MWC26 welcomed nearly 105,000 attendees for a week of discussions on AI, innovation and industry, as well as new features pushing the boundaries of the airport of the future, new frontiers and robots of all shapes and sizes.
BARCELONA, Spain, March 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MWC26, the world’s largest and most influential connectivity event, celebrated its 20th anniversary this year in Barcelona, bringing together exhibitors, thought leaders, startups and policymakers under one roof. Despite global travel disruptions, the event welcomed nearly 105,000 participants from around the world to the Gran Via at the Fira de Barcelona.
John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd., said: “Twenty years in Barcelona and MWC continues to surprise and exceed expectations. From the beginning, the GSMA and the host city parties shared a common vision: to build something that would matter to the world. Barcelona was the city with the infrastructure, the ecosystem and the commitment to grow with us, and I am especially proud of the local impact we have had along the way. My thanks go to our partners in Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain, to each exhibitor, speaker, participant and staff member who participated in this week possible, and to the residents of this extraordinary city for welcoming us back.
MWC26 Barcelona in figures
- Nearly 105,000 participants from 207 countries and territories
- 2,900 exhibitors, sponsors and partners
- More than 1,700 speakers and thought leaders, including 40% C-level speakers and 35% female speakers
- The GSMA ministerial program brought together 188 delegations, 45 intergovernmental organizations, 54 ministers and 118 heads of regulatory authorities.
- 58% of participants representing industries adjacent to the main mobile ecosystem
- 17% of C-suite participants; 45% director level and above
- 27% female participants
- Nearly 2,600 journalists and industry analysts from around the world
- Over 1,300,000 views of keynotes and live sessions across MWC Barcelona website and social media, MWC app, Mobile World Live and media partner platforms.
- 4YFN, co-located with MWC26 in Hall 8, hosted more than 1,000 exhibitors from leading startups and enterprises, more than 300 speakers and hundreds of investors with collective funds totaling $70 billion.
- Furthermore, Talent Arena organized by Mobile World Capital Barcelona (MWCapital) and co-located with MWC26 at the Fira Montjuïc, welcomed more than 25,000 participants
Speaking at his first MWC Barcelona as GSMA Director General, Vivek Badrinath said: “One week. Hundreds of stages and exhibitors. And thousands of conversations. It’s clear that the global connectivity industry has never been more dynamic or more purposeful. MWC26 showed us what happens when the world’s brightest minds come together around truly tough problems – from open and inclusive AI, to realizing the full potential of 5G, to protecting the world from the growing threat of fraud and cybercrime. I leave this week inspired by what I have seen and more convinced than ever of the role that our amazing industry plays in creating a safer and better connected world.
Read the full press release here
SOURCE GSMA
