The vast experience obtained from having organized two universal exhibitions (in 1888 and 1928) and, most recently, the 1992 Summer Olympic Games, as well as being a ‘powerful brand’, have turned Barcelona into a city to take into account when organizing International Summits, Congresses or Seminars.

In fact, according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Barcelona is in third position in number of meetings. In 2016 there were 181 in total, only behind Paris and Vienna. Worldwide, Spain ranks fifth as the country with the most congresses held in 2016, with up to 533 in total. Only the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and France held more of this type of events.

Every year, thousands of professionals and experts in their respective areas of knowledge meet up in the capital city of Catalonia to discuss and exchange opinions and also to further improve their professional horizons.

Here are some of the most important or interesting appointments that will be taken place next year in our city:

MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS 2018

• Congress Venue: Fira de Barcelona-Gran Via
• Dates: From 26th February to 1st March 2018
• Number of delegates: 110.000 (2017)
• Website: www.mobileworldcongress.com

It is impossible to imagine this list without mentioning Mobile World Congress (MWC), which takes place in Barcelona since 2006. Organised by GSMA, more than 2,300 exhibitors meet to show their latest creations and products related to the mobile technology: from smartphones to software, apps or big data. In 2017, MWC reached a new record of visitors, with 108,000 attendees, and it was estimated that the economic impact stood at around 465 million euros. MWC also generates 13,200 temporary jobs and fills hotels and apartments.

In July 2015, the GSMA announced that Barcelona would hold Mobile World Congress at least until the year 2023. In addition, MWC has also become a reference event for start-ups thanks to 4YFN, organized by the Mobile World Capital. The event was visited this year by 600 newly created companies, 700 investors and more than 19,000 visitors, 60% more than in 2016.

EUROPEAN BREAST CANCER CONFERENCE – EBCC11

• Congress Venue: Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona (CCIB)
• Dates: March 21^st to 23^rd 2018
• Number of delegates: 5.000
• Website: https://www.ecco-org.eu/Events/EBCC11

Lots of the most important congresses that are going to take place in Barcelona are related to health. A good example is the celebration of the 11th European Breast Cancer Conferences (EBCC11), where more than 5.000 experts related on this issue are going to meet there.

As the largest Breast Cancer Conference outside the USA, the EBCC provides a unique multidisciplinary setting for all professionals with a common interest in breast cancer to discus, debate, inform and educate themselves about this evolving disease landscape. Breast cancer stakeholders from over 90 countries will come together to share the most recent scientific knowledge.

WORLD ASSOCIATION OF PSYCHOANALYSIS (AMP- XI Congress)

• Congress Venue: Auditori Fòrum
• Dates: April 2^nd to 6^th 2018
• Number of delegates: 1,700
• Website: https://congresoamp2018.com/

With the enigmatic title of ‘The Ordinary Psychoses and the Others. Under Transference’, Barcelona will hold the 11^th World Congress of Psychoanalysis, which takes places every two years. Founded in Buenos Aires (Argentina) in 1992, WAP aims to divulge the development of Psychoanalysis around the world. It promotes its practice and its study according to the teaching of Jacques Lacan, as well as the actions of formation or democratization of Psychoanalysis.

If you enter the website of the Barcelona meeting, you will find a very interesting promotional video which combines images of the most famous spots of Barcelona and Catalonia (including Gaudí’s La Pedrera or Montserrat Sacntuary) with some scenes of Alfred Hitchcock’s film masterpiece ‘Psico’. A good way to warm up your ‘psique’ before the Congress.

34TH WORLD VETERINARY ASSOCIATION CONGRESS 2018 – WVAC 2018

• Congress Venue: Centre Internacional de Convencions de Barcelona (CCIB)
• Dates: May 5^th to 8^th 2018
• Number of delegates: 3,000
• Website: wvac2018.org

The motto of the Congress says: ‘Caring for Animals=Caring of Our Planet’. And up to 3.000 professionals related to the veterinary profession will meet in Barcelona next spring for the 34^th World Veterinary Association Congress (WAVC) 2018. It is one of the best chances of the year for veterinarians in all branches to exchange knowledge, explore the challenges that animal health and welfare face, and to find solutions about all the issues that will arise. WAVC 2018 includes delegates both public and private veterinary services.

Apart from its modern facilities for holding congresses (WAVC 2018 will take place in the spectacular Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona (CCIB), at the Fórum area), Catalonia’s main city is particularly sensitive against animal abuse. In fact, since 2007, bullfighting has been prohibited in Barcelona, and one of its most famous bull rings, Las Arenas, has been converted into a large shopping center with spectacular views of Montjuïc and the southern part of the city.

GASTECH EUROPE 2018

• Congress Venue: Fira de Barcelona, Gran Via
• Dates: September 17^thto 20^th 2018
• Number of delegates: 20,000
• Website: www.dmgevents.com

One of the most multitudinous congresses of 2018 will take place from September 17^th to 20th. More than 20,000 delegates will participate in the Gastech 2018, the world’s biggest exhibition for the gas sector. Barcelona is the city chosen to bring back the meeting to Europe (after three consecutive editions in Asia) considering the recovering of the gas sector in the continent. It coincides with the forty-fifth anniversary of the creation of the organisation, but also for the recent opening of the massive liquefied natural gas plant in the Siberian Arctic, clearly demonstrating that Russia is determined to take the leadership from Qatar as the world’s biggest exporter of the chilled fuel.

In addition, the port of Barcelona has launched the first electrical connection for ships from a natural gas engine. A pioneering project in Europe that uses liquid gas and drastically reduces emissions to the atmosphere. Altogether, Gastech will take place in a very interesting context to debate the future of the energy sources and, more specifically, gas. Apart from the 20,000 sector professionals, around 600 exhibitors will join the gas Congress.

ARNOLD CLASSIC EUROPE 2018

• Venue: Fira de Barcelona Gran Via
• Dates: September 21st to 23rd 2018
• Website: www.arnoldclassiceurope.es/2018/
• Number of attendees: 60,000

Apart from gas, another kind of energy exposition will take place in Fira Gran Via next Autumn. With more than 60,000 attendees expected from 70 different countries and 4,000 athletes of 40 disciplines, the Arnold Classic Europe 2018 will transform Barcelona into the capital of Fitness and Bodybuilding. This massive event was created by actor and California’s governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his partner James J. Lorimer back in 1989. And if you expect to see closely the person who became ‘Conan the Barbarian’ or ‘Cobra’, the answer is: Yes!

The Arnold Classic Europe is a reference of the industry of nutrition, training and competition in this sports area, and also holds various contests such as ‘Fitness International’ and ‘Figure International’ with men’s and women’s category and also for professionals and amateurs.

IBTM WORLD 2018

• Congress Venue: Fira de Barcelona- Gran Via
• Dates: November 27^th to 29^th 2018
• Number of delegates: 15.000
• Website: ibtmworld.com

At the end of the year, Barcelona will be the headquarters of the leading global showcase for businesses and event tourism again in the IBTM World. In fact, since 2004 and during these years it has increased by 50%. With its own editions in Arabia, Asia and America, the ‘World Congress’ expects to attract more than 15,000 professionals, organizing more than 70,000 meetings and a vast and international program in which  leading companies and operators of the sector meet.

Human resources, sustainability, security or Technology will be some of the items that will be discussed during the Congress, which is predicted to have delegates from 150 different nationalities.