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Canary Islands

Europe News

Record number of migrants land on Canary Islands shores

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Partner content

Gran Canaria: how an Atlantic island is emphasising its year-round appeal

Partner content presented by Turismo Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria blends beaches, volcanic mountains, UNESCO heritage, starry skies and Michelin dining into a year-round, sustainable escape for European travellers.

17 September 2026

Europe News

Over 80 migrants die after boat drifts 26 days south of Canary Islands

Survivors told the Red Cross that more than 100 people were originally on board, including women and a baby.

3 September 2026

Destinations

Tenerife vs Lanzarote: How the two Canary Islands compare

Both islands offer year-round sunshine, beautiful beaches and volcanic landscapes, but Tenerife and Lanzarote have very different personalities. Here’s what to expect from each, from outdoor adventures to culture, food and hotels, to help you decide which of these Canary Islands is right for you.

2 September 2026

Mauritania

Mauritania coastguard rescues more than 300 migrants in Atlantic

Thousands of people have for years attempted the perilous Atlantic route on overloaded and often dilapidated boats to reach Europe via Spain's Canary Islands.

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Culture news

Quevedo overtakes Rosalía and becomes Spain's most streamed artist on Spotify

The artist tops the Swedish platform's summer ranking, which estimates each artist's monthly streams, overtaking his Catalan colleague and Rels B.

Smart Regions

People’s photos are helping scientists record marine life in real-time in the Canary Islands

In partnership with the European Commission

Photographing marine flora and fauna to gauge the ocean’s condition on a day-to-day basis. This is the aim of RedPROMAR, an EU project, which invites members of the public to upload photos to its platform of what they find in the sea around the Canary Islands.

Destinations

Skip the crowds: Under-the-radar European islands to visit now

Swap overcrowded hotspots for quieter shores with these lesser-known islands, where you'll find dramatic scenery, authentic local life and fewer tourists than their famous neighbours.

Travel News

Canary Islands' voluntary tourist tax to fund sustainability projects

Rather than introducing a mandatory tourist tax, the Canary Islands are enlisting travellers to contribute to local projects aimed at restoring nature and supporting communities to make tourism sustainable.

Travel News

Europe’s best islands, ranked by weather, food and greenery

In a new study of Europe’s best island escapes for 2026, Spain and Croatia dominate the overall top 10 ranking.

Europe News

Pope Leo XIV to visit migrant hotspot of Lampedusa on 4 July

Under Pope Leo XIV, the Catholic Church has continued to call for their humane treatment around the world, including decrying mass deportations in his home country, the United States.

Europe News

Pope leaves Spain on plane offered by king after technical glitch

It was the first time in decades that a papal flight had experienced a problem so serious that it required the pope to change planes.

Europe News

Pope Leo XIV urges migrants to learn the language and integrate

During his visit to Tenerife, the pontiff called for integration based on rights and duties, urging migrants to learn the language, obey the law and join in community life.

Spain

Pope Leo XIV casts wreath into sea in memory of migrants lost on Atlantic route

Pope Leo XIV threw a floral wreath into the waters off Spain's Canary Islands to honour migrants who died attempting the dangerous Atlantic crossing. The pontiff also condemned indifference to the plight of migrants during his visit.

Europe News

Pope Leo XIV says Europe must not get used to migrant deaths at sea

Leo XIV visits Gran Canaria to meet migrants and volunteers in Arguineguín before leading a large open-air mass attended by thousands on the island.

Health news

Virus-hit cruise ship re-docks in the Canary Islands after bad weather

The ship was bound for the Netherlands, where the repatriation of the 28 passengers is expected to be completed.

Health news

Spanish officer dies on duty during hantavirus cruise ship emergency

The 62-year-old officer died of a heart attack while taking part in the security arrangements for the arrival of the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship in Tenerife.