026, 13,578 new building permits were issued (+19.6%) — the first positive signal. Leading regions by number of transactions: Andalusia 138,235 (18.3%), Valencia 113,360, Catalonia 108,303. Fastest-growing regions: Basque Country +12.4%, Extremadura +10.4%.

16. Spain: 22 million employed — a historic record Sánchez dressed up for the occasion of a historic record — 22 million people employed in the national economy. His words: "Spain is the best team."
17. MiDNI app — your ID on your phone Spain's national identity document can now be stored on a smartphone. It works in banks, hotels, pharmacies, at the polls, and when buying tickets. Spaniards are no longer required to carry a physical ID card — the MiDNI app officially launched and allows DNI to be kept on a phone instead of a plastic card.

18. Spaniards are eating less and less fish Fish consumption in Spanish households has dropped by nearly 30% over the last decade, and thousands of fishmongers have closed. Reasons: rising prices, expensive fishing, logistics, fuel and the energy crisis. But it's not just about money. Experts say the habit of cooking fish at home is disappearing: young people increasingly choose simple, boneless products with less fuss. The market is shifting towards farmed fish — salmon, sea bream and sea bass — which are easier to buy, prepare and sell.

19. Valencia schools to teach students what to do during a DANA Following the devastating DANA floods of 2024, Valencia is introducing a compulsory subject for school students on how to behave during emergencies. The first region in Spain with such an initiative.
20. Spain is testing a chip that detects metastases early Startup BioBloodChip from the Science Park of the Universidad Miguel Hernández in Elche is testing a device in hospitals that can detect the process of metastasis before it is visible through medical imaging.

21. Madrid to pay up to 5,000 euros to shops in small villages The Comunidad de Madrid is launching support for small businesses in municipalities with fewer than 1,000 residents. In 2026, 700,000 euros have been allocated to support shops and basic services in rural areas. Eligible businesses include grocery stores, hairdressers, pharmacies, bars, restaurants and other essential local services. The money can be used for rent, utility bills, premises maintenance, or legal and technical assistance. The payment amount depends on working hours: at least 4 days per week earns 3,000 euros; at least 5 days per week earns up to 5,000 euros. The business must operate for at least 10 months of the year, a minimum of 6 hours per day. Applications are submitted online only through the official Comunidad de Madrid platform.

22. Rosalía — woman of the year and concerts in Barcelona Rosalía is at the peak of global recognition. In February 2026 she became the first Spanish artist to win the BRIT Award for International Artist of the Year, beating Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Bad Bunny. In April 2026, Billboard announced it will name Rosalía Woman of the Year at its Women in Music 2026 ceremony for "challenging the boundaries of Spanish-language music by fusing tradition and avant-garde with an innovative artistic vision." All of this comes during the global LUX Tour supporting her new album LUX, which Rolling Stone named one of the top three albums of 2025. The album was recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, featuring Björk, Yves Tumor, Estrella Morente and Silvia Pérez Cruz. In Barcelona she performed four consecutive nights at Palau Sant Jordi — April 13, 15, 17 and 18. The show featured a live orchestra of 22 musicians, a monumental stage production and the now-famous "confessional" moments where Rosalía chats with celebrity guests about their deepest love secrets. In Madrid, that guest was singer Aitana.

23. Female bullfighter Olga Casado Olga Casado from Madrid stepped into the ring for the first time on April 12 at the Monumental de Frascuelo arena in Granada. Her goal: to become the greatest female matador in history. Most Spaniards have no interest in bullfighting and consider it cruel — but the tradition lives on, and a new generation of bullfighters, both men and women, is emerging.

24. Spanish girls are increasingly being named Artemis Especially in Madrid and Barcelona. Seven letters, straightforward pronunciation and a mythological background — linked to the ancient Greek goddess of the hunt — make it an attractive alternative to the classic names María and Lucía. The NASA Artemis lunar programme adds extra familiarity to the name. It is perceived as modern, strong and international.

25. Messi buys football club Cornellà Lionel Messi has become the owner of 85% of shares in Unió Esportiva Cornellà — a fifth-division Spanish football club from a suburb of Barcelona. The club was founded in 1951 and its stadium holds 1,500 people. Before the purchase the club had 40,000 Instagram followers; after the announcement that figure surpassed 600,000, overtaking Espanyol, Getafe and Mallorca. Notable alumni include Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and Messi's former Barça teammate Jordi Alba. The mayor of Cornellà called it a "strategic opportunity" for the city. This is Messi's first club in full ownership — he also co-owns Deportivo LSM in Uruguay and has ties to Inter Miami.

26. Formula 1 in Madrid — the final stretch of construction The new semi-urban Madring circuit in the IFEMA-Valdebebas area will host the first Spanish Grand Prix on September 11–13, 2026. Over 80,000 tickets have already been sold out of a planned capacity of 120,000 — everything that goes on sale disappears instantly. The cheapest option (pelouse, from 295 euros) sold out in minutes. The circuit's signature feature is the "Monumental" corner (547 metres long, 24% banking) — the longest corner in all of F1, designed in the shape of a bullfighting arena. Construction is running 1.5–2 weeks ahead of schedule.

27. Zaragoza goalkeeper punches opponent — up to 16-match ban On April 26, a massive scandal erupted during the Second Division derby Huesca vs Zaragoza. Argentine goalkeeper Esteban Andrada of Real Zaragoza received a second yellow card for a push, then chased down Huesca defender Jorge Pulido and punched him in the face with his right fist. This triggered a mass brawl involving players and coaching staff from both teams — three players were sent off in total. The punch has been classified as aggression with an aggravating circumstance — Pulido suffered a fractured cheekbone. Andrada faces a ban of between 7 and 16 matches. The expected outcome is a mid-range sanction of 10–12 matches, which would effectively cost him his place in goal for the remainder of the season and the start of the next. Andrada issued a public apology: "I deeply regret it and it will never happen again." The club also released an official statement: "These events do not reflect the values of Real Zaragoza."

28. Nutella releases a jar featuring Park Güell — and Barcelona is delighted To mark its 62nd anniversary, Nutella has launched a collection of 17 jars featuring the most iconic landmarks of each region in Spain. Catalonia is represented by Park Güell in Barcelona — described as "one of Gaudí's most emblematic works and a symbol of Catalan modernism." Other locations include Madrid's Retiro, Valencia's City of Arts and Sciences, Maspalomas beach in the Canary Islands and Dalt Vila in Ibiza. Literally: your morning starts with a slice of toast spread with Barcelona.