GSMA MWC26 Barcelona countdown begins with thought leaders cleared for take-off from SpaceX and Starlink

13 November, London: MWC26 Barcelona, the world’s largest and most influential connectivity event, has opened for registration this week – with its 20th edition taking place between 2–5 March 2026 Fira de Barcelona’s iconic Gran Via. Celebrating two decades of industry-defining moments and partnerships in Barcelona, MWC26 will once again unite global leaders, innovators, and policymakers under one roof to explore the technologies shaping the future of digital transformation across industry and society.

Under the event theme The IQ Era, MWC26 embraces a new age of intelligence through smarter connection. It follows 20 years of iconic thought leadership by titans of our industry on the stages of MWC. 

Joining the MWC speakers’ hall of fame, MWC26 will feature SpaceX’s President and COO, Gwynne Shotwell and Starlink’s VP of Engineering, Michael Nicolls. Also joining the main stage, with more thought leaders to be revealed on our website in due course:

• Bharti Airtel Group’s Vice Chairman and Managing Director and GSMA Chair, Gopal Vittal;
• BostonGene’s President and CEO, and NetCracker’s CEO & Chairman, Andrew Feinberg;
• Orange Group’s CEO, Christel Heydemann;
• Rakuten’s CEO, Mickey Mikitani;
• VEON’s Group CEO, Kaan Terzioğlu;
• and leading technology analyst and strategist, Benedict Evans. 

The packed four-day agenda is built around six core themes – Intelligent Infrastructure, ConnectAI, AI 4 Enterprise, AI Nexus, Tech4All and Game Changers. It will explore how ideas can drive tech and societal progress when we embrace the collective knowledge of our mobile ecosystem.

This year’s exhibitors and sponsors will include Accenture, Amazon Web Services, AT&T, China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Dell, Deutsche Telekom, EY, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Honor, Huawei, Intel, KPMG, KT, Liberty Global, Meta, Microsoft, Nokia, Palo Alto Networks, Qualcomm, SAP, Samsung, SKT,  Snowflake, ZTE and Xiaomi. 

Vivek Badrinath, Director General, GSMA, said: “For two decades, MWC Barcelona has been the place where everyone, from founders to presidents, come together to experience the power of connection and get business done. The 2026 edition marks the beginning of a new era of intelligence, emphasising the advancement of connectivity, human-driven tech innovation, commercial development, and societal progress.”

Returning favourites include the GSMA Ministerial Programme, 4YFN26, the GLOMOs, Talent Arena, and the place to B - BEAT BARCELONA alongside a whole host of exciting new immersive experiences and exhibitions designed to showcase the future of connected industries:

• New Frontiers: This new show floor feature and stage in Hall 6 shines a light on emerging frontier technologies disrupting and accelerating the mobile and connectivity ecosystem. With live demos and real-world use cases, it will explore Quantum Computing, Physical AI, and Satellite and Non-Terrestrial Networks, featuring companies such as Aalyria, Agibot, Equatys, Eutelsat and Toshiba Quantum.
• Airport of the Future: New for MWC26, this latest chapter in the visionary MWC Journey to the Future series includes the Smart Airports Summit which returns for its second edition. The new zone is an immersive exhibition experience designed for attendees to explore how aviation and air travel are being transformed through connected technologies. It will feature interactive demos from innovators including zone partners Airbus and Outsight. Airbus will show how advanced connectivity and data analytics are transforming aircraft operations and passenger experience. While Outsight – Airport of the Future’s Spatial AI Technology Partner - will create a live, full-scale motional digital twin of the zone.
• CircuitX: As part of the collaboration between GSMA Foundry, Mobile World Capital Barcelona, and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya managed by Fira de Barcelona, CircuitX will showcase cutting-edge advances in smart mobility and immersive fan experiences. Attendees can explore interactive demo pods and attend live sessions from industry leaders, marking the first phase of an exciting multi-year journey.

Now in its 11th year, 4YFN returns to Barcelona to connect founders, investors, and corporate innovators at Europe’s leading start-up event, culminating in the trailblazing 4YFN26 Awards. Under the theme Infinite AI, the 2026 edition of 4YFN will celebrate the limitless potential of human and machine creativity, exploring how responsible, scalable AI can unlock new ideas, connect industries, and deliver opportunities for a more inclusive future. 4YFN Partner Programmes will feature sessions that bring innovative ideas to the forefront, including demos and a half-day partner programme hosted by Amazon Web Services. 

MWC Partner Programmes will once again feature tailored sessions from leading organisations including Alibaba Cloud, FC Barcelona’s Barça Innovation Hub, Government of Catalonia, GTI, Huawei, O-RAN Alliance, Samsung, SK Telecom, Tecno Mobile, Telus, World Internet Conference, and YOFC, with new partners for 2026 including MediaTek and ViaSat. 

Registration for MWC26 Barcelona is open, and members of the media are invited to apply for a complimentary press pass here. 

-ENDS-

About GSMA 

The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile 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 find out more at gsma.com.

Media Contacts 

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