This calendar change means that Barcelona will take over from Dubai, which was originally set to host the convention in 2027. The event, scheduled to take place at Fira de Barcelona from June 26 to 30, 2027, is expected to attract over 20,000 participants from more than 140 countries and generate an economic impact exceeding 68 million euros for the local economy.
The decision by Rotary International highlights Barcelona's capacity to organize large-scale congresses and its reputation as a safe and welcoming destination. The city has intensified its strategies to attract conventions and trade fairs, especially given the halt of similar activities in Gulf countries due to the war in Iran.
“"Rotary International's decision to bring forward its International Convention in Barcelona, following the war in the Middle East, reinforces the city's role as a safe, stable, and reliable environment in the global context, and reaffirms our unequivocal commitment to peace, dialogue, and cooperation."
Rotary International, founded in 1905 by American lawyer Paul Harris, is a club of leaders and philanthropists that fosters personal contacts and synergies. The organization, described as "a kind of miniature United Nations conference," boasts 1.2 million members across more than 45,000 clubs in nearly every country worldwide.
The Councillor for Economic Promotion, Raquel Gil, has indicated that other events planned for the Middle East are being reviewed, with Barcelona being proposed as an alternative for those deemed strategic for the city. Barcelona previously hosted this convention in 2002, with over 16,800 attendees and figures such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev.
