Madeleine McCann's parents are hopeful 2026 will bring them a "breakthrough" in the hunt for their missing daughter. In an end of year update on the official Find Madeleine site, Kate and Gerry McCann said the ongoing search for Madeleine and "quest for knowledge and justice" was "far from over".

Thanking the police for their continued investigations, they said: "With our best wishes for a peaceful and positive new year and may 2026 bring us the breakthrough we long for." May marked 18 years since Madeleine went missing from her hotel room aged three in Praia da Luz in 2007.

The McCanns release a message every year-end to provide an update on investigations into Madeleine's disappearance.

The message shared yesterday, signed off by "Kate, Gerry and family", added: "As 2025 draws to a close, we wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has supported us, in whatever way, over the past year and for continuing to hope for positive news of Madeleine."

The couple confirmed they have joined the charity Missing People to support 'Safecall', which provides confidential, free support for young people who have left, or are thinking of leaving home, and those at risk from criminal or sexual exploitation.

While there were no major breakthroughs last year, investigations were ongoing. In June 2025, Portuguese and German police conducted a three-day search in Portugal, scouring land near Praia da Luz for clues related to Madeleine's disappearance.

Chilling evidence also came to light in a Sun investigation aired on Channel 4, revealing that German authorities found disturbing items linked to Christian Brückner, who they had identified as their prime suspect.

Dozens of pieces of children's clothing and horrifying chat histories were found in a disused factory purchased by the convicted rapist for £20,000 in 2008 in Neuwegersleben, Germany, a year after Madeleine vanished.

German police discovered 75 children's swimming costumes, toys and small bikes alongside a hard drive in connection with Brueckner.

The 49-year-old served a prison sentence in Germany for an unrelated rape case. He has consistently denied any involvement in the disappearance of Madeleine.