Ibiza’s Council has proposed a freeze on new nightclub licences as part of its upcoming Tourism Areas Intervention Plan (PIAT).
The Consell d’Eivissa, which oversees tourism planning and licensing on the island, has said the measure would prevent further expansion of the Ibiza’s nightlife sector while supporting and protecting existing licensed venues.
According to Periódico de Ibiza, the First Vice President of the Consell d’Eivissa, Mariano Juan, outlined the proposal during a recent council session discussing the PIAT (Plan for Intervention in Tourist Areas), a framework for managing tourism development on the island. He added that there were no plans to close any existing venues.
“The proposal aims to contain the existing nightlife,” he said. “We believe there is already enough nightlife in certain areas and no more licenses should be granted.”
Juan clarified that he “doesn’t want legal leisure activities to disappear; in fact, we need them: they position us, differentiate us, complement our existing offerings, and provide thousands of jobs. There’s nothing shameful about them; they’re not a problem. They’re part of Ibiza, and we should be proud of them.”
He added that “all activities have externalities and that does not mean that they should disappear: they must be managed.”
The Vice President made the announcement during a debate on motions put forward by the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and Patriotic Union (UP) regarding illegal parties on the island. PSOE spokesperson Elena López said the issue had “got out of hand”, as per Periódico de Ibiza, claiming the island had become “one enormous party venue” and that “there’s no room for families in it”.
To deal with the problem, she continued, “not only should those who play the music be sanctioned, but also everyone who collaborates with this illegality.”
Currently, most municipalities on the island, except for Sant Josep, have already banned new nightclubs under their own rules, and have done so for the past 15 years. Under the new rules, the PIAT would extend that island-wide.
Read the full report from Periódico de Ibiza y Formentera in June here.
Tension between residents and the nightlife sector have been bubbling away for some time. In April, a poll of residents from Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca, and Formentera found that 69% said there should be a cap on tourism numbers and more than 80% said there should be a reduction in the number of short-term holiday lets on the islands.
In 2024, over 10,000 Ibiza residents protested overtourism in demonstrations in Mallorca and Ibiza.
Authorities in Ibiza have been discussing measures for tackling overtourism for at least a decade. Several different tactics have been debated and tested, including limiting the number of beds available to tourists, alcohol restrictions, limiting noise levels, limiting the number of open-air clubs on the islands, and banning anti-social tourists.