Kate and Gerry McCann have shared a New Year message saying they hope a breakthrough in the hunt for their missing daughter will come in 2026
The parents of Madeleine McCann have issued a New Year message expressing their hopes that 2026 will bring a long-awaited breakthrough in the search for their missing daughter.
Madeleine disappeared during a family break in Praia da Luz, Portugal, back in May, 2007, aged just three years old. The youngster went missing from a holiday apartment whilst her parents were having dinner with friends at a restaurant close by, triggering a vast global investigation that has now spanned nearly twenty years.
Despite countless tip-offs, Madeleine’s location remains a mystery. Prosecutors named German citizen Christian Brueckner as their main suspect in 2020, though no formal charges have been filed in connection with the case. For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter here
Kate and Gerry McCann have now released an emotional message stating their wish that the New Year delivers “the breakthrough we long for”.
Writing on the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page, the couple stated: “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.”, reports the Mirror.
The pair revealed they had partnered with charity Missing People to back Safecall – a service providing free and confidential assistance to vulnerable young people facing criminal or sexual exploitation – or those who have run away or are considering leaving home or care.
The McCanns expressed gratitude to both the public and police for their continued support during the lengthy investigation, concluding their statement on an optimistic note.
“With our best wishes for a peaceful and positive new year and may 2026 bring us the breakthrough we long for. Kate, Gerry and family.”
The latest search efforts for Madeleine occurred in June 2025, with German and Portuguese officials conducting renewed operations across rural locations connected to the case. Following several days of excavation and forensic analysis, the searches concluded without yielding any significant discoveries.
Brueckner, who has previous convictions for sexual offences, was serving a seven-year prison term in Germany for a separate sexual crime when authorities identified him as a suspect in Madeleine’s disappearance.
He gained his freedom in September of the previous year. State prosecutors confirmed the 49-year-old must wear an electronic monitoring device to enable authorities to track his whereabouts.
Brueckner has also had to surrender his passport and is prohibited from leaving the country.
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