Talent Arena Draws 20,000 Developers, Showcasing AI, Cybersecurity, and Quantum Innovation

Talent Arena, the event dedicated to digital talent organised by Mobile World Capital Barcelona (MWCapital), has concluded its first edition, reinforcing the central role of digital professionals within the MWC programme. With this initiative, MWCapital enhances Barcelona’s offering during the week when the city consolidates its status as a global tech capital.

From March 3rd and 5th, Talent Arena brought together over 20,000 developers from 115 countries at Fira Montjuïc, with 53% being senior professionals from more than 1,500 companies, establishing itself as a key meeting point for the industry. Over three days, attendees had the opportunity to connect with tech companies, take part in hackathons and innovative workshops, and gain inspiration from 223 sessions led by renowned figures shaping the future of technology.

Throughout the three-day programme, Talent Arena explored the latest trends in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and NewSpace, as well as current topics like Europe’s technological sovereignty, the evolution of generative AI, and the challenges of attracting and retaining digital talent in an increasingly competitive environment.

The first edition of Talent Arena highlights the essential role of digital professionals in developing the technologies that are transforming the world. It also brings attention to the challenge of talent generation to meet the growth of the ICT sector, which is synonymous with innovation, expansion, and competitiveness.

– Francesc Fajula, CEO of Mobile World Capital Barcelona

A top-tier programme 

One of the key highlights of this first edition of Talent Arena edition was its line-up of speakers. Tech industry legends such as Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple; Cassie Kozyrkov, former pioneer in AI development at Google; and Garry Kasparov, grandmaster and AI thought leader. Other international figures included Sarah Novotny, expert in collaborative communities, and Lauren Lyons, specialist in NewSpace. The content programme featured 40% women who are leading figures in the sector, highlighting female presence in leadership roles within the tech industry.

Alongside these global icons, Talent Arena has brought together leading Spanish professionals heading tech projects in companies and institutions worldwide, such as Xavier Amatriain, Vice President of Product at Google; Pilar Manchón, Director of Engineering at Google; and Antonio Torralba, Head of the AI Faculty at MIT.

One of the must-attend events for Talent Arena participants was the GSMA Open Gateway Hackathon. A historic milestone for telecom operators that featured over 100 international developers tackling an innovative technological challenge. For the first time, they were able to test projects in real—not simulated—conditions using data from major telecom providers. Meanwhile, the GSMA Open Gateway DevCon brought together companies and developers from around the world dedicated to creating and deploying network API-based services, showcasing use cases and sharing best practices from leading companies such as Nokia, TikTok, China Telecom, and Elmo.

Talent Arena’s offering was further enriched with 45 workshops focused on the latest technology trends, drawing an impressive reception, and more than 50 mentors who were on hand to guide developers through emerging industry trends and new career opportunities.

With this first edition now concluded, MWCapital is already preparing for the 2026 edition of Talent Arena, which will take place from 2 to 4 March at Fira Montjuïc. The event will expand its scope once again to strengthen its position as Europe’s premier digital talent gathering and further establish Barcelona as a hub for digital professionals. Also, with the expansion of Fira Gran Via, the event will fully integrate into the MWC venue.