Barcelona: Europe's best trade fair destination

Barcelona has it all: sun, a strong economy and stunning architecture. It is perhaps no surprise therefore that thousands of international delegates, exhibitors and industry professionals flock here every year to attend trade fairs

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Barcelona: Europe's best trade fair destination

Venues for trade fairs in Barcelona

One of the main reasons behind Barcelona's success as an international trade fair hub is the variety of different conference and exhibition spaces dotted across the city. The two largest venues are in the centre of the city and between them offer 400,000 square metres of space for trade shows or conferences. There are also dozens of smaller spaces, including the World Trade Centre right on the waterside, or the new International Conference Centre, which has 36 separate meeting rooms to cater for events of any size. Every year, Barcelona hosts hundreds of different trade shows covering every conceivable market sector, from bridal fashion to boat shows and even tattoo expo events. The range and high standard of shows hosted in Barcelona mean that companies planning to visit or exhibit will have no difficulty in finding all the services and facilities they need.

Organising Events in Barcelona

Fira Barcelona is the organisation behind many of the larger international events in the city. Founded over 80 years ago, the institution has extensive experience in running events in many locations across the city. The two main venues managed by Fira for trade fairs in Barcelona are the prize-winning and ultra-modern Gran Via centre, on the outskirts between the city centre and the airport, and the historic and prestigious Montjuic exhibition space, which borders the old town and the ocean.

Most Popular Trade Fairs

Many of the trade fairs in Barcelona don't just cater to a local Catalan or Spanish audience, but also attract exhibitors and delegates from across the world. Some of the biggest events for international visitors are the Alimentaria food and drink trade show, held annually at the end of April, and Barcelona Bridal Week, held at the beginning of April and attracting designers and retailers from all over Europe. Perhaps the biggest trade fair in Barcelona is the Mobile World Congress, the world's largest gathering of mobile phone companies. The event saw keynote speakers from the world's biggest technology brands. Facebook, AT&T and PayPal were among the industry leaders and pioneers involved. If you want to be up to date with the latest mobile phone technology, this is one key Barcelona trade fair that you cannot afford to miss.

Getting Around the City and Sightseeing

Some of the main reasons that Barcelona trade fair events are such an enduring success are the many attractions the city has to offer and the ease of travelling between them. Barcelona is a compact city which is simple to get around using the underground or bus networks. The city's airport is just 14km from the centre of the city and is well connected by rail and bus. Visitors attending events in the city can also enjoy a stroll down the famous Ramblas, with its street performers and pavement cafés, marvel at the Gaudi masterpieces of the Sagrada Familia cathedral and the outdoor Parc Guell, or check out the Magic Fountain of Montjuic just outside one of the main exhibition spaces. Every night during the summer season there are several half-hour shows here, with lights and music coordinated with the motion of the fountain. It's one of Barcelona's top tourist attractions and one which should not be missed.

Planning your trip to Barcelona? Check out our favorite downtown hotels in Barcelona.

Where to stay in Barcelona

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NH Sants Barcelona

Numancia, 74,. 08029 Barcelona

The NH Sants Barcelona hotel is located in the heart of Barcelona’s financial district, just a few steps from the trade fair and the Sants train station. You can get to the city center in 15 minutes on the metro and Camp Nou, the home ground of Barcelona’s soccer team, is only 20 minutes away on foot.