Mobile World Congress 2026: Barcelona Becomes Capital of Mobile Technology and Artificial Intelligence

This year's edition of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona officially opens its doors, attracting the attention of the entire technology sector. The mobile industry is currently at a turning point, where classic smartphone functions are being displaced by advanced artificial intelligence systems. Among the most anticipated premieres are flagship models from Xiaomi, including the photographically advanced 17 Ultra model, and new releases from the Honor brand. The latter surprised observers with the announcement of the first commercial humanoid robot, which is intended to complement the "Robot Phone" ecosystem. This trend confirms that hardware manufacturers are no longer competing only on components, but on the degree of AI integration into users' daily lives. Innovations are also not bypassing device form factors, as proven by the company TECNO, presenting a modular smartphone with magnetic accessories, allowing for a level of hardware personalization previously unattainable for the mass consumer. However, such a vision of the future requires solid foundations in the form of 5G Advanced network infrastructure and preparations for the upcoming 6G standard. The first edition of the fair, originally known as the GSM World Congress, took place in 1987. Since 2006, Barcelona has remained the permanent home of this prestigious event, which strongly stimulates the local economy of Catalonia. Organizing such a huge event involved logistical challenges for the authorities of Barcelona. A key success was the cancellation of the Ferrocarrils train drivers' strike, which ensures smooth communication between the city center and the exhibition grounds of Fira de Barcelona. Transport Metropolità de Barcelona (TMB) reinforced metro lines, and organizers launched a free bus line connecting Plaça d'Espanya with the main congress halls. Parallel to the main fair, accompanying events are taking place, such as the Mobile Social Congress, which this year focuses on criticism of "digital colonialism" and the impact of resource extraction on countries of the Global South. Representatives of the Italian government also spoke in the public debate during the congress, emphasizing that AI technology should serve as an accelerator of human work, not its cheap substitute. The Italian Ministry of Labor is calling for a common European strategy that would allow the old continent to compete with giants from the USA and China without losing social stability. 20. — time Barcelona hosts participants of the Mobile World Congress In the sphere of digital services, reports of changes in the policies of streaming giants resonated widely. The HBO Max platform intends to definitively end the account sharing procedure worldwide, which fits into a broader monetization trend aimed at increasing the profitability of subscription services. Meanwhile, Google Maps is set to be enriched with integration with Nano Banana services, which will open up new possibilities for users to interact with digital maps. Barcelona is also using the technology summit for social purposes, opening a modern digital training center for people with disabilities during this time, aimed at equalizing opportunities in a job market dominated by new technologies. All this is happening in the shadow of high politics and the debate on Europe's digital sovereignty, which in the era of widespread algorithmization is becoming a matter of raison d'état for many European Union member states.