According to estimates from various international reports in the sports infrastructure sector, the planned investment in renovation, expansion and construction of new stadiums worldwide exceeds 50 billion euros in the coming years.
In a context where hundreds of stadiums around the world are in the process of renovation, expansion or reconstruction, Barcelona will host on February 2 and 3, 2026 a new edition of the Sports World Congress (SWC).
The Sports World Congress is the leading international B2B congress for professionals involved in the design, development, management and transformation of stadiums, arenas and multi-purpose venues. The 2026 edition will feature the participation of more than 50 international stadiums and arenas, as well as clubs, operators, architects, engineering firms, public administrations, cities and technology companies.
Among the stadiums and venues that have already confirmed their participation are international benchmarks such as the RCDE Stadium (Barcelona), Estadio de la Cerámica (Villarreal CF), Reale Arena – Anoeta (Real Sociedad), The City Ground (Nottingham Forest) and The O2 Arena (London), among others. In the coming weeks, new additions of international stadiums and arenas will be announced.
The congress will analyse the largest wave of transformation the sector has seen in decades, driven by the need to modernise infrastructure, improve operational efficiency, advance in sustainability and place the consumer experience at the centre of the design of new sports venues. In this process, artificial intelligence and the advanced use of data play a key role, both in planning and in the operation and monetisation of stadiums.
A programme with global leaders in sport, architecture and institutions
Nikken Sekkei, the architecture firm responsible for the design of the Spotify Camp Nou, will participate in the SWC and will lead an exclusive visit to analyse in detail the architectural project of the new stadium.
The programme and speakers for the Sports World Congress 2026 are being confirmed progressively, with new additions practically every day. The congress will bring together representatives from major sports institutions worldwide, architects linked to the Barcelona World Capital of Architecture 2026 programme, institutional managers and teams that are currently designing and developing some of the world’s leading stadiums.
The Stadium Forum will be the central axis of the programme, with presentations, keynotes and case studies presented in first person by stadium managers, international sports organisations and sector experts.
Barcelona, global meeting point coinciding with ISE 2026
The Sports World Congress will be held coinciding with ISE 2026 (Integrated Systems Europe), the world’s leading event for audiovisual technology and integrated systems,
which will also take place in Barcelona on those same days. This strategic coincidence will allow attendees to participate in both congresses during the same stay in the city, facilitating the connection between decision-makers in the world of stadiums, technology, audiovisual innovation and intelligent systems.
According to Josep M. Monti, CEO of the Sports World Congress:
“The coincidence with ISE turns Barcelona, during those days, into the great global meeting point between technology and sport. The Sports World Congress takes advantage of this unique context to connect stadium managers with the technological solutions that are already transforming the way major sports venues are designed, operated and monetised. This complementarity generates enormous value for attendees and accelerates decision-making.”
With this edition, Barcelona strengthens its position as a European hub for the sports industry and major events, hosting a congress that connects strategic vision, knowledge, technological innovation and business opportunities.