Overview
- Regional and national officials formally presented Barcelona's 2029 IAC candidacy on Wednesday at La Llotja de Mar with public backing from the Spanish government, the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Spanish Space Agency and Fira de Barcelona.
- The campaign has scheduled an in‑person evaluation by the International Astronautical Federation director and will run an international promotion drive before IAF members choose the host at IAC 2026 in Antalya this October.
- Barcelona positions its bid around 'water resilience from space' and broader sustainability goals, pitching satellite data and space applications as tools to improve water management and reduce orbital debris.
- The candidacy leans on Catalonia's expanding aerospace cluster — an Acció report cited in coverage says the number of local space firms tripled since 2019 to 83 companies, which together billed about €237 million in 2024 and employ roughly 1,822 people.
- Organizers propose Fira Gran Via as the venue and project raising IAC attendance to 25,000–30,000 if selected, a shift they say would boost local industry, draw international investors and advance the Generalitat's Catalunya Espai 2030 strategy.