Fira de Barcelona Generates €6.1 Billion Annual Impact and Over 49,000 Jobs in Catalonia

Fira de Barcelona generates an annual economic impact of more than €6.1 billion, contributes Gross Value Added (GVA) equivalent to 1% of Catalonia’s GDP and supports over 49,000 jobs. These are among the headline findings of a new report by the Barcelona Institute of Economics (IEB) at the University of Barcelona (UB), confirming the institution’s expanding role as a key economic and social driver in the region.

According to the study, Fira’s total impact has risen from €4,795.6 million in 2019 — the final year analysed in the previous report — to €6,143.51 million in 2024, representing growth of 28.1%. Its trade fair activity stimulates multiple sectors, generates business for exhibiting companies and local industries, and underpins thousands of jobs.

The report examines activity in 2024 across the Montjuïc, Gran Via and Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB) venues. It was led by IEB researcher and UB lecturer Gemma Garcia, alongside UB professor Núria Bosch and UB lecturer Cristina de Gispert, also an IEB researcher.

The Chairman of Fira's Governing Board, Pau Relat, said that "the study confirms the good course of the institution and its key role as a driver of the economy. The increase in impact is the consequence of the good work done in recent years and the growth and size of the shows held in our venues, many of them world leaders in their sectors."

For his part, the General Manager, Constantí Serrallonga, concluded that "these figures together with record annual results, with over €350 million in revenue in 2025, push us to continue working with the aim of growing the events and strengthening the role of the institution as a strategic element in the economic and social development of the territory. In this sense, the commitment to innovation and new high-potential industries, together with the expansion of the venues already underway, will play a key role."
 

Boosting the economy

The study applies the Input-Output methodology to assess impact, factoring in three main variables: operating and event organisation expenditure, spending by visitors and exhibitors, and business generated by exhibitors as a result of participating in events. The overall figure reflects the combined direct, indirect and induced effects.

The findings show that 64.7% of Fira’s annual economic impact benefits the services sector. Notably, trade, transport and hospitality account for 39.2%, while professional, scientific and administrative activities represent 8.9%. Industrial sectors receive 30.4% of the total impact, led by the food industry (14.1%), followed by chemicals (2.9%) and machinery manufacturing (1.9%).

The results point to a multiplier effect of 1.78 — meaning that for every euro spent by impact-generating agents, €1.78 is produced within the Catalan economy. In 2024, total economic activity linked to Fira generated €2,960 million in GVA, equivalent to 1.02% of Catalonia’s total GVA.

Trade fair activity also supported 49,423 full-time jobs, 78.9% of which were in the services sector. Of these, 48.4% were in trade, hospitality and catering; 14.4% in professional, scientific and administrative services; and 8.1% in artistic and recreational activities. Within manufacturing, the food industry stands out at 6.1%.

In addition, activity at Fira’s venues generated tax revenues exceeding €1,224.8 million in 2024, derived from VAT, Personal Income Tax, Corporation Tax and Excise Duties.
 

"The impact has increased by 28,1% in the last 5 years and is mainly focused on commerce, hospitality, transport and local industry" 

Visitors, exhibitors and business creation

The report highlights that more than €2,418 million of the overall impact stems from spending by exhibitors and visitors attending events at Fira. The calculation includes 19,964 direct exhibitors — over half of them international — and 1.8 million visitors to the main annual shows hosted at its venues. Professional and international attendees are identified as the primary source of this high-value, seasonally adjusted business tourism benefit for the city and surrounding region.

A further 53.4% of the total impact (€3,283 million) is attributed to business creation — specifically, sales by Catalonia-based companies resulting from participation in trade fairs and congresses. The report underlines how exhibiting enhances brand visibility, fosters new connections and drives increased sales.

The University of Barcelona study also considers the direct economic injection generated by Fira’s own operations, valued at €442 million in 2024. This includes spending on goods and services, salaries and investments linked to the organisation of in-house events as well as external events hosted at its venues.

It further notes that Fira’s presence produces additional, less easily quantifiable benefits, including investment attraction, the promotion of innovative and talent-driven sectors, international visibility for participating companies and the city itself, and broader social value for citizens.

The new Hall Zero: an additional €675 million

Looking ahead, Fira is set to strengthen its infrastructure with the expansion of Gran Via and the transformation and refurbishment of Montjuïc, coinciding with the centenary of the 1929 International Exhibition.

The construction of the new Hall Zero at the Gran Via venue is expected to generate an additional annual economic impact of €675 million from 2027, when it becomes operational. This flagship development will expand the venue’s capacity by 25%, enabling existing shows to grow while attracting new events.

One of Europe’s leading trade fair institutions and Spain’s foremost organiser of industrial and professional exhibitions, Fira de Barcelona hosts nearly 300 events annually across its three venues — Montjuïc, Gran Via and the CCIB — including MWC Barcelona, ISE, Alimentaria + Hostelco, Smart City Expo World Congress, Seafood Expo Global, Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, Hispack and Automobile Barcelona. Together, these events attract more than 30,000 exhibitors and 3 million visitors each year.

From 2025, Fira also assumes management of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, host to major international competitions including the Formula 1 and MotoGP Grand Prix.
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.