MWC26 Barcelona attracted nearly 105,000 attendees from 207 countries and territories, marking another strong year for the world’s largest connectivity event and celebrating 20 years of the show’s presence in Barcelona. Hosted at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via, the event brought together mobile operators, hyperscalers, cloud providers, equipment vendors, startups, policymakers, and investors for a week focused on AI, 5G evolution, digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies.
Despite global travel disruptions affecting some international routes, participation remained robust, with 2,900 exhibitors, sponsors, and partners showcasing technologies ranging from AI-powered networks and advanced devices to robotics and smart infrastructure concepts. This year’s show also introduced new experiential zones including Airport of the Future, New Frontiers, and a wide range of robotics demonstrations.
“Twenty years in Barcelona and MWC continues to surprise and surpass expectations,” said John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd. “From the very beginning, the GSMA and host city parties shared a common vision: to build something that would matter to the world. Barcelona had the infrastructure, ecosystem, and commitment to grow with us.”
MWC26 by the Numbers
- Nearly 105,000 attendees from 207 countries and territories
- 2,900 exhibitors, sponsors, and partners
- 1,700+ speakers and thought leaders, including 40% C-level executives and 35% women speakers
- 17% C-suite attendees and 45% director-level or higher
- 27% female attendees overall
- 2,600 journalists and industry analysts covering the event
- 1.3 million views of keynotes and live sessions across official platforms
Participation extended well beyond the traditional telecom sector. According to the GSMA, 58% of attendees represented industries adjacent to the core mobile ecosystem, reflecting the growing convergence of telecom with AI, cloud computing, automotive, enterprise IT, and digital infrastructure.
Government and Regulatory Participation
The GSMA Ministerial Programme remained a major policy forum during the event, convening:
- 188 delegations
- 54 ministers
- 118 heads of regulatory authorities
- 45 intergovernmental organizations
Discussions focused on topics including open and inclusive AI, the evolution toward 5G-Advanced, digital security, and combating fraud and cybercrime.
