Smart City Expo Returns to Santiago to Advance Sustainable Urban Innovation

Santiago de Chile will once again become a focal point for urban innovation when it hosts the fourth edition of Smart City Expo Santiago de Chile (SCES) from 23 to 25 July. Bringing together more than 2,500 participants at the Estación Mapocho Cultural Center, the event will explore how cities can become more sustainable, resilient and citizen-centred through technology, collaboration and forward-looking public policy.

Held under the theme "Recovering the City for People: Smart Santiago, Sustainable Future", the expo is organised by the Government of Santiago, through its Regional Corporation, together with the Metropolitan Regional Council and Sé Santiago, and is produced by Fira de Barcelona in partnership with Interexpo. The event aims to foster dialogue between governments, businesses, universities, technology providers and civil society on the future of urban development.

The three-day congress will revolve around five key themes: data-driven cities, 360° human security, smart mobility and sustainable habitats, urban metabolism and climate action, and digital ecosystems designed to enhance quality of life across the Santiago metropolitan region.

More than 50 international speakers will contribute to the programme, including Sandra Baer, CEO and President of Personal Cities; former Quito mayor Mauricio Rodas; strategic consultant Leonardo Maldonado; former Stockholm mayor Anna Könnig; and Cardinal Fernando Chomalí, Archbishop of Santiago, who will examine the ethical, social and spiritual implications of artificial intelligence. Additional contributors include José de la Uz, President of the Spanish Network of Smart Cities (RECI) and Mayor of Las Rozas, alongside Eleanor West, analyst at the OECD.

Alongside the conference sessions, an exhibition will showcase the latest technologies and urban solutions from more than 70 companies, institutions and innovation organisations. Participants include Hikvision, NTT Group, ISS, ZKTeco, Tivit, UN Women and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presenting initiatives spanning digital infrastructure, mobility, sustainability and public services.
 

Turning Discussion into Action

Beyond the conference programme, Smart City Expo Santiago will also provide a platform for high-level political dialogue. Meetings bringing together Chile's 16 regional governors and the 52 mayors of the Metropolitan Region will culminate in two landmark initiatives: the signing of the Smart City Declaration of Santiago and the official launch of RECI Hispanoamericano, a new network connecting Spanish-speaking smart cities across Latin America. Together, these initiatives seek to strengthen regional cooperation and accelerate the exchange of knowledge and best practice in urban development.

Fira de Barcelona's International Reach

Smart City Expo Santiago de Chile forms part of Fira de Barcelona's expanding international portfolio for 2026, reflecting the organisation's growing role in convening global conversations on urban innovation. Alongside Santiago, Smart City Expo events will take place in Curitiba, Santiago del Estero, Puebla and Santiago de Cali, while the international calendar also includes Tomorrow.City in Shanghai and the United States, Mexico Hospitality Expo in Guadalajara, Tomorrow.Blue Economy in Niterói, and inaugural editions of Argentina Alimenta in Buenos Aires and Aqaba Blue Ocean: Future in Action in Jordan. Through this expanding network of events, Fira continues to connect governments, industry and academia around shared approaches to building smarter and more sustainable cities.
 

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