Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority recently reported that 125,871 visitors came to the Island in May 2026. That is a 15.1% increase from May 2025.
“May’s total arrival count was above the three, five and ten-year averages by 20.5%, 32.5% and 50.9% respectively. Cross Channel counts above include 2,785 arrivals at Two Harbors this year and 2,929 last year,” according to the Love Catalina website.
“May 2026 had the highest number of total visitor arrivals ever tracked for the month @ 125,871,” according to Love Catalina.
“May 2020 had the lowest number of total visitor arrivals @ 7,017,” according to Love Catalina.
“Passengers arriving by sea in May totaled 123,378, up by 16.0% for the month compared to last year,” according to Love Catalina.
“Cross Channel passenger counts were up by 14.9%, an increase of 10,290 people,” according to Love Catalina.
“2026 had the highest volume of Cross Channel passengers for the month @ 79,341 passengers,” according to Love Catalina.
“May Cross Channel passenger counts were above the three, five and ten-year averages by 21.8%, 18.7% and 37.4% respectively,” according to Love Catalina.
“Cross Channel passengers made up 63.03% of total monthly arrivals,” according to Love Catalina,” the website said.
“Cruise passenger counts totaled 39,141, up from 32,678 last year by 19.8%,” according to Love Catalina,” the website said.
“2026 had the highest Cruise passenger volume for the month @ 39,141,” the website said.
“May Cruise passenger counts were above the three, five and ten-year averages by 20.9%, 88.8% and 108.3% respectively,” the website said.
“Cruise passengers made up 31.10% of total monthly arrivals,” the website said.
“The number of cruise ships calling on Avalon in May was 11,” according to Love Catalina.
“2017, 2022 and 2026 had the highest number of ships calling @ 11,” according to Love Catalina.
“2020 and 2021 had the lowest, with 0 ships calling,” according to Love Catalina.
“May typically has 7.8 ships call (10-year average, excluding this year),” according to Love Catalina.
“Private Boater passenger counts totaled 4,896, up 5.2% from last year’s 4,656,” according to Love Catalina.
“2014 had the highest passenger volume for the month @ 5,012,” the website said.
“May Private Boater passenger counts were above the three, five and ten-year averages by 10.1%, 6.1% and 14.5% respectively,” the website said.
“Private Boaters made up 3.89% of total arrivals,” the website said.
“May 2026’s number of Vessels Anchored was 53, down 39.1% from 2025’s 87,” the website said.
“2023 had the highest number of Vessels Anchored for the month @ 157,” the website said.
“2013 had the lowest number of Vessels Anchored @ 13,” the website said.
“May’s Anchored Vessels count was below the three, five and ten-year averages by 60.3%, 51.4% and 44.0% respectively,” the website said,” the website said.
“May’s number of Vessels on Moorings was 1,224, up 5.2% from 2025’s 1,164,” the website said.
“2014 had the highest number of Vessels on Moorings @ 1,253,” the website said.
“2020 had the lowest number of Vessels on Moorings @ 426,” the website said.
“May’s Vessels Moored count was above the three, five and ten-year averages by 10.1%, 6.2% and 14.5% respectively,” the website said.
“Combined in-bound air passenger counts for May totaled 2,493, down by 16.6% from 2,990 in 2025,” the website said.
“Private Aircraft passengers (Airport in the Sky) totaled 1,236, up 12.9% vs. last year’s total of 1,095,” the website said.
“2014 had the highest volume for the month @ 1,818,” the website said.
“2024 had the lowest volume for the month @ 513,” the website said.
“May’s Private Aircraft passenger count was above the three, five and ten-year averages by 56.7%, 21.3% and 23.7% respectively,” the website said.
“Private Aircraft passengers made up 0.98% of total monthly arrivals,” the website said.
“Helicopter passenger counts totaled 1,257, down year-over-year by 33.7% from 1,895 in 2025,” the website said.
“2021 had the highest volume for the month @ 1,997,” the website said.
“2020 had the lowest volume for the month @ 91,” the website said.
“Helicopter passenger counts were below the three, five and ten-year averages by 28.0%, 30.3% and 22.2% respectively,” the website said.
“Helicopter passengers made up 1.00% of total monthly arrivals,” the website said.