Sweden’s Camping Industry Heads for New Record as 2026 Bookings Outpace 2025

Swedish camping reached a new all-time high in 2025, with 17.3 million guest nights – approximately 520,000 more than in 2024, an increase of 2.8 percent. The 2026 season is now showing even stronger momentum: 69 percent of members of Svensk Camping, the Swedish Campsite Association, report bookings that are ahead of or on a par with the record year 2025. Over the longer term, international demand has been the main driver of growth since the pandemic.

The summer of 2026 has developed strongly. The share of member companies reporting a booking position that is better than or in line with the previous year has risen to 69 percent, compared with 55 percent in the corresponding survey in 2025. The current industry outlook points to growth of around 3-5 percent in guest nights for the full year.

"2025 was a record year for Swedish camping, and 2026 is shaping up to be even better. More member campsites are reporting a stronger booking position than last year, and the growth trend is continuing," says Martin Juhos, CEO of Svensk Camping.

Demand remains strong from both Swedish and international guests, with member companies reporting a somewhat stronger booking situation among international visitors. In 2025, both Swedish and foreign guests contributed to the industry’s 2.8 percent increase in guest nights. Over the longer term, however, international demand has been the main growth driver since the pandemic.

International guest nights continued to rise in 2025, particularly from Germany and the Netherlands. Camping is already Sweden’s leading holiday accommodation for European visitors during the summer: almost 50 percent of all European tourist guest nights in Sweden from June to August 2025 were spent at campsites. Svensk Camping is stepping up its international marketing, with Germany and the Netherlands among the priority markets. Initiatives include Nordic Camping Experience, a three-year Interreg project with Norway aimed at strengthening international marketing, cross-border cooperation and destination development.

The strong 2026 booking picture also comes against a backdrop of unusually hot weather in Europe. The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that June 2026 was the warmest June on record for western Europe. While the survey does not establish a direct causal link, the development is consistent with the growing 'coolcation' trend, where travellers choose milder, nature-rich destinations as an alternative to extreme summer heat.

"Camping is particularly well positioned for this shift. Sweden offers space, nature, long summer days and a climate that makes it possible to stay active outdoors. At the same time, we still have room to grow internationally, especially outside the domestic peak month of July," says Juhos. "June and August offer substantial availability and clear potential for further growth."

Key Figures: Record 2025 and Stronger 2026 Outlook
• 2025 total guest nights: 17.3 million (+approximately 520,000; +2.8 percent) - new all-time high
• International growth: since the pandemic, growth has been driven mainly by international guest nights; Germany and the Netherlands continued to increase in 2025
• European summer market: 44 percent of all European tourist guest nights in Sweden from June to August 2025 were spent at campsites
• 2026 booking situation: 69 percent better than or in line with record-year 2025; 46 percent report a better position
• Full-year 2026 outlook: 54 percent expect a better year and 18 percent expect a year in line with 2025; current outlook +3-5 percent guest nights

Sources: Annual Report 2026 from Svensk Camping; member survey, June 2026; Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Table: Foreign guest nights at camping facilities in Sweden

Source: The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, www.tillvaxtverket.se

About the 2026 member survey
The survey was conducted among Svensk Camping’s member companies in June 2026. The booking situation compares bookings at the time of the survey with the same period in the previous year. The full-year outlook reflects member companies’ assessment of guest-night development for 2026.

Contact
For more information: Martin Juhos, CEO, Svensk Camping – martin.juhos@svenskcamping.com, +46 703 98 64 48