“Barcelona, ​​where innovation flourishes” is the core theme guiding the city’s participation in the Smart City Expo World Congress 2026, which will take place from 3 to 5 November at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via venue. The narrative focusses on Barcelona’s capacity to transform knowledge, technology and creativity into solutions that improve people’s quality of life and tackle the primary challenges facing cities today.

The City Council’s proposal offers an opportunity to discover initiatives driven by various sectors across the city and to learn how innovation is integrated into public services, municipal management and the urban environment. The stand will bring this vision to life through seven thematic pillars, a selection of key projects, a programme of talks and roundtables, and the participation of companies supported by Barcelona Activa.

In this way, the city aims to demonstrate that innovation extends beyond the adoption of new technologies; it also encompasses innovative public policies, the rethinking of processes, the promotion of new forms of collaboration and the development of solutions tailored to the needs of the citizenry.

Innovation that grows through collaboration

The concept of “flourishing” frames innovation as a process that requires knowledge, connections and opportunities to develop. This idea highlights Barcelona’s innovation ecosystem and the role of collaboration among the public sector, the business community, research and knowledge centres, and the general public.

Guided by this theme, Barcelona will present a vision of innovation rooted in the city’s real-world needs, showcasing projects that help advance an urban model that is more sustainable, efficient and inclusive as well as better prepared to face future challenges.

The proposal will also offer insight into how data helps manage green spaces, how robotics assists emergency response teams and how simulation enables the city to prepare for extreme scenarios. Initiatives such as Barcelona’s “Digital Twin” or the “Barcelona at 50°C” exercise will demonstrate the value of anticipating scenarios and testing decisions before they are implemented.

A space for sharing knowledge and sparking debate

Beyond the exhibition of projects, the Barcelona stand will feature an “agora”: a dedicated space for meeting, reflection and the exchange of experiences. Throughout the three-day congress, this space will host a programme of talks, presentations and roundtables, featuring professionals, institutional representatives and key players from the innovation ecosystem.

The sessions will provide an opportunity to delve into the challenges facing cities and to highlight initiatives that explore new ways of managing public services, integrating technology and driving urban transformation. The forum will also facilitate connections between organisations and help identify potential opportunities for collaboration.

In this context, Barcelona’s participation will be complemented by the Cities Programme, an initiative designed to strengthen links between cities and foster the international exchange of knowledge, experiences and best practices in urban innovation.

This programme will help expand the scope of the city’s presence at the conference and consolidate Barcelona’s role as a city open to cooperating with other regions to address shared challenges.

An international meeting point

The Smart City Expo World Congress is one of the leading international events dedicated to urban innovation, bringing together representatives from local governments, companies, institutions, research centres and professionals from around the globe.

Barcelona’s participation will provide an opportunity to showcase projects currently under development in the city, share experiences, and establish connections with other administrations and organisations working to transform urban environments.

Activities at the stand will combine the presentation of solutions with discussions, outreach and networking among stakeholders from various sectors. It will also serve to highlight the talent and innovative potential of the local ecosystem, including companies supported by Barcelona Activa, which will have the chance to present their initiatives on an international stage.

Through this initiative, Barcelona reaffirms its commitment to open, collaborative innovation focussed on generating impact, where ideas, knowledge and partnerships are transformed into opportunities to build the future of cities.

Barcelona at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2026

The 2026 edition will take place from 3 to 5 November at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via venue.

The Barcelona City Council stand will be located in Pavilion 2, Level 0, Street D, Stand 151.

Over these three days, visitors will be able to learn about municipal projects, discover initiatives from the city’s innovation ecosystem, and take part in activities scheduled at the agora.

More information about the congress and its programme: Smart City Expo World Congress 2026.