Guide · Updated September 2026
How to organise a congress in Barcelona: the complete guide for companies and associations
Barcelona is one of the world's leading cities for international congresses, thanks to its venues, air connections, hotel supply and appeal as a destination. Organising a congress here means coordinating venue, content, speakers, registration, accommodation, transfers, social programme and gala dinners. This guide summarises how we do it, with the example of the WSEI world congress we produced for Motiva.
Why Barcelona for a congress
Barcelona combines high-capacity venues, an airport with worldwide connections, a wide hotel supply and an appeal that helps boost attendance. Climate, food, architecture and the sea are part of the congress's value for participants.
The main congress venues
Fira de Barcelona, with its Montjuïc and Gran Via venues, hosts the largest congresses. The Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), next to Parc del Fòrum, and the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya on Diagonal are benchmarks for medical and industry congresses. The World Trade Center in Port Vell offers an auditorium and rooms by the sea.
For mid-size or more exclusive congresses, venues such as the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site combine an auditorium, rooms and a World Heritage setting.
Step-by-step planning
Define goals, attendee profile and numbers, format (in-person, hybrid) and budget. Book the venue and hotel room blocks. Structure the scientific or content programme with speakers and moderators. Open registration and manage attendee communication. Coordinate AV, catering, signage and staff. And close with a final report and results measurement.
The social programme: gala dinners and experiences
Gala dinners in iconic venues are the most memorable moment of a congress. At Motiva's WSEI world congress we organised two: one at Llotja de Mar and a farewell dinner at Barcelona's Maritime Museum.
Cultural tours, food experiences and partner programmes complete a social programme that strengthens the congress's reputation and improves attendance at future editions.
Logistics: accommodation, transfers and accessibility
Room blocks near the venue, transfers from the airport and between hotels, venue and dinners, multilingual welcome and registration staff, and attention to accessibility. The attendee experience starts at the airport.
Hybrid congresses and live streaming
Live streaming extends the congress's reach beyond the room. We coordinate multi-camera directing, streaming and online audience interaction, as in the hybrid events we have produced for companies such as Edenred.
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