Starting in the 2026-2027 season, Imserso will remove 142 local councils from its travel booking system, affecting around 13,000 annual places for pensioners. Reservations must now be made through agencies or online, raising concerns about digital access for vulnerable groups.
Imserso will end its long-standing partnership with 142 local councils for booking subsidized senior travel, closing a channel that has operated since 1989. From the 2026-2027 season, accredited pensioners will no longer be able to reserve trips through their town halls. Instead, all bookings must be made via authorized travel agencies or directly through the websites and apps of the program's contracted operators, Turismo Social and Mundicolor.
This shift, confirmed by a parliamentary proposal from the Partido Popular, impacts municipalities that had joined the historic agreement with the Federación Española de Municipios y Provincias (FEMP). The Ministry attributes the change to compliance with Law 40/2015, which requires updates to administrative procedures. The proposal was admitted by Congress on June 8 and published on June 16, 2026, but does not itself alter Imserso's official instructions.
How to Book Imserso Trips in 2026-2027
Under the new system, eligible seniors must use either the digital platforms of Turismo Social and Mundicolor or visit participating travel agencies in person. Municipal offices are no longer listed as booking points. Applicants who have already submitted requests will need to wait for their accreditation letter, which grants access to reservations but does not guarantee a specific destination. These letters are expected to be sent from the second week of August 2026. Each recipient will be assigned a personalized booking start date, typically between September and October. Telephone reservations are not available, though the helpline 912 667 713 can assist with accreditation queries and password recovery.
Impact on Rural Areas and the Digital Divide
The municipal booking channel was originally created to help seniors facing economic, administrative, or technological barriers. Most of the 142 affected councils are in regions like the Canary Islands, Castilla y León, and Cantabria. According to government data cited by La Razón, these local offices processed about 13,000 travel slots annually, with nearly 4,000 seniors using the municipal route in the last campaign. The loss of this in-person support is especially concerning for rural communities and those struggling with digital access. While the Partido Popular describes the move as a hidden cut, this is a political assessment; there is no evidence yet of a reduction in the total number of available places. The main issue is the loss of face-to-face assistance for those who need it most.
Political Response and Next Steps
The Partido Popular has called for a temporary extension of municipal bookings while the agreement is updated to fit current legal requirements. Their proposal asks for a six-month deadline to revise the framework and for the creation of a working group with the FEMP. They also urge the government to report within three months on the territorial and social consequences of the change, and to introduce specific measures for users affected by the digital divide. However, as a non-binding parliamentary motion, these requests do not alter Imserso's published procedures. Any return to the municipal system would require a new official announcement or agreement.
Confirmed Dates, Places, and Prices
The application window for the 2026-2027 season ran from June 22 to July 10, 2026, with a total of 879,213 places available. Trips will take place from October 2026 to June 2027, and each participant will receive a letter specifying their booking date. Prices range from €224.63 to €409.22 for mainland coastal stays, €224.36 to €453.37 for the Balearic Islands, and €224.28 to €564.72 for the Canary Islands. Short breaks cost between €132.91 and €412.51. Additionally, 7,447 places are available at €50 for those meeting strict income criteria, though this rate is not automatic and is linked to non-contributory pension thresholds. A €100 supplement applies for a second or subsequent trip.
For context, changes to public service procedures are not unique to Imserso. For example, Spanish drivers with vehicles registered in 2022 will face their first mandatory ITV inspection in 2026, as detailed in this recent report on new vehicle inspection rules.
As the new booking system takes effect, many seniors and local officials are watching closely to see whether digital-only access will leave some pensioners behind, or if additional support measures will be introduced before the season begins.
