At EMEC 2026, Barcelona becomes your classroom, playground, and inspiration. You’ll gain strategic skills, meaningful connections, and new ideas that will not only surprise and delight, but that you can put to work right away
When I sat down to write this month’s column, I kept coming back to one thing: the 2026 MPI European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC) in Barcelona. It’s where my head and heart are right now. Every conversation, every brainstorming session, every late-night idea seems to circle back to this event and the incredible collaboration that’s fueling it.
That’s really what EMEC Barcelona is all about—creating something that feels true to the people, culture and creativity of Europe. When we gather in Barcelona next Feb. 21-24, it won’t be just another conference on the calendar. It’s being shaped by the voices of our MPI community across the region—people who live, work and breathe this industry every day.
From the very beginning, our focus has been on letting local perspectives lead the way. Every element—from the sessions we curate to the venues we choose—is infused with the insight and imagination of those who know Europe best.
Barcelona is so much more than Gaudí, beaches and tapas. It’s a living laboratory for sustainability, economic transformation and creative innovation. It’s also a city deeply connected to the “blue economy”—the movement to harness the potential of oceans and coastlines responsibly to fuel innovation, tourism and sustainability. EMEC Barcelona will bring this concept to life through learning journeys and hands-on experiences that explore how event professionals can embed circular practices and sustainable thinking into every aspect of their work.
We’re designing EMEC as a space where learning and connection go hand in hand. Facilitated networking will be intentionally built into the program—not just as receptions or chance encounters, but as meaningful moments of exchange. Whether it’s structured co-learning sessions between planners and suppliers or guided small-group discussions inspired by the day’s discoveries, the goal is to help attendees leave with real relationships that drive collaboration long after the event.
Our content tracks—Discover, Sustain, Collaborate, Innovate, Elevate, Engage and Legacy—capture the full range of what this experience will deliver: personal growth, professional transformation and community connection.
As I’ve been immersed in this process, I keep realizing how much intention and collaboration matter when designing something meaningful. It reminds me why I love this work: bringing people together across borders, perspectives and experiences to build something that could only happen here, in this place, at this moment.
That’s the power of connection. And that’s the heart of EMEC.
