BNEW 2026 will offer more than 40 immersive experiences to connect the business ecosystem with the new economy

From October 5th to 7th, Barcelona will become the epicenter of technological and industrial innovation. This international event, connecting eight key productive sectors, will allow executives and professionals to experience firsthand the latest advances in robotics, artificial intelligence, and digitalization, fostering disruptive and high-value networking .

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The seventh edition of Barcelona New Economy Week (BNEW) 2026 , organized by the Barcelona Free Zone Consortium (CZFB) , will transform the DFactory Barcelona venue into a major laboratory for applied business innovation. The event, scheduled for October 5-7, features an ambitious program under the concept of BNEW Experience , which will include more than 40 experiential activities alongside debates and training panels.

The aim of this initiative is to offer a space where companies can experience firsthand the digital transformation of their respective market niches. To this end, the event will link eight thematic or vertical areas: Aviation and Space, Agri-food Sector, Video Game Industry, Talent, Science, Health, Artificial Intelligence, and Energy.

Professionals attending in person will have access to cutting-edge technological demonstrations. Among the main business attractions will be the opportunity to take the controls of an F-18 fighter jet simulator , observe the operational precision of a surgical robot in real time , and analyze corporate surveillance applications using an autonomous quadruped robot. Furthermore, the environment will facilitate interaction with humanoids and advanced automation systems, taking the experience beyond a simple theoretical demonstration.

In this context, the CEO of the CZFB, Pere Navarro, emphasized the strategic value of the event for the region's international positioning. "The seventh edition of BNEW will once again put Barcelona in the spotlight as the world capital of the new economy , focusing the debate on the challenges, trends, and innovations of different sectors. But we won't just be talking about the new economy; we'll be able to experience it firsthand, thanks to the BNEW Experience program ," the executive noted.

The technology agenda will also include presentations of autonomous vehicles, driving simulators, collaborative robotics processes for industrial optimization, and even more playful demonstrations such as robotic arms serving personalized coffee or Artificial Intelligence systems that replicate human perception.

Blanca Sorigué, director of the CZFB, emphasized the importance of generating effective synergies among economic actors. "We want the professionals who visit DFactory Barcelona during the three days of BNEW to take away much more than just ideas or conclusions. We want them to connect with the leaders who are transforming their companies, to be inspired by participating in the discussions, and to share unique networking opportunities with other professionals, feeling the momentum of the new economy through all these experiences," she explained.

Culture, architecture and a hybrid format

The program transcends the strict confines of industrial engineering to delve into the creative economy . Coinciding with Barcelona's designation as UNESCO World Capital of Architecture 2026 , the event will create spaces where design, fashion, and art merge with technology. Highlights include displays of furniture sculpted using robotic processes, 3D printing applied to materials such as ceramics, and painting sessions assisted by cobots.

This entire display of corporate innovation is supported by a large group of institutional and private collaborators, including the Air Force and Space, Siemens, Leitat, IAM 3D Hub and Rob Surgical, among many other brands from various sectors, including a strong presence of local gastronomy to enrich the events.

To maximize its reach in international markets , BNEW 2026 will maintain its successful hybrid format. Conferences will be streamed globally , and the event's digital platform will continue to operate as a hub for B2B meetings and closing deals, leveraging its virtual assistant, BBot, to facilitate contact between executives worldwide.