MWC26 welcomed nearly 105,000 attendees for a week of industry-defining AI, innovation and discussions, as well as groundbreaking new features: Airport of the Future, New Frontiers and robots of all shapes and sizes.
March 5, 2026, MWC26 Barcelona: MWC26, the world's largest and most influential connectivity event, celebrated 20 years in Barcelona this year, bringing together exhibitors, thought leaders, startups and policymakers, all under one roof. Despite global travel disruptions, it welcomed almost 105,000 attendees from around the world to Fira de Barcelona's Gran Vía.
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 mattered to the world. Barcelona was the city with the infrastructure, the ecosystem and the commitment to grow with us, and I am particularly proud of the local impact we have had along the way. My thanks to our partners in Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain, to every exhibitor, speaker, attendee and staff member who made possible this week, and To the people of this extraordinary city for welcoming us once again.”
MWC26 Barcelona in numbers
- Nearly 105,000 attendees from 207 countries and territories
- 2,900 exhibitors, sponsors and partners
- Over 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 attendees represent industries adjacent to the core mobile ecosystem.
- 17% high-level attendees; 45% director level and above
- Nearly 2,600 journalists and industry analysts from around the world
- More than 1,300,000 views of keynotes and live sessions on the MWC Barcelona website and social channels, the MWC app, Mobile World Live and media partner platforms
- 4YFN, co-located with MWC26 in Hall 8, welcomed more than 1,000 exhibitors from leading companies and startups, more than 300 speakers, and hundreds of investors with crowdfunding totaling $70 billion.
Celebrating his first MWC Barcelona as CEO of GSMA, 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 energized or more determined. MWC26 has shown us what happens when the world's brightest minds come together around truly difficult problems: from open and inclusive AI and realizing the full potential of 5G, to keeping the world safe from the growing threat of fraud and cybercrime. I leave this week inspired by what I've seen and more convinced than ever about the role it will play. Our incredible industry contributes to shaping a safer and better connected world.”
MWC26 Barcelona marks the start of the GSMA's global events calendar, with major meetings taking place on four continents throughout the year.
Kigali World Congress returns from June 16 to 18, once again serving as Africa's most influential mid-year connectivity event. Shanghai CMM It follows June 24-26, when Asia's premier mobile gathering brings together industry leaders, innovators and policymakers from across the region. CMM Doha He will return to Qatar from November 8 to 11.
The GSMA M360 Regional Series offers two major events in the coming months. M360 LATAM will take place in Mexico City on May 13 and 14, while M360 Eurasia makes its debut in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on May 20-21, marking the first time the event will take place in the historic city. M360 ASEAN He will return to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on September 9-10.
All MWC26 Barcelona keynote sessions will be available on demand through the website,applicationandMobile world live. News, updates, B-roll and photographs are available on thepress area.
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About the GSMA
The GSMA is a global organization that unifies the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver critical innovation for positive business environments and social change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA offers its members three broad pillars: connectivity for good, industry services and solutions, and outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, addressing today's biggest societal challenges, supporting the technology and interoperability that make mobile devices work, and providing the world's largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events. We invite you to learn more at gsma.com
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