MWC 20th anniversary to focus on Artificial Intelligence with 110k visitors expected

Barcelona's largest mobile technology trade show, the Mobile World Congress (MWC), will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its first edition in the Catalan capital next March.

The fair will have a special focus on Artificial Intelligence, and up to 110,00 visitors are expected between March 2 and 5 at the Fira Gran Via pavilions.

John Hoffman, CEO of the fair organizing company, GSMA, said on Thursday that AI will "dominate" all the pavilions. Still, it will share space with robotics innovations and companies focused on products for space's low Earth orbit, including SpaceX, which will have a special area.

For the first time, MWC will host 'Circuit X', an extra event at the Circuit de Catalunya racetrack on the Sunday before the show. Among the attendees will be essential company managers, as well as firms that offer innovative solutions on intelligent mobility and large sporting events.

MWC moved to Barcelona in 2006 focused on mobile technology, and since then, the fair has evolved. As an example, the first iPhone was launched in 2007, a year after the first edition was held in the Catalan capital.

The 2026 edition will be divided into six themes, including smart infrastructure, artificial intelligence in business, connectivity, and technology for everyone. The event will feature talks by Rakuten CEO Mickey Mikitani, Orange Group general director Christel Heydemann, and VEON CEO Kaan Terzioğlu.

Aside from SpaceX, there will also be companies such as Amazon Web Services, China Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, Google, HP, Honor, Huawei, Intel, Meta, Microsoft, Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung, ZTE, and Xiaomi.

While the MWC trade fair is almost sold out in terms of available exhibitors, the Four Years From Now (4YFN) startups area expects to welcome around 1,000 firms.

Non-sanctioned companies

During the presentation event, the GSMA said that the fair is open to everyone, as long as there is no law that stops a country or a company from taking part.

Asked about the presence of Israeli companies, organizers said that "if countries and companies have not received any sanctions, they will be welcomed to the congress," marketing director Lara Dewar told the Catalan News Agency (ACN) on Thursday.

She highlighted that the event prioritizes "politics focused on technology," despite the several ongoing conflicts worldwide. She claims that what is "appealing" is that "all of the world gathers in Barcelona" and presents "upcoming technological products from several sides of the globe."

Israel announced a boycott of MWC in September.

Talent Arena

Coinciding with the MWC, there will be the Talent Arena developers trade fair, held at Fira Montjuïc. 

Earlier this week, officials announced that DJ and entrepreneur Steve Aoki, World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee, Boston Dynamics AI Institute researcher Kate Darling, and Linux Foundation VP Tim Serewicz will lead the second edition.

Taking place from March 2 to 4, the event will feature over 200 conferences with leading figures from the sector.