Halifax Tourism Sets New Records in 2026 as Spending and Occupancy Surge
Halifax tourism continues to break records in 2026, with every month surpassing 2025 figures. Discover Halifax reports average hotel occupancy of 77 per cent and an average daily room rate of $229, following nearly $1.4 billion in regional tourism spending last year.
Tourism in Halifax is continuing its upward trajectory in 2026, setting new records for both visitor numbers and spending that surpass the previous highs established in 2025. According to data from Discover Halifax, led by interim president and CEO Clare Tidby, every month in 2026 has beaten the corresponding monthly record from the prior year.
Hotel performance metrics underscore the strength of this demand. Average hotel occupancy in Halifax reached 77 per cent in 2026, while occupancy hit 90 per cent or higher on 90 separate nights throughout the year. The average daily room rate climbed to $229.
This growth builds on a robust 2025, when the tourism industry in the Halifax Regional Municipality generated nearly $1.4 billion in spending. Across Nova Scotia, total tourism spending reached $3.7 billion last year. Canadian travellers drove much of this activity, comprising 92 per cent of overnight visitors to the Halifax Regional Municipality in 2025. Visitors from Atlantic Canada alone accounted for 55 per cent of all overnight stays. March was notably busy for regional travel, ranking as the second busiest month for Atlantic Canadians with 151,000 room nights booked.
While domestic travellers make up the vast majority of visitor volume, international guests contribute disproportionately to local revenue. In 2025, visitors from the United States and Europe each represented just four per cent of total visitors to the region, yet together they accounted for 39 per cent of all tourism spending.
Despite these record-breaking figures, officials note that further investment in tourism infrastructure remains necessary to support growing demand. Accommodations in Halifax have been expanding at an average annual rate of only 1.3 per cent. Continued development of hotels, event venues, festivals, and attractions is viewed as essential to sustaining the sector's momentum and aligning it with broader economic developments in areas such as defence and energy.