The city of Barcelona has seen the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world's leading mobile industry trade show, achieve historic highs in both attendance and economic impact. The 2026 edition generated an economic effect of 588 million euros, a 4.8% increase from the previous year, and welcomed over 105,000 international attendees.

With this edition, celebrating its twentieth anniversary in the city, the cumulative economic contribution of the MWC to Barcelona now stands at 7.5 billion euros.

These figures were presented by John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA, the global mobile industry association and organizer of the event. Hoffman, accompanied by Lara Dewar, GSMA's Chief Marketing Officer, also highlighted the impact on employment, with the creation of approximately 14,000 part-time jobs during the 2026 edition. Over the twenty editions, the total number of jobs created reaches 187,000.

John Hoffman emphasized the MWC's vision of uniting the world through connectivity, a goal that has exceeded initial expectations for both the organization and the city. He expressed his gratitude to the Barcelona partners and the Catalan Government for their ongoing commitment to the annual collaboration.

The 2026 edition featured participants from 207 countries, who visited 2,900 exhibitors. Additionally, the event included over 1,700 speakers and opinion leaders, 40% of whom were senior executives. Female participation reached 35%. The GSMA Ministerial Programme convened 188 delegations, including 45 intergovernmental organizations, 54 ministers, and 118 regulatory authority representatives.