Cancún, Quintana Roo — Spring Break tourism in Cancún, which saw its golden age in the 2000s with up to 120,000 students per season, has now dwindled to a fraction of its former size. Visitor numbers have dropped by as much as 90%, with current figures not exceeding 30,000.
The first groups of young travelers are set to arrive in late February to kick off the 2026 season, which will concentrate primarily in March and early April. Officials expect to close the season with around 27,000 students, a far cry from the peak years when Cancún was considered the international epicenter of the student celebration.
Pablo Casas, Undersecretary of Promotion for Quintana Roo’s Tourism Department (Sedetur), said state and municipal authorities are preparing to receive this segment. However, he acknowledged that hotel occupancy could see fluctuations due to the U.S. immigration context and travel restrictions imposed by that country.
The profile of the visitor has also changed. Unlike the 1990s and 2000s, when large groups focused on partying and disorder predominated, today’s students seek more moderate experiences. While the festive atmosphere continues with beach events and DJ performances, interest now also centers on more diversified culinary, cultural, and entertainment offerings.
Cancún no longer experiences those massive seasons that marked an intense chapter in its tourism history. Spring Break persists, but far from the mass phenomenon that defined an entire generation and positioned the destination as an international symbol of college partying.
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