D.L. MU 74-2025 - ISSN 3045-6703
Costa Cálida I No. 2144 I 6 - 12 August 2026 I FREE Newspaper
Pitch perfect
Solmarket summer
FRESH off the heels of the excitement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in which the Spanish national team was crowned champion, the Region of Murcia is now beginning its countdown to the 2030 World Cup, as it could become one of the most significant sports tourism opportunities for the area. Regional centres and local sports complexes are preparing to potentially host up to six international teams. The 2030 World Cup, which is set to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, will expand to feature 64 participating nations. Four major venues from the Region of Murcia are being
Photo Credit: Pinatar Arena
Region of Murcia could become host to six teams during next World Cup
Murcia prepares luxury facilities to host six 2030 World Cup teams.
prepared to be included in FIFA’s official catalogue of possible team bases. Some of the Murcian sites that are being eyed for the
next World Cup include the established Pinatar Arena in San Pedro del Pinatar, the Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Resort in Cartagena,
the DoubleTree by Hilton, La Torre Golf and Spa Resort in Torre Pacheco, and the newly developing Alhama Arena Football Centre in Alhama de Murcia. A fifth nearby complex, La Finca Resort in neighbouring Algorfa, is also integrated into the network via Pinatar Arena. With this exciting new development and football fever for the next World Cup already building up, the Region of Murcia is jumping at this prime opportunity to boost its global tourism profile, attract sports investors, and continue to establish itself as one of Spain’s premier football training destinations.
Holiday hotspot THE Costa Calida prepares for a record-breaking busy and touristic summer. The Region of Murcia is welcoming August with a positive forecast for holiday accommodation: 89.1 per cent of the tourist properties located on the Costa Calida have already been booked, placing this area of the region above the 85.5 per cent national average. This figure also represents the largest year-on-year increase compared to all other Spanish coastlines, according to data from Rentalia, a holiday rental platform owned by Idealista. The occupancy on the coast of the Region of Murcia has risen from 80.6 per cent in August 2025, representing an
Photo Credit: Region of Murcia Tourism
Region of Murcia breaks records for tourist occupation
Costa Calida holiday rental bookings surge to record levels this August.
increase of 8.5 percentage points. This data comes from an analysis carried out by Rentalia, focusing on availability calendars of accommodations that are less than 15 kilometres from a Spanish beach. On a national
24
scale, the projected occupancy rate for August is up one percentage point compared to the same period last year. With these figures, the Region of Murcia’s coastline is one of the most booked areas in the whole of Spain.
LOS ALCAZARES is celebrating one of its most anticipated events, due to light up the shores of its beaches through to the end of August. Solmarket Murcia, an open-air festival involving food trucks, live entertainment, and artisan stalls, has officially kicked off on the final day of July and transformed the Parque del Gonio in Los Alcazares into a gathering of world flavours, and dynamic energy under the Mediterranean skies. The main appeal of the festival, running every day until August 30 from 7.00pm to 12.30am, is its diverse food truck lineup, which will feature more than a dozen mobile kitchens to serve up an array of international foods. Visitors can enjoy authentic Mexican tacos and quesadillas, traditional Colombian fare, and Asian cuisine including freshly prepared
Photo Credit: Los Alcazares Town Hall
Los Alcazares kicks off long-awaited festival
Solmarket Murcia offers food trucks and live entertainment all August.
sushi. The sweet offerings are just as expansive, featuring hot crepes, artisanal cookies, milkshakes from Bobbolitas, and gourmet pops from Pops’n Bobs. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free alternatives ensure there is something for every palate to enjoy. Solmarket will also offer entertainment for residents of all ages. The central stage will feature a daily lineup of tribute concerts, live band performances, and DJ sets providing the perfect soundtrack to the evening.