The venue
WTC Barcelona, on the waterfront at Port Vell, 22–23 September 2026.
Getting here
Barcelona–El Prat (BCN) is about a 20-minute drive from the venue, with direct flights from across Europe and beyond.
Where to stay
Browse recommended hotels near WTC Barcelona with attendee rates through our official accommodation partner.
Getting to
The World Trade Center Barcelona sits on the waterfront at Moll de Barcelona, in the Port Vell area. It is close to the city centre rather than out by the airport, which is one of the better things about this venue: you are not committing an hour of each day to getting there and back.
From the airport. Barcelona–El Prat (BCN) is about a 20-minute drive from the venue, and taxis and ride-hailing run from both terminals. BCN has direct flights from across Europe and beyond, so for most attendees the flight is the easy part of this trip.
By metro.The nearest station is Drassanes, on line L3 (the green line), which also runs through Plaça de Catalunya and Liceu, so most central hotels reach the venue without a change. The TMB network map is the authority on routes and running times.
Where to
We have an official accommodation partner, and it is worth using: it lists hotels near the venue at attendee rates rather than the September walk-up price. Browse the accommodation portal.
If you would rather book independently, the logic is simple. Staying near Port Vell, the Gothic Quarter or El Raval puts you closest to the venue and on the L3 line. Staying around Eixample or El Born costs less per night and puts you closer to where the city eats and drinks in the evening, which matters if you are here for the AI Week side events rather than only the two summit days.
Whichever you choose, book early. September is high season in Barcelona: the summer crowds have thinned and the city is working again, which is exactly why everyone wants to be here. Hotel prices climb as the date approaches, and for most people the hotel, not the flight, is what makes this trip expensive.
Visas and
If you are travelling from outside the EU or the Schengen area, check whether you need a Schengen visa for Spain. Processing times vary by country and can run to several weeks, so this is the first thing to sort, before flights, and well before hotels.
We can issue an invitation letter for your visa application once your ticket is booked. The booked ticket comes first: we cannot issue a letter against an intention to attend. If a visa is part of your trip, that ordering is worth knowing now rather than in August.
Extend your stay:
The summit is two days, but AI Week Barcelona runs 16–23 September: 50+ side events across the city: meetups, demo nights, dinners, workshops. They are open to everyone and need no summit pass.
The hackathon runs on the weekend before, 19–20 September, at Norrsken House. It is free to enter and registered for on its own page.
If you are flying in from outside Europe, arriving early and staying through the week turns a two-day trip into a much better one. The travel cost is the same either way, and the week around the summit is when the city’s own AI community is out. If you are still deciding whether the two days are worth it at all, why people come is the more useful page.
Travel
- How do I get from Barcelona airport to WTC Barcelona?
- Barcelona–El Prat (BCN) is about a 20-minute drive from WTC Barcelona, and taxis and ride-hailing run from both terminals. The venue is on the Port Vell waterfront, close to the city centre rather than out by the airport.
- What is the nearest metro station to the venue?
- Drassanes, on line L3 (the green line), is the closest metro station to WTC Barcelona.
- When should I book my trip?
- Early. September is high season in Barcelona and hotel prices climb as the date approaches. Flights from most of Europe are short and frequent, so the hotel is usually the constraint rather than the flight.
- Is there an official hotel partner?
- Yes. Attendee rates at hotels near the venue are available through the official accommodation portal, linked from the plan-your-trip page.
- Do I need a visa to attend?
- If you are travelling from outside the EU or the Schengen area, you may need a Schengen visa for Spain. Check with the Spanish consulate in your country and start early. Processing can take several weeks, so it should be sorted before you book flights.
- Can you provide an invitation letter for my visa application?
- Yes. Once your ticket is booked, we can issue an invitation letter to support a visa application. The booked ticket comes first. We cannot issue a letter against an intention to attend.
- Is it worth extending my stay for AI Week?
- If you are flying in from outside Europe, usually yes. AI Week Barcelona runs 16–23 September with 50+ side events across the city, and the hackathon runs 19–20 September at Norrsken House, free to enter. The summit itself is 22–23 September.