Destination Barcelona
Spain’s Catalonian capital has put itself firmly on the map as a key player on the European trade show circuit with record-breaking results for 2024. New figures released over the weekend revealed that the Fira Barcelona has hit a historic milestone of 300 million euros in revenue throughout 2024, smashing all previous figures thanks to a raft of major trade events across all industry sectors, including medicine, hospitality, food and education.
This year’s revenue is up an impressive 16 per cent on last year, placing the exhibition venue in a strong position to continue its trajectory of growth throughout 2025 and beyond. In addition to its strengthened portfolio of tradeshows, the Fira has also diversified its brand presence with the formation of new company Fira Circuit. Effective from the 1 January 2025, the agreement will see a guaranteed income from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in return for the management of its racetrack and the expansion of its brand beyond a motorsports venue into a destination for leisure, sport, music and cultural events.
“2024 has been an extraordinary year, with record revenues and great activity, both in the number and importance of the events held at our venues,” says Constantí Serrallonga, the Fira’s CEO. “It proves the success of our strategic vision, expertise, excellence and joint effort in a year with new challenges for the future such as the management of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from 2025, in addition to the large infrastructure projects already underway. This important outcome confirms that the Fira has a solid and recurring portfolio of trade shows and congresses, many of them world-renowned, and a great capacity to attract new leading events, which choose Barcelona and Fira to grow”.
Having also expanded its international operation this year with installations in over 35 cities across Europe this year, Smart Display is already in talks with brands planning to exhibit at the Fira next year. As well as shows returning to Barcelona’s premier events venue – such as MWC Barcelona, Alimentaria & Hostelco, Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), Smart City Expo World Congress, Seafood Expo Global, Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), Shoptalk Europe, Construmat, IOT Solutions World Congress, Barcelona Wine Week, Graphispag, Liber, Barcelona Gastronomic Forum, the Manga and Comic Show, B-Travel, Bizbarcelona and the Saló de l’Ocupació (Recruitment Fair), the venue has confirmed a raft of new events for 2025.
“The expectations for 2025 are very positive,” continues Constantí Serrallonga. “Among the new events scheduled are Vitafoods Europe and Labelexpo Europe, the world’s leading events in the industries of nutraceutical foods and label and packaging printing respectively. The institution will also take over the organisation of the Padel World Summit and the Vibra fair on women’s well-being and health.”
Are you considering exhibiting at the Fira Barcelona next year? Get in touch with Smart Display to find out how we can design and manufacture your exhibition stand here in the UK, and take care of every aspect of liaising with your event organiser, transporting, installing, dismantling and storing your stand for both Barcelona and any other exhibitions you have planned in for 2025 #wemakeevents.
