Fira closes 2025 with a new record of 350 million in revenue, 17% more.

BarcelonaA new record, just like last year. Fira de Barcelona closes the 2025 fiscal year with revenues exceeding €350 million, 17% higher than in 2024. These are "excellent results," according to the mayor and president of the entity's general council, Jaume Collboni. He added that Fira is consolidating its position as a driver of economic activity, boosting innovative sectors with an economic impact of over €6 billion and generating 50,000 jobs in Barcelona and Catalonia. Operating profit (EBITDA), despite the cancellation of biennial trade shows like Alimentaria – which will take place next year – grew by 8% to €60 million.

The growth approved by the general council, which also ratified the appointment of Pedro Fontana to the Fira's board of directors, has been based on larger and higher-quality events, as well as the start of management of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which has accounted for 13% of the total revenue of the Barcelona International Conventions (CCIB) since 2020. Throughout this year, 300 trade shows, congresses, competitions, and events have been held at the venues, in addition to activities carried out abroad. Approximately three million delegates are expected to participate in the congresses by 2025.

He highlighted the progress in the expansion of the Fair in L'Hospitalet and the start, around March, of the renovation of the Montjuïc venue, with the aim of having it ready for the centenary in 2029. The Fair has also contributed to creating a technological ecosystem thanks to events like the Mobile World Congress, the blue economy – with shows like Seafood –, health, and culture, according to Collboni.

The Fira, he said, also helps to rebalance the types of tourism, with more than 17% to 20% of the total being business visitors. Collboni noted that tourism in Barcelona has reached its limit and that growth must be based on different types of visitors. Regarding the urban development plan, he mentioned that the renovations at the Fira will allow for the creation of a new neighborhood in the Poble-sec areawith 550 new homes with the aim of preserving "the right to remain in the city".

Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit Management

The Minister of Business, Miquel Sàmper, who is also First Vice President of the General Council, recalled the creation of the Fira Circuit company to manage the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where Mobile World Congress will hold a space dedicated to mobility. He emphasized Fira's support for internationalization. He noted that the Catalan Government has committed to allocating €6 billion by 2030 to promote companies' international activities. Sàmper agreed with the mayor that the city has reached its limit, but this is not the case throughout the region. Sàmper highlighted that the type of visitors Fira attracts aligns with the type of tourism Catalonia wants to promote, along with cultural tourism, to make the activity much more sustainable. The Minister recalled that Catalonia has been the fastest-growing region in Europe, with 3.6% growth, but with the challenge of ensuring that this growth translates into tangible benefits for people. The Minister of Business highlighted the university network and research centers in Catalonia, within an ecosystem that Fira Barcelona has helped to create, as well as the social dialogue between employers' associations and unions. For his part, the president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Josep Santacreu, who is also second vice-president of the general council, stated that 2025 was "a year of consolidation and growth" for Fira Barcelona, ​​both in terms of company participation and visitors. Fira Barcelona, ​​he said, remains committed to internationalization. The chairman of the board of directors, Pau Relat, affirmed that the 2025 results not only consolidate the Fair at the national and international levels but also as a successful model that has multiplied its results in the last 10 years despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. He described the public-private partnership model on which Fira Barcelona is based as "successful." Regarding the circuit, which he described as a national asset, he said that other activities have been brought to the infrastructure "with a desire for legacy and direct impact on the region." Relat downplayed the performance of The District real estate fair in Madrid and reiterated that his goal is to be an international benchmark. Relat mentioned the three major projects underway: the Circuit Fair, which became profitable in its first year; the expansion on Gran Via in Hospitalet with Hal Zero, a venue of over 300,000 square meters; and the major transformation of Montjuïc. He emphasized that it is the only urban fairground, which maintains a strong connection with the city and its residents. The Fair's general manager, Constantí Serrallonga, affirmed the importance of the participation of people from all five continents in the fairs. He stated that by 2026, when one of the major biennial trade shows, Alimentaria, will be held, they expect to generate around €360 million in revenue, which would set a new record, as in 2025 and 2024. Internationally, the company will continue to manage two venues in China and plans to co-organize 12 trade shows, including Alimentaria in Argentina and Smart City Expo in Colombia, among others.