Smart City Expo 2026 Elevates to Global Urban Summit with Mayors from Four Continents
Event summary
- Smart City Expo World Congress 2026 will host over 600 speakers and 27,000 attendees from November 3-5 in Barcelona.
- Mayors from Paris, Atlanta, Athens, Milan, Budapest, Dublin, and Freetown will participate, elevating the event to a global urban summit.
- The event includes the new HOWS Barcelona – Housing World Summit, focusing on housing as a central concern.
- Keynote speakers include AI expert Nikolas Badminton and diversity advocate Ayumi Moore Aoki.
- Over 1,100 exhibitors, including Google, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, will participate.
The big picture
The 2026 Smart City Expo World Congress marks a significant shift in the event's scope, transitioning from a tech-focused gathering to a high-level political summit. This evolution reflects the growing intersection of urban governance and technological innovation, as cities worldwide seek scalable solutions to pressing challenges. The inclusion of major tech players and global mayors underscores the event's role in shaping the future of urban development.
What we're watching
- Political Influence
- How the participation of high-profile mayors will shape global urban policy discussions and collaborations.
- Industry Collaboration
- Whether the presence of major tech firms like Google and Microsoft will drive tangible advancements in smart city technologies.
- Housing Focus
- The impact of the new Housing World Summit on addressing global housing challenges through political dialogue and cooperation.
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