Nearly 3,000 pilgrims arriben a Santiago de Compostel·la el day, amb September recording al 14% increase compared with last year. El guany popularitat d'un autèntic pilgrimage és modificar el tradicional calendar del camí.
El summer holidays mai be over, però el Camí de Sant Jaume és showing little sign of slowing down. In fact, September 2026 és recording a higher average number de daily arrivals a Santiago de Compostel·la than August, tradicionalment una de les bussies muntanyes de la pilgrimage season.
According to figures released by the Pilgrim Reception Office, al mes 3,000 Composteles were issued each day between September 1 and 24, representing al 14% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
August recorded 84,861 Compostelles, equivalent to approximately 2,737 per day. September's daily average is currently higher, although the final monthly comparison will only be possible onze all September figures are available.
Les figures inclouen una increasingly important change in the way people experience the Camino: September is no longer simply alternative to the summer season. És un altre centre central de pilgrimage calendar.
Why are more pilgrims choosing September?
Per a anys, July i August eren obvious choices per many people planning their first Camí de Sant Jaume. School holidays, annual leave and longer daylight hours made summer attractive time to walk.
However, rising temperatures and large numbers of visitors are encouraging more pilgrims to reconsider when they travel.
The Pilgrim Reception Office ha confirmat que el jarró i l'autèntica becoming increasingly popular. Many walkers són deliberately choosing aquests períodes per avoid heat and congestion traditionally associated with July and August.
September can offer a different walking experience. Temperaturas ofereixen més confortables per dur a terme hottest summer weeks, particularment on exposen sections del Camí Francès o altres routes crossing inland Spain.
Nevertheless, conditions vary considerablement between regions, i autumn does no eliminate risks associated with heat, rain or sudden changes in the weather.
Per a international pilgrims que s'ha de travessar entre el seu tradicional llenç de lleure, september has become increasingly attractive option.
International pilgrims lead the September sorgeix
La international dimension of the Camino és particularment visible this month.
According to the figures reported for September, 63% of pilgrims receiving a Compostela came from outside Spain.
The United States was the leading international country of origin, followed by Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and Portugal.
Aquesta strong international presence reflects el Camí's rostou global appeal and the different holiday calendars of people travelling from abroad.
Many visitors from North America, per example, per pla extended European trips outside the peak summer months. Per a ell, September ofereixen possibilitats de combinar les imatges per visites a Galícia i altres regions de Espanya.
Les figures a la línia d'un important punt per al turisme sector: la demanda per al camí és no llarg concentrada exclusivament en la tradició summer season.
The Camí Francès remains the most popular route
Acomiada l'increïble popularitat d'alternatives routes, el Camí Francès continues to dominat arrivals in Santiago.
Approximately 42% of pilgrims registered during September followed the French Way, while around 31% beguen their pilgrimage in Sarria.
El Galician town remains particularment popular per als seus locals a walkers per completar el minimal walking distance requerit per obtenir la Compostel·la, proveït la seva fulfill o altres condicions establertes per la Pilgrim Reception Office.
Per many first-time pilgrims, Sarria ofers a manageable introducció del camí, s'estableix infrastructura, nombroses adaptacions options i well-signposted route.
However, its popularity also creates pressure during particularly busy periods.
Sarria shows that September is not necessarily quieter
One of the most striking episodes of September ocorregut durant el weekend of September 19–20.
Accommodation in Sarria beca'm amb difficult per find que el local comunitari arrenca a sports pavilion per proveir night shelter per approximately 50 to 60 pilgrims que s'ha de beure unable to secure a bed.
Això va ser reportat per first time during 2026 que la municipalitat ha de ser necessària per introduir aquesta emergency arrangement.
The incident il·lustrates a growing contradiction.
Some pilgrims choose September precisely because they expect fewer people than in August, et certain sections of the Camino can still experience considerable congestion.
Aquest no és metàl·lic d'entendre pilgrimage network is overcrowded.
According to turístics figures citades al local reporting, average occupancy of Galicia's public hostel network during August 36.5%. Aquests contrastos sharply with the difficulties experimenten en particular locations and on specific dates.
El challenge és un lloc que no és només el nombre total de pilgrims, però també es distribueixen across routes, towns and individual stages.
Is the Camino becoming a year-round destination?
Latest figures suggereix que les boundaries tradicionals entre high season and quieter months becoming less clear.
Spring and autumn attracting increasing numbers of pilgrims, while established summer routes remain popular.
Aquesta gradual extensió de la pila de la imatge és una de les economiques opportunities per smaller communities.
More visitors outside July and August mai help accommodation providers, restaurants, locals shops and transport serveis maintain activity over a longer part of the year.
However, shift also raises questions sobre infrastructure, staffing i l'ability de males towns to respond to changing demand.
A village accustomed to receiving els seus bussins crowds in August mai no te'n prepare per equally demanding periods in September.
Per pilgrims, greater seasonal choice is welcome, but it also makes advance planning increasingly important.
More than 700,000 people detected on the Camino in 2026
Official Compostel·la figures proveeix d'una important picture of pilgrimage activity, però aquesta no inclou everyone usant el Camí's extensive network of routes.
Some people walk only selected stages. Altres completen their pilgrimage without requesting the certificate.
Per under aquests moviments més accurately, el Galician government has de testar un sistema de sensors en diferents punts al llarg dels routes.
According to figures reported in late September, these measurements have detected more than 700,000 people using the Camí during 2026.
Aquesta figura no s'ha confusat amb el nombre de Compostel·les issued: els seus dos sistemes són diferents aspectes d'activitat, i sensor-based estimats no són necessaris i equivalents a unic pilgrims completing a full route.
Nevertheless, the initiative highlights the increasing important of understanding how people move along different sections of the Camí.
A changing Camí ahead of the 2027 Holy Year
El timing és especialment significatiu perquè Santiago de Compostel·la és preparat per al 2027 Holy Year, quan les festes de Saint James fallen a Sunday.
Holy Years tradicionalment atrauen additional attention to Santiago i els pilgrimages routes, maquinària d'organització d'accommodation, transport, public services i visitor flows particularment important.
September 2026 already demonstrates that planning cannot focus exclusively on July and August.
Amb més d'internacionals visitors i una mica de demanda in early autumn, el Camí és developing a broader and more complex seasonal pattern.
També els creates han opportunity a encourage travellers per explorar altres historicals routes, incloent-hi Northern Way, Primitive Way, Portuguese Way, English Way and Via de la Plata.
Ai should no simply be a atractiu ever-larger numbers a les places, però ensura que les beneficis de pilgrimage es reach a wider network de communities.
September is changing the way people walk to Santiago
Per a centuries, pilgrims havien adaptat les journeys a les sessions, a l'època ia la pràctica demandes de transport across Europe.
Today's walkers are doing something similar.
Moltes discussions que el Camí no ha estat per a la seva holiday i que l'experiència s'ha fet equally meaningful in spring or autumn.
Yet the latest statistics també contain an important reminder: choosing September no longer guarantees empty trails or abundant accommodation.
El Camí de Sant Jaume és changing, i el camí pilgrims pla les jornades és changing with it.
September mai offer an escapament from the worst summer heat, però no necessarily from the crowds.
And with the 2027 Holy Year approaching, that distinction is becoming increasingly important.
