ICE and iGB Affiliate Barcelona Deliver €255 Million Boost to Catalan Economy

The 2026 editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate Barcelona generated €255 million in economic impact for Barcelona and the wider Catalan economy, according to an independent Economic Impact Study conducted by advisory firm Equimore.

The findings place the two events among the largest event-based contributors to the local and regional economy, with their combined direct, indirect, induced and fiscal contributions rising 34% from €191 million in 2025. The events also supported 7,087 direct and indirect jobs.

Visitor Spending Drives €129 Million in Economic Output

Equimore’s research identified visitor spending as the largest contributor to the overall impact, generating €129 million in direct and indirect economic output.

The spending benefited a wide range of sectors across Barcelona, including hotels, food and beverage, transport, retail and leisure.

The scale of the contribution reflects the highly international profile of the events, with 53,924 of the 62,988 unique visitors travelling to Barcelona from outside Spain. Visitors stayed for an average of 2.7 nights.

Exhibitors and Sponsors Generate €86 Million

Exhibitors and sponsors generated a further €86 million for the Catalan economy through expenditure on stand construction, marketing, hospitality and new business opportunities for companies based in the region.

The 2026 editions brought together 734 exhibitors, further reinforcing the events' role in generating business activity beyond the exhibition venues.

International Audience Provides Additional Low-Season Boost

WorldGaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter highlighted both the scale of the economic contribution and its timing within Barcelona’s annual tourism cycle.

“The economic impact was created by 734 exhibitors and a record 62,988 unique visitors, 53,924 of whom travelled to Barcelona from outside Spain, staying on average 2.7 nights.

“The overwhelmingly international, non-local audience filled Barcelona’s hotels and restaurants during what is the city’s low season. As a consequence, the visitor spend is additional and does not represent a displacement of summer visitors.

“Putting the €255 million total into context, I’m extremely proud that after just two editions at the Fira, ICE and iGB Affiliate Barcelona are already ranked alongside top global events hosted by the city.”