MWC26 Opens Registration, as Countdown to the “IQ Era” Begins

Registration is officially open for MWC26 Barcelona, the world’s largest and most influential connectivity event. The event will celebrate its 20th anniversary from 2 to 5 March 2026 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via.

Over the past two decades, the event has become the central global platform where leaders, innovators, and policymakers shape the future of mobile and digital technologies. Next year’s edition is themed The IQ Era, marking what GSMA describes as a new phase of intelligent connectivity and system-wide innovation. The theme reflects a shift toward AI-driven networks, smarter infrastructure, and more advanced digital transformation across industries.

Among the headline keynote speakers are Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX, and Michael Nicolls, Starlink’s VP of Engineering. They will be joined by a strong lineup of global executives, including Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel Group and Chair of the GSMA, Andrew Feinberg, President & CEO of BostonGene and CEO & Chairman of NetCracker, Christel Heydemann, CEO of Orange Group, Mickey Mikitani, CEO of Rakuten, Kaan Terzioğlu, Group CEO of VEON, and a leading technology analyst, Benedict Evans.

The conference agenda is structured around six core thematic pillars: Intelligent Infrastructure, ConnectAI, AI 4 Enterprise, AI Nexus, Tech4All, and Game Changers. These will anchor discussions on the evolution of mobile networks, the convergence of AI and connectivity, and the societal impact of emerging technologies. The exhibitor list once again brings together major global technology, telecom, and cloud companies, including Accenture, Amazon Web Services, AT&T, Dell, Deutsche Telekom, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Huawei, Intel, Meta, Microsoft, Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung, SAP, SKT, Xiaomi, ZTE, and many others.

GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath emphasised the importance of this milestone edition: “For two decades, MWC Barcelona has been the place where everyone, from founders to presidents, comes 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.”

MWC26 will also introduce several new interactive zones designed to bring future use cases to life. New Frontiers in Hall 6 is a new feature spotlighting frontier technologies such as Quantum Computing, Physical AI, and Non-Terrestrial Networks, with live demonstrations from companies including Aalyria, Agibot, Equatys, Eutelsat, and Toshiba Quantum. Airport of the Future is the latest chapter of the “Journey to the Future” series. This immersive zone will showcase connected aviation technologies with partners such as Airbus and Outsight. CircuitX is developed in collaboration with GSMA Foundry, Mobile World Capital Barcelona, and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. It will explore smart mobility, next-gen fan experiences, and the future of connected automotive ecosystems.

MWC’s popular side programs return in 2026, including the GSMA Ministerial Programme, the GLOMOs, Talent Arena, and BEAT BARCELONA. The start-up platform 4YFN celebrates its 11th edition under the theme Infinite AI, focusing on responsible, scalable AI and its role in connecting industries and accelerating innovation. Amazon Web Services will host partner sessions and demos, among other corporate partners. MWC Partner Programmes will feature contributions from Alibaba Cloud, FC Barcelona’s Barça Innovation Hub, the Government of Catalonia, Huawei, the O-RAN Alliance, Samsung, SK Telecom, Telus, World Internet Conference, YOFC, and new 2026 partners such as MediaTek and ViaSat.