Europe is experiencing some of its biggest wildfires and highest temperatures on record, with the EU as a whole on track for its worst wildfire season ever. So far, more than 250,000 hectares have gone up in flames, according to figures from the European Commission — roughly the size of Luxembourg. The total is on track to pass 2025's record of more than 270,000 hectares.
Burned so far in the EU in 2026, equivalent to the area of Luxembourg
Spain recorded the highest share of burned land in Europe relative to its size in 2026, with wildfires burning more than 200,000 hectares, or around 0.4% of the country's territory, according to the EU's Earth observation programme Copernicus. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned that difficult hours lay ahead after more than 90,000 people were forced to evacuate areas around Madrid and Ávila.
Portugal recorded the EU's second-highest proportion of burned land at 0.3%. On Monday, every district in northern and central Portugal, along with the southern district of Faro in the Algarve, was placed under the highest fire risk alert.
France evacuated around 260,000 people, with the southwestern department of Gironde suffering the worst damage. Some non-EU countries like Ukraine or Montenegro reported even worse rates.
The EU has already endured around 1,200 fires in 2026, which is more than double the annual average of 569, according to the EU's Forest Fire Information System. Copernicus estimates that the 2026 wildfires have already released more than 8 tonnes of CO₂ across the EU. For context, an average citizen emits around 5.55 tonnes of CO₂ over a whole year.
Above-average rainfall spans Scandinavia and northern Europe, with the strongest surplus over Scandinavia.
Below-average rainfall is expected for this week, with the strongest deficit stretching from France through the Alps and into the Balkans. One climate expert said "it will get worse."