The Balearic Government is confident that free public transport in Mallorca and the Balearics will continue in 2026. Spokesperson and vice-president Antoni Costa says that this does depend on the Spanish Government, but believes that further provision will be made for the subsidising of public transport next year.
The Palma EMT bus company's 2026 financial forecasts have assumed that free transport will be maintained. Costa, who is also the finance minister, explains that the government hasn't as yet made its own decision regarding transport for its 2026 budget, but it expects that it will be free. As things stand, a spending ceiling for the whole budget hasn't been agreed upon. The TIB buses and the SFM trains and metro come under the government; Palma has its own arrangements for buses.
Both the regional government and Palma Town Hall have been critical of Madrid's lack of planning and last-minute decision-making. For this year's budget, the town hall initially didn't include free transport in the EMT budget. It has done so for 2026, but remains critical - as does the government - of an underfunding and late payments by Madrid.
For 2025, the Spanish Government allocated €63 million to the Balearic Islands (part of which went to EMT and the buses in Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera), but the Balearic Government requested an additional €13 million to reflect the actual cost.
Free transport is for residents only, and they must have the valid travel card.