Early 2026 data indicates average daily rates on the island of Ireland rose 3pc compared with the previous year, tracking closely with sectoral inflation. Overall room capacity increased by 3pc, primarily driven by new branded budget and mid-scale openings.
General room occupancy stayed stable, hovering around 84pc in Dublin and 72pcin regional areas. Because supply grew by 3pc, the flat occupancy rate indicates that overall room demand expanded just enough to absorb the new rooms.
Overall overseas visitor numbers fell by roughly 3pc, partially influenced by a softer market from North America.
High-profile sports events and concerts in Dublin (e.g., American college football and stadium concert series) pushed capital occupancy to peaks of 91pc–95pc on select weekends.
Strong domestic “staycation” habits and local event calendars compensated for lower international footfall, especially in regional hubs like Cork, Galway, and Limerick.
Short term rentals showed mixed results but overall tourism growth supports hospitality businesses. Industry groups continue to call for supportive policies including capacity increases at key airports.
The six counties saw a slight decoupling trend, where hotel occupancy dipped marginally to 71.9pc, but room rates still advanced by roughly 2pc.
