Barcelona reaffirms its leadership in the global organization of congresses and events. A city where, year after year, opportunities, ideas, and international talent converge. This is reflected in the results of Fira de Barcelona, which will close the year with the best figures in its history: 350 million euros in revenue. The figure represents an increase of 17% compared to the previous year, and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) also grew by 8%, reaching 60 million euros.
"The institution is experiencing one of its best moments, with constant growth in turnover and activity thanks to a solid portfolio of world-leading events," said the general director of Fira de Barcelona, Constantí Serrallonga. The trade fair institution estimates that 75% of its income comes from international companies, a figure that demonstrates the city's global projection. In fact, the figures serve to illustrate the exponential growth of business tourism in the Catalan capital, as Fira de Barcelona has doubled its income in less than a decade (in 2016 the entity closed the year with revenues of 165 million euros).
This year, Barcelona has been the setting for nearly 300 fairs, congresses, and competitions, which have attracted more than three million visitors from five continents. Among these events, world-renowned congresses such as the Mobile World Congress —again, marked by the emergence of artificial intelligence—, the Integrated Systems Europe—reaffirming, one more year, Barcelona as the capital of digital art— or the Smart City Expo have once again stood out.
However, trade fair activity is not limited to these well-known congresses, but has a wide program of events covering sectors such as technology, health, food, fashion, and automotive. An exhibition and display space for multiple devices, from smart or electric cars at the Automobile, to spas or swimming pools (Piscina Barcelona), passing through high-end yachts and water sports (Salón Náutico), or fashion with the Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week. But Fira de Barcelona is not only a space to show oneself to the world and establish connections, it is also a space for dialogue and reflection. A place to debate about the future of Catalan gastronomy (Gastronomic Forum Barcelona) or about the construction of more efficient and sustainable housing (Construmat).
In recent years, the Catalan capital has also become a world reference city for health congresses, an area in which it also stands out internationally due to the presence of large pharmaceutical companies and cutting-edge research centers. This is confirmed by medical events such as those on Rheumatology (EULAR), Lung Cancer (WCLC), and Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). In addition, the city is also the setting for corporate meetings of international companies such as HP, Gartner, and SAP.
Ambition and expansion
Across the different trade shows, the figures are repeated: record exhibitors, attendance, and global influence. And, in all of them, the ambition is the same: to continue growing. An ambition shared by Fira de Barcelona, which expects to break its historical records again in 2026, with the expectation of invoicing 360 million euros.
An ambitious projection that is the result of an equally ambitious expansion of the exhibition center. On the one hand, with the transformation of the Montjuïc venue, which is expected to begin in 2026, after the studios in charge of the project have been selected. The goal is for it to be completed by 2029, coinciding with the centenary of the 1929 International Exposition. On the other hand, construction work on Hall 0, the new 60,000 square meter avant-garde and sustainable architecture pavilion at the Gran Via venue, is also progressing and is expected to be operational in 2027.
But, in addition, Fira de Barcelona has begun to expand beyond its physical borders, thanks to the agreement with Circuit. For Pau Relat, president of Fira's Board of Directors, this agreement has been one of the great challenges and successes of 2025, as "the first steps towards the diversification of activity have been taken and the challenge of organizing the MotoGP Awards and Formula 1" has been successfully overcome. The agreement, however, opens a new stage for Fira de Barcelona: the challenge of integrating this space into its intense calendar of congresses and consolidating the Circuit as a space for holding not only major motor competitions, but also fairs, congresses and shows. In fact, in 2026, the Mobile World Congress will already take a first step in this direction, with the celebration of an event for professionals within the framework of the fair during the previous weekend.
In addition to the expansion projects, the year 2026 will also be marked by the celebration of international congresses —with Mobile and ISE as the main protagonists—, but also by anniversaries such as the 50th anniversary of Alimentaria + Hostelco. As a novelty, the congress dedicated to the large-format printing industry will also land in Barcelona, Fespa Global Print Expo, which until now was held in Berlin.
Likewise, the trade fair institution will continue to expand its presence in the world, as it will manage two exhibition venues in China and plans to co-organize twelve trade shows worldwide, among which stand out the first editions of Alimentaria in Argentina and Smart City Expo in Cali (Colombia), which join the already consolidated events in Brazil, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Chile or Qatar.