Cancun’s MICE Tourism Posts 15% Growth, Eyes Strong 2026

Cancun closed the year with a 15% increase in meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) tourism, generating an estimated economic impact of US$179 million, according to Jair López Montes, Director, Cancún Center convention venue. López said the destination expects sustained growth in 2026, outperforming the national average of 8% for the segment, as Cancun continues to consolidate its position as one of Mexico’s and Latin America’s most in-demand MICE destinations.

Speaking after a press conference presenting the social and environmental results of the Cancun Center Foundation, López reported that the sector attracted about 183,000 visitors during the year, with an average stay of 3.3 nights. MICE travelers, who typically combine business and leisure, spent an average of US$834 per day.

López noted that the segment has maintained a positive trajectory since the end of the global health emergency. While events were canceled in other destinations, many meetings scheduled for the Mexican Caribbean were postponed instead, helping drive a cumulative growth of 35% over the past four years.

Growth stabilized at around 15% this year, a pace López expects to continue into 2026. He said Cancun has successfully secured international congresses that were previously hosted in destinations such as Singapore, Italy, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan and Canada.

“Thanks to connectivity, hotel infrastructure, service quality and the facilities available for this type of event, Cancun can compete with major global destinations, even where governments invest heavily in institutional promotion,” López said. “Despite that pressure, we have been able to attract world-class congresses.”

Connectivity Growth

MBN reported that Frontier Airlines will add three new nonstop routes between Cancun and US cities as part of an expansion that includes 23 network additions scheduled to begin in spring 2026. The airline confirmed that the new services will operate to Charlotte, Chicago Midway, and Raleigh-Durham, each launching during the first week of March 2026.

Frontier said the first route, Cancun–Charlotte, will begin March 6 with three weekly flights. The airline will introduce a weekly Cancun–Chicago Midway service on March 7 and, on the same day, launch a weekly Cancun–Raleigh-Durham flight. The introductory fare for each route will be US$99.

Josh Flyr, Frontier’s Vice President of Network Design and Operations, Frontier Airlines said the 2026 expansion aligns with the airline’s broader network strategy. “As we look toward 2026, there is much to anticipate, from the expansion of our network to the introduction of our new First Class seats and more,” he said. Flyr added that the airline is “pleased to begin with the announcement of these new routes, offering travelers more accessible options as they plan next year’s spring vacations.”

Frontier identified Cancun as one of its highest-traffic international markets. According to airline data, 10 of Frontier’s 20 busiest international routes currently involve the destination. The most active route in the segment is Cancun–Philadelphia, which operates 62 flights per month, offering nearly 14,500 seats and generating more than 21 million available seat miles (ASM).

The new Cancun routes follow an earlier announcement in October that Frontier will begin operating a new Atlanta–Puerto Vallarta service on Dec. 20, adding to existing flights from the Pacific destination to Denver and Dallas. Frontier said the additional service will strengthen its broader connectivity with Mexico.