Artificial intelligence will take a central role at this year’s Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, as policymakers, technology firms, and urban planners examine how digital tools can accelerate the shift towards more efficient and sustainable cities.
The event, organised by Fira de Barcelona, will run from 4th to 6th November at the Gran Via venue. It is expected to attract around 25,000 delegates, 1,100 exhibitors, and more than 600 speakers, matching last year’s record attendance.
A new section, AI-enabled Cities, will showcase applications of artificial intelligence in urban infrastructure, planning, and governance. Major exhibitors include Microsoft, NVIDIA, Deloitte, Dassault Systèmes, and Veolia, alongside national pavilions from the UK, France, Japan, and the US.
Ugo Valenti, the event’s director, said cities had become “dynamic systems built around people’s lives” and should be seen as central to tackling climate change.
The conference programme will cover topics including mobility, energy and environment, governance, digital infrastructure, and social inclusion. Confirmed speakers include Nikki Greenberg, a futurist and real estate strategist; Kate O’Neill, founder of KO Insights; and Carlo Ratti, director of MIT’s Senseable City Lab.
The event will also feature the World Smart City Awards, which received 462 entries from 65 countries. Winners in nine categories, ranging from energy to governance, will be announced on 5th November.
A startup platform, the Innovation Playground, will bring together around 350 early-stage firms, investors, and research institutions working on urban technologies.
The congress will run alongside several related events, including Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress, focused on sustainable transport; Tomorrow.Building World Congress, addressing innovation in construction; Tomorrow.Blue Economy, centred on maritime sustainability; and the Barcelona Deep Tech Summit, which will explore developments in AI, quantum computing, and robotics.
There’s plenty of other editorial on our sister site, Electronic Specifier! Or you can always join in the conversation by visiting our LinkedIn page.
