MWC 2026 brings together almost 105,000 attendees in Barcelona

For four days, executives, policymakers, startups, investors and technology giants shared the stage in an edition marked by artificial intelligence, the development of 5G, cybersecurity and new technological applications that are beginning to shape the immediate future of the industry.

Twenty years of partnership with Barcelona

This year’s edition also served to celebrate two decades of relationship between the congress and the city. Since its arrival in 2006, the Mobile World Congress has grown to become one of the most influential technology events in the world.

“Twenty years in Barcelona and MWC continues to surprise and exceed expectations,” said John Hoffman, CEO, GSMA Ltd. “From the beginning we shared a vision with the host city: to build something that would impact the world. Barcelona had the infrastructure, ecosystem and commitment to grow with us.”

Hoffman also highlighted the local impact that the congress has had on the city over the years, thanking the institutional support and the work of exhibitors, speakers and attendees that have made this edition possible.

A global event in figures

The volume of MWC26 once again reflects the scale of the event:

Nearly 105,000 attendees from 207 countries and territories
2,900 exhibitors, sponsors and partners
More than 1,700 speakers and opinion leaders
35% of speakers were women
188 government delegations within the GSMA Ministerial Program
54 ministers and 118 heads of regulatory authorities
58% of attendees from industries adjacent to the mobile ecosystem
17% C-level assistants and 45% managers or above
27% female participation among attendees
Nearly 2,600 accredited journalists and analysts

Digital reach also continues to grow: the congress presentations and sessions have exceeded 1.3 million views through the event’s website, official app and associated media platforms.

Startups, talent and new technological frontiers

The entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to play a leading role. 4YFN (Four Years From Now), located in Hall 8 next to the MWC, brought together more than 1,000 startups and corporations, with the participation of more than 300 speakers and numerous investors managing funds collectively valued at $70 billion.

Technological talent also had its own space with Talent Arena, organized by Mobile World Capital Barcelona at Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc, which brought together more than 25,000 attendees interested in training, professional development and opportunities within the digital sector.

Among the most talked-about experiences of the congress were proposals that explore new technological scenarios, such as the Airport of the Future concept, the New Frontiers area dedicated to emerging innovation, as well as a massive presence of robots of different formats and applications, from industrial assistants to consumer-oriented prototypes.

Technology in a complex global context

This year’s edition was also held at a time of particular geopolitical sensitivity. International tensions, economic uncertainty in several regions and some disruptions in global travel have marked the context prior to the congress. Even so, the MWC has managed to maintain a high level of international participation, reinforcing its role as a space for dialogue between industry, governments and companies.

In an increasingly fragmented global scenario, events such as this one become relevant platforms for the exchange of ideas and the building of technological consensus. From Spain, and with Barcelona as its epicenter, the congress continues to function as a point of connection between Europe, Asia, Africa and America at a time when technological cooperation is acquiring increasing strategic value.

MWC with a global calendar that continues

After Barcelona, the GSMA ‘s calendar of events will continue throughout the rest of the year in different continents.

MWC Kigali will be held from June 16 to 18 as the main connectivity meeting in Africa. At the end of the same month, MWC Shanghai will be held from June 24 to 26, one of the most important events in the sector in Asia. The series will culminate with MWC Doha, scheduled for November 8-11 in Qatar.

In addition to these meetings, M360 regional events will bring together industry leaders in Mexico City, Samarkand and Kuala Lumpur over the coming months.

In the meantime, all MWC26 keynote sessions will remain available on demand through the congress’ digital platforms, extending the reach of an event that, twenty years after its arrival in Barcelona, continues to set the pulse of the global technology industry.