Residents of Budapest’s 6th District, the city’s main tourist area, have narrowly voted in favor of banning short-term rentals, including popular platforms like Airbnb, starting in 2026.

According to the results of the referendum, 54% of voters supported the ban, with a voter turnout of 20.52%. Local authorities noted that this turnout significantly exceeded participation rates for other local initiatives.

According to Eurostat, nearly 719 million overnight stays in the European Union were booked through online platforms like Airbnb, Booking, Expedia Group, and Tripadvisor in 2023. Among EU capitals, Paris led the way with over 19 million overnight stays booked that year.

The ban reflects growing concerns among residents about the impact of short-term rentals on housing availability and local communities in popular tourist destinations.