At THE SUN PLACES we tell you everything you need to know about this essential event.
📅Dates and location of the Mobile World Congress 2026
The Mobile World Congress 2026 is held from 2 to 5 March at the Fira Gran Via de L'Hospitalet de Llobregat venue, the same space that has hosted the congress since 2013 after the Montjuïc venue became too small. This year's edition has a special meaning: it marks two decades since Barcelona became the permanent headquarters of this event, transforming the city into a global technological benchmark.
🎯The slogan: "The IQ Era"
Under the slogan "The IQ Era", the Mobile World Congress 2026 explores the emergence of a new technological stage where artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a promise for the future but becomes an omnipresent reality. This concept proposes an era in which human capabilities and technology combine to generate innovation with economic and social impact.
The congress programme is structured around six thematic axes:
- Intelligent Infrastructure
- ConnectAI: Connectivity and integrated AI
- AI 4 Enterprise: AI applications for businesses
- AI Nexus: AI collaboration ecosystems
- Tech4All: Inclusive technology
- Game Changers: Transformative innovations
👑Who organises and presides over the Mobile World Congress 2026?
The organisation of the Mobile World Congress 2026 is carried out by the GSMA, the European association of mobile operators. Its CEO, John Hoffman, has been one of the visible faces during the opening, together with the marketing director, Lara Dewar.
The inaugural conference featured Vivek Badrinath, Director General of GSMA, who highlighted that the mobile communications industry is entering a new phase of development that requires joint efforts to deepen the deployment of 5G, address challenges related to AI, and strengthen digital security.
The official opening was attended by King Felipe VI, accompanied by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, and the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni. The monarch participated in the conference "Leading the future: Intelligent, inclusive and unstoppable", where he spoke alongside executives from major operators such as Orange, Vodafone, China Telecom and AT&T, as well as astronaut Tim Peake.
📊Figures for the Mobile World Congress 2026: Record participation
The Mobile World Congress 2026 aims to exceed all expectations with impressive figures:
- Expected attendees | Over 110,000
- Countries represented | Over 205
- Country and region pavilions | Over 100
- Estimated economic impact | €585 million (+4.3%)
- Hotel occupancy | 93-97% in Barcelona and Hospitalet
- Rooms reserved by the organisation | 21,000
🏢Companies attending the Mobile World Congress 2026
The Mobile World Congress 2026 brings together the world's technology giants, along with numerous start-ups and emerging companies from around the globe:
Major corporations present:
- Cisco, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, Google, Meta, Microsoft
- Huawei, Intel, Lenovo, LG, Netflix, Nokia, Qualcomm
- Samsung, Telefónica, Tik Tok, ZTE, Xiaomi, Honor
New pavilions
For the first time, the congress features a China Pavilion bringing together the main companies from the Asian country, including China Mobile, China Unicom, Huawei, ZTE, Honor and Xiaomi, showcasing their latest advances in mobile communications and AI technologies.
New spaces dedicated to Africa, Palestine and Seoul also stand out.
The Spain Pavilion returns with 49 exhibiting companies, an investment close to one million euros, and an estimated return exceeding 22 million euros for the participating companies.
🚀Novelties and trends of the Mobile World Congress 2026
The main protagonist: Artificial Intelligence
AI is the central axis of this edition, with a transversal presence in all the innovations presented. The main trends include:
- From smartphone to "intelligent phone": New mobiles incorporate processors capable of executing AI functions locally, making autonomous decisions and learning from user behaviour.
- Samsung has presented its vision of proactive AI integrated into the new Galaxy S26 series and all associated devices.
- Honor has surprised with "the world's smallest processor" and a prototype of the Robot Phone: a smartphone with an integrated robotic arm to capture images from impossible angles, designed for content creators.
New experiential spaces
The Mobile World Congress 2026 launches three innovative spaces:
- Airport of the Future: A large-scale exhibition on aviation and the impact of connectivity, AI, and automation on the transformation of air travel, from airlines to baggage management systems.
- New Frontiers: Dedicated to emerging technologies such as quantum computing, advanced robotics, and non-terrestrial networks (NTN), with a prominent presence of SpaceX and Starlink.
- CircuitX: At the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, an immersive space on connected mobility, with demonstrations of autonomous and connected vehicles.
Connectivity: 5G consolidated and the 6G horizon
With 5G coverage already reaching practically the entire population in Spain, the industry is looking towards 6G, whose deployment is planned for 2030. Alliances between operators to offer hybrid connectivity (terrestrial and satellite networks) will make it possible to reach remote areas, with SpaceX and Starlink as protagonists of the debate.
⚠️The GSMA warning: Europe is falling behind in 5G
The Director General of GSMA, Vivek Badrinath, has issued a serious warning during the congress: regulatory and investment problems are holding Europe back in the deployment of standalone 5G technology (5GSA).
While the United States and China have taken the lead in 5GSA, bringing industrial automation to ports and factories, Europe barely reaches 3% 5GSA deployment. "Something is not working," Badrinath pointed out, warning that "if we don't deploy 5G properly... we will be out of the game."
The main cause is the fragmentation of the European market, with some 200 operators registering an average of only five million customers, compared to the large American and Chinese operators with bases of 150 to 450 million. This lack of scale makes it unfeasible to match the R&D spending of their global rivals.
🌍Geopolitics and protests at the Mobile World Congress 2026
This year's edition has not been without geopolitical tensions. Flight cancellations in the Middle East following attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran have made it difficult for some congress members from that region to arrive.
Furthermore, around sixty people gathered at the venue's gates to denounce human rights violations linked to the global technological model, pointing out the presence of companies with alleged military ties, especially with the Israeli army, and demanding greater responsibility from organisers and institutions.
🏙️What does the Mobile World Congress 2026 represent for Barcelona?
For Barcelona, the Mobile World Congress 2026 is much more than a conference. It represents the consolidation of the city as the "world mobile capital" after two decades of uninterrupted connection.
The accumulated economic impact over these 20 years exceeds €7.5 billion and has generated more than 100,000 temporary jobs since its arrival. For this edition, the estimated impact is €585 million, 4.3% more than the previous year.
Hotel occupancy is close to full (97% in Hospitalet, 93% in Barcelona), with average prices ranging between €590 and €690 per night, and tourist accommodation will reach 91% occupancy, with around 29,000 places for congress attendees coming mainly from the United States, the United Kingdom and France.
The CEO of GSMA, John Hoffman, wanted to settle any debate about the continuity of the event by joking that, after 20 years in the city, the next contract with Barcelona is "forever and ever".
📍Where can I stay to attend the Mobile World Congress 2026?
🏡 Experience the Mobile World Congress 2026 with THE SUN PLACES
If you plan to attend the Mobile World Congress 2026, you know that the organisation has reserved more than 21,000 rooms and that hotel occupancy is close to 95%. At THE SUN PLACES we want your experience to be complete and worry-free.
We offer you an exclusive accommodation alternative for congress attendees looking for something more than a hotel room. Although our main headquarters are in Andalusia, we can offer you the best Luxury Apartments in Barcelona and connect your business trip with the pleasure of discovering one of the most vibrant cities in Europe.
👉 Contact THE SUN PLACES for personalised advice and find out how we can help you organise your trip to the Mobile World Congress 2026, combining business, technology and the best rest. 📱✨