Once again this year, Barcelona has positioned itself as one of the best prepared and best equipped cities to host leading events in all sectors, from new technologies, innovation, the medical field and the tourism sector. The Fira de Barcelona, the city’s historic institution in the organisation of trade fairs and events, has two large venues: Montjuïc and Gran Via. The first, considered one of the most emblematic urban fairgrounds in the world, was built in 1929 for the Universal Exhibition and is located in a privileged area next to Plaça Espanya. The second is one of the largest and most modern fairgrounds in Europe, designed by the Japanese Toyo Ito with the most advanced technical and logistical features. The following events will be held in these two venues this year:
FEBRUARY
For several years now, February has been the month of mobile technologies with the Mobile World Congress. The event turns Barcelona into the world capital of technology. This year it will take place from 25 to 28 February at the Gran Via exhibition centre (www.mobileworldcongress.com). On the other hand, Four Years From Now, an initiative promoted by the Mobile World Capital Barcelona Foundation, aims to be the meeting point for start-ups, entrepreneurs and investors, taking advantage of the MWC (25-28 February, Montjuïc, www.4yfn.com).
MARCH
March will bring together two events related to the medical and pharmaceutical sector. Firstly, from 15 to 19 March at the Fira Barcelona exhibition centre, the 34th Annual EAU Congress will take place, with around 15,000 professionals attending the largest and most important scientific meeting of the European Association of Urology. Then, from 19 to 21 March at Fira Barcelona, Infarma 2019 Barcelona, the European congress for pharmacy, medicines and parapharmacy, will take place. www.interalia.es/www.infarma.net/
The B-Travel tourism and travel show will be held earlier this year on 22 and 23 March (www.b-travel.com).
APRIL
With the arrival of spring comes the new edition of MOTOH Barcelona, a fair dedicated exclusively to motorbikes (4-7 April, Fira Barcelona, www.motohbarcelona.com/). At the same time, the International Comic Fair will take place (4-7 April, Fira Barcelona, www.ficomic.com). The childcare sector will meet at the Babies Fair 2019 (13 and 14 April, Fira Barcelona www.bebesmamas.com/). As every year, the bridal fashion shows of the Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week (23-26 April, Montjuïc, www.barcelonabridalweek.com).
MAY
May starts with the creativity of the Handmade Festival Barcelona (3-5 May, Montjuïc, www.handmadefestivalbcn.com). It is followed by one of the leading events in the motor sector, the International Motor Show (11-19 May, Montjuïc, www.salonautomovil.com/). Construction professionals will meet again at the new edition of Construmat (14-17 May, Fira de Barcelona, www.construmat.com/).
JUNE
The Bizbarcelona show for SMEs and entrepreneurs will be postponed this year and will take place in June (12-13 June, Montjuïc, www.bizbarcelona.com). As usual, SIL (26-29 June, Montjuïc, www.silbcn.com), the international logistics and handling trade fair, will be held this month (26-29 June, Montjuïc, www.silbcn.com).
ITMA brings together the textile and clothing technology platform in Barcelona (20-26 June, Gran Via, www.itma.com/).
SEPTEMBER
This September, Barcelona will host for the first time the ESMO Barcelona Congress, the benchmark event in cancer, attracting more than 22,000 professionals from all over the world (27 September – 1 October, Gran Via, https://www.esmo.org/Conferences/ESMO-2019-Congress).
OCTOBER
This is the month of motorhomes, Caravaning (12-20 October, Gran Via, http://www.saloncaravaning.com); but also of swimming pools, the International Swimming Pool Show (15-18 October, Gran Via, http://www.piscinawellness.com/) and innovation in health with Healthio (29-31 October, Montjuïc, www.healthio-global.com). October also sees the Barcelona Meeting Point real estate show (17-20 October, Monjuïc, www.bmpsa.com).
NOVEMBER
With the cold weather comes the smart cities events, with the Smart Mobility World Congress (19-21 November, Gran Via, www.smartmobilitycongress.com) and the Smart City Expo World Congress (19-21 November, Gran Via, http://www.smartcityexpo.com); and the Business Travel and Congress industry with Ibtm World (19-21 November, Gran Via, www.ibtmevents.com).
Access to Fira Montjuïc
Metro: Espanya (L1, L3).
FGC: Espanya (L8, S8, S33, R6, R5, S4).
Access to Fira Gran Via
Metro: Fira and Europa/Fira (L9 Sud).
FGC: Europa/Fira (S8, S33, R6, R5, S4)
Discover Barcelona with Premium Suite Hotels. Choose the one that best suits your needs and enjoy the comfort of a flat with hotel services during your stay.
AKO SUITE ****: Elegant and minimalist Boutique hotel, next to Plaza Catalunya and Paseo de Gracia.
ACACIA SUITE ****: Close to Hospital Clínic and Diagonal. Good connection with Sants Ave Station and El Prat airport.
BONANOVA SUITE***: A classic hotel in the quiet and residential neighbourhood of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi. Very close to the prestigious Teknon and IMO hospitals.
ABARCO APARTMENTS: In a natural and urban setting in the quiet town of Santa Coloma de Gramenet, 30 minutes from the centre of Barcelona.
