The new Trade Fair, launched as part of the European Capital of Local Commerce 2026 initiative, will take place on October 21st and 22nd at the Montjuïc exhibition center. The event, promoted by Barcelona City Council through Barcelona Activa and organized by Fira de Barcelona, aims to be a key professional space for the sector.
The main objective of the fair is to provide advisory opportunities, innovative tools, and activities focused on addressing the key challenges faced by the commercial sector, such as digitalization, changing consumer habits, and ensuring generational succession. It is envisioned as a platform for sharing experiences, discovering new tools, and fostering growth and collaboration.
The fair is aimed at both merchants seeking to consolidate or grow their businesses and adapt to market changes, as well as professionals, entrepreneurs, or job seekers interested in the commercial field. Raquel Gil, Deputy Mayor for Economic Promotion and Employment at Barcelona City Council, emphasizes that the fair “aims to provide answers to the challenges of the commercial fabric, with practical knowledge, advisory spaces, and activities focused on improving the competitiveness of establishments, promoting generational succession, and connecting businesses with talent and new opportunities”.
The venue, spanning nearly 1,500 m², will be organized into four main areas: “La Plaça,” featuring short sessions on sales, digitalization, and trends; the Advisory and Sectoral Entities Area, offering personalized attention and resources for local commerce; the Generational Succession Area, to facilitate business transfers; and “El Taller,” providing intensive training in small groups.
The project involves institutions such as the Provincial Council of Barcelona, the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona, the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB), the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the European Commission, along with major representative organizations of the commercial sector. The event will be held in Hall 8 of the Montjuïc exhibition center, coinciding with the Employment Fair, thus reinforcing commerce's role as a driver of job creation.
Local commerce, contributing 13.2% to the city's GDP, with over 60,000 establishments and more than 152,000 employed individuals, is a fundamental pillar of Barcelona's economy. This fair is part of the city's designation as the European Capital of Local Commerce 2026.
