According to the statistics of the Pilgrimage Office in Santiago de Compostela, 530.987 arrivals received their diploma.
The proportion of women was 53.4 percent, which corresponded to almost 35,000 more pilgrims than pilgrims. Among the nationalities, as always, the Spaniards were ahead (228,527), followed by Americans (43,980), Italians (26,680) and Germans (24,356).
As recently as New Year's Eve, 257 pilgrims arrived in Santiago, which fits the trend of winter pilgrimage to avoid the masses in the inflowing milder months.
Trend should continue
In 2026, the boom is expected to continue and increase again in 2027.
Then the next holy year of St. James begins, whatever happens when the day of James is on 25th. July falls on a Sunday.
The Camino de Santiago to the tomb of the Apostle James, who was revered in Santiago, was already heavily frequented in the Middle Ages.
However, there are no figures on this.
The rediscovery of the Camino de Santiago began in the 1980s, on the enterprises of Pope John Paul II (1978-2005) and the Council of Europe. It started with only a few thousand pilgrims a year.