Barcelona will host the largest edition yet of the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) from November 4 to 6, 2025, with more than 25,000 delegates and 1,100 exhibitors expected at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue.
Organized under the theme “The Time for Cities,” the international event will focus on how technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), can drive sustainable and efficient urban transformation worldwide.
The annual congress, organized by Fira de Barcelona, will position the city once again as a global meeting point for urban innovation. It will bring together companies, policymakers, researchers, and experts to discuss strategies for creating smarter, more livable cities and showcase how AI-enabled solutions can accelerate progress in mobility, energy, governance, and infrastructure.
AI and Innovation Lead Urban Transformation
The 2025 edition will feature a new “AI-enabled cities” area, allowing attendees to explore real-world applications of artificial intelligence in urban planning, infrastructure management, and public services. Major corporations including Axis Communications, Bentley, Dassault Systèmes, Dell, Deloitte, Microsoft, Nvidia, Urbaser, Veolia, and others will showcase their latest innovations. National pavilions from 14 countries—including France, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States—will highlight government and industry initiatives from across the globe.
“Twenty-five years into this new millennium we know that cities are more than clusters of infrastructure; they are dynamic systems built around the lives of millions and our greatest asset to curb climate change and secure a better future for millions of people around the world,” said Ugo Valenti, Director of Smart City Expo World Congress. “Smart City Expo is the place where companies, experts and government officials act in this common goal and share strategies, technologies and projects that speed the process.”
More than 600 speakers will participate in this year’s congress program, structured around eight thematic tracks: Enabling Technologies, Energy & Environment, Mobility, Governance & Economy, Living & Inclusion, Infrastructure & Building, and Blue Economy. Confirmed speakers include Nikki Greenberg, CEO of Real Estate of the Future; Kate O’Neill, Founder and CEO of KO Insights; and Carlo Ratti, Director of the MIT Senseable City Lab, alongside public officials from the European Commission, Los Angeles, Rome, and Poland.
The Global Hub of Innovation
The 2025 event will also expand its focus on startups through the Innovation Playground, connecting investors, research centers, and over 80 young companies developing smart urban solutions. Combined with other event areas, nearly 350 startups will be represented—reinforcing SCEWC’s reputation as a launch platform for emerging technologies in sustainable cities.
The World Smart City Awards will return with its 14th edition, recognizing excellence in innovation and urban transformation. This year’s program received a record 462 submissions from 65 countries. Winners in nine categories—including City, Leadership, Innovation, Enabling Technologies, and Energy & Environment—will be announced at a gala on November 5.
Fira de Barcelona will further strengthen its role as a global hub for urban innovation by hosting SCEWC 2025 alongside several related events: Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress, Tomorrow.Building World Congress, Tomorrow.Blue Economy, and the Barcelona Deep Tech Summit. Together, these gatherings will cover topics such as sustainable transportation, decarbonized construction, ocean-based economic growth, and advanced technologies including quantum computing, robotics, and photonics.
Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress, co-organized with EIT Urban Mobility, will explore the transition toward sustainable transport systems and the race to achieve net-zero emissions. Tomorrow.Building World Congress will highlight solutions for decarbonized and resilient cities, featuring more than 100 experts and 30 conference sessions. Tomorrow.Blue Economy will emphasize the potential of seas and oceans for sustainable development, while the Barcelona Deep Tech Summit will unite over 600 startups, 180 investors, and 400 academic representatives under the theme “Deep tech for a better future.”
With record attendance projected and an expanded program covering every aspect of urban transformation, Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 will reaffirm Barcelona’s position as a world capital of innovation, sustainability, and forward-looking urban policy.
