European visitors to Brazil is experiencing its best January-to-August period in two decades. In the first eight months of 2026, the country recorded 1.28 million tourist arrivals from Europe, a 14.03% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
Against this backdrop, the flow of British tourists also increased, reaching its highest volume for this period in the last ten years. British arrivals rose from 121,619 in 2025 to 135,442 in 2026 between January to August, an increase of 11.37%. This result placed the United Kingdom in fifth place among European source markets, and in 12th place in Brazil’s overall international rankings.
August reinforced this trend, with a record 171,565 European entries—5.43% higher than the figure for the same month in 2025. The British market, meanwhile, recorded 13,452 arrivals, a 9.19% increase and its best August in ten years.
KEY RESULTS
– United Kingdom | January to August 2026
Tourist entries: 135,442 British tourists
Growth compared to the same period in 2025: 11.37%
12th largest source of international tourists to Brazil
Best result for the period in the last ten years
– United Kingdom | August 2026
Tourist arrivals: 13,452 British nationals
Growth compared to August 2025: 9.19%
16th largest source of international tourists to Brazil
Best August in the last ten years
– Europe | January to August 2026
Tourist arrivals: 1,278,587
Growth compared to the same period in 2025: 14.03%
Best result for the period in the last 20 years
– Europe | August 2026
Tourist arrivals: 171,565
Growth compared to August 2025: 5.43%
Best August on record
TOTAL INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS
In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil welcomed 6,451,257 international tourists. In August alone, domestic destinations received 576,276 international tourists. This figure exceeds that of the same month last year—when arrivals totalled 576,049. The data comes from Embratur, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Federal Police.
This flow of visitors takes place against a backdrop of expanded promotion of Brazilian destinations abroad, partnerships with states, municipalities, and the private sector, and intelligence-driven work targeting international markets. The strategy aims to connect various traveller profiles with the diverse experiences the country offers and to increase Brazil’s presence in key source markets.
Embratur President Bruno Reis highlighted the significance of these results. “The growth in international tourist arrivals positions us as an attractive hub for new investments in the service sector. The August result, surpassing the previous year’s figures, reflects the strength of the tourism industry in showcasing the diversity of the Brazilian product—which combines biomes, gastronomy, and historical heritage into a well-structured offering. This influx of foreign currency expands the local business base, boosts the regional supply chain, and validates the international promotion strategy executed in alignment with government bodies and the private sector”, he said.
Visitor numbers were distributed across various Brazilian destinations. From January to August 2026, São Paulo received 1,888,032 international tourists, while Rio de Janeiro recorded 1,666,079, followed by Rio Grande do Sul (954,384), Paraná (664,619), and Santa Catarina (555,599).
