Barcelona New Economy Week (BNEW) held its seventh edition at DFactory Barcelona from October 5 to 7, 2026, adding five sectors to its program. Organized by the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), the event expanded its established focus on Talent, Aviation & Space and Health to include Gaming, AI, Energy, Agrofood and Science. The eight-sector program aimed to connect fields that have traditionally developed separately, including technology, industrial change and sustainability.
BNEW kept its hybrid format, with both in-person and digital participation. La Vanguardia reported that more than 12,000 participants from 96 countries attended, while 270 experts took part in 50 sessions over the three days. The event also recorded 11,753 networking contacts. Sessions and activities followed the eight-sector structure, with networking designed to connect companies and experts across new idea communities.
DFactory Barcelona, the event’s venue and an Innovation Hub focused on Industry 4.0, provided a setting for BNEW’s cross-sector program. The 2026 agenda covered artificial intelligence’s influence on employment, interdisciplinary science, advances in new materials and nanotechnology, discoveries in astronomy and space, and the energy transition. Dedicated networking spaces and experiential activities were part of the event’s effort to encourage direct engagement alongside digital participation.
Pere Navarro, executive president of the CZFB, said BNEW has adapted to the changing field of the new economy. Blanca Sorigué, the CZFB’s director, described BNEW as more than a congress, citing its high-level content, television-style format, personalized networking platform and immersive activities.
BNEW’s expanded agenda comes as Barcelona continues to position itself as a hub for international events and innovation. The city’s strategy to attract major gatherings is evident in its recent hosting of global sports competitions, including Catalonia’s securing of the Tour de France after other high-profile events. This approach is detailed in reports such as Barcelona's ongoing push for international event leadership, which outlines the region’s ambitions and challenges in the global arena.
BNEW’s focus on AI, Energy and Gaming reflects the growing importance of digital change and sustainability in the Spanish and European economies. Adding Agrofood and Science also brings food technology and research into the event’s broader discussion of future economic growth. With its expanded scope and participants from 96 countries, BNEW 2026 brought leaders from new idea, technology and business together in Barcelona.
Barcelona’s connectivity and talent, backed by event infrastructure, support its role as a venue for large-scale international gatherings. BNEW’s eight-sector structure brought diverse industries into a shared program, linking business networking with discussions of industrial change, technology and sustainability.
