The Barcelona International Community is back for another year to bring together the city’s global talent.
The event, organised by the Barcelona City Council, will be held on Saturday 28 September, at the Barcelona Maritime Museum. Admission is free of charge. All you need to do is register on the event’s website: barcelona.cat/internationalcommunityday.
The international talent ecosystem will come together once again at the Barcelona International Community Day, the city’s flagship annual event for international professionals. This gathering is designed to welcome newcomers, help them settle into life in Barcelona, and celebrate their contributions to the city.
Last year’s edition marked the event’s tenth anniversary and saw over 5,000 registered attendees. It has undoubtedly become the go-to event for members of the international community, offering information, entertainment, networking opportunities, and much more. The event is also open to anyone interested in connecting with this community, which brings diversity and richness to Barcelona.
This edition will once again offer a programme of activities for all audiences, including informative talks, workshops, panel discussions, networking events, musical performances, and activities for children. There will also be a fair featuring companies and exhibitors showcasing their services, products and initiatives for international professionals. The event will take place at the historic Royal Shipyards, with entry open from 10am to 7pm.
This year’s motto, ‘Unique work-life balance’, refers to the perfect work-life balance that can be achieved in our city. The event also features an updated look, in line with Barcelona International Welcome, the City Council’s year-round service for welcoming and integrating international talent, and the Barcelona International Welcome Desk, its personalised assistance service.
More than 60 activities for all audiences.
The programme of activities, mostly in English, will revolve around three main themes. First, arrival in the city, which includes sessions with practical information on tax issues tailored for the international community, how the healthcare system works in Barcelona, tips for navigating the emotional challenges of moving to a new country, and advice on finding schools for children, among others.
Second, business and employment, with professional-focused activities. These will assist entrepreneurs in securing funding, offer advice on starting a business, discuss digital talent in tech hubs, delve into international talent recruitment, and explore how to create a CV or conduct a job interview using artificial intelligence. Attendees will also learn about the resources offered by Barcelona Activa for job seekers and those looking to start a business.
Finally, enjoying and socialising in the city will feature activities aimed at getting to know Barcelona and making new connections. These include a linguistic vermouth combining Catalan learning with networking, a workshop on leadership and communication to engage with an audience, and speed networking sessions for professional women and the Francophone community.
The event also has a festive and family-friendly side. This year, there will be new and exciting activities for all ages, including a standout event: a gathering of traditional gegants (giant figures) in honour of the 600th anniversary of this tradition. As usual, the Maritime Museum Garden will host this and other activities such as concerts and live performances, while inside the venue there will be a play area for children with various activities.
This year, a dedicated space for the 37th America’s Cup will be available, bringing the competition closer to the public. As in previous years, there will also be a stand for the Barcelona International Welcome Desk, the city’s permanent municipal service that supports and welcomes international talent arriving in Barcelona, offering personalised information and advice.
Following the success of the past two editions, the grand closing party will be held once again from 6pm to 7pm. This time, it will feature a DJ session in the Àgora space and a concert in the garden.
Services, products and initiatives for international talent.
Yet another year, Barcelona International Community Day will include a trade fair featuring more than 80 participating companies. They will include 56 businesses and public organisations, 16 associations, social clubs and non-profit organisations, and eight international schools. Some 30% of these companies and organisations will take part in the event for the first time.
The fair will once again feature a wide variety of exhibitors from sectors such as finance, real estate, law and healthcare. Cultural and social organisations, both public and private, that help newcomers integrate into the city and experience it like a true local will also be present. The education sector will be well-represented with stands from various schools offering international curricula and qualifications. Additionally, attendees will find business schools and other educational institutions among the exhibitors.
The host ambassadors share their experiences.
As every year, the event’s host ambassadors will take part in the programme of activities. These are six professionals from different countries who have settled in Barcelona, launched their professional projects here and are keen to share their experiences of the city with attendees. In addition to taking part in the day’s activities, they will share why they chose Barcelona and how the city has helped them to achieve their professional ambitions in a video interview that will be published on Barcelona International Welcome’s social media channels and the event’s website.
This year’s host ambassadors are Deepika Bhoolabhai from South Africa-India, founder and director of the SOAR school; Alexa Ramírez from Costa Rica, global finance project leader at Bayer; Amal Rahmeh from Lebanon, Pompeu Fabra University researcher at the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park; Joe Woodward from England, culinary trainer and founder of Delicious English; Miroslav Stibůrek from the Czech Republic, artist, designer and entrepreneur; and Nats Sisma from the Philippines, editor of The Filipino Expat Magazine.
Organisation and support.
Barcelona Activa, the city’s economic development agency, offers Barcelona City Council support in organising Barcelona International Community Day, along with various other organisations, entities and professionals that help to make its organisation and dissemination possible.
The event is a testament to public-private collaboration, as it is supported by premium sponsor Banc Sabadell and sponsors ERES Relocation Services (international mobility management for workers) and Entre Trámites (tax and legal advice for SMEs, self-employed individuals and foreign companies wishing to set up in Barcelona).
Additional support comes from the Barcelona International Schools Association (BISA), Maremagnum Shopping Center, HLA Hospital Group, ArticketBCN (cultural passport), The Old Irish Pub and The Nanny Line (a nanny service).
La Vanguardia is the media partner, with additional support from various media collaborators specialising in content for the city’s international community. Here at Spain in English (Barcelona in English), we are delighted to media collaborators.
A diverse, enriching community.
The international community now makes up over 25% of Barcelona’s population. One in four residents is foreign, contributing to the city’s diverse and multicultural spirit. Specifically, 432,556 residents hold foreign nationality, coming from 179 different countries, with the largest groups being Italian, Colombian, Pakistani and Chinese.
These newcomers positively impact the city in various ways: they create wealth through their talent, work, investments, businesses, professional projects, and other economic or commercial activities. They also enhance Barcelona’s competitiveness and productivity by bringing new ideas, techniques and innovations. Moreover, they act as ambassadors for the city in their home countries, helping attract new investors, entrepreneurs and professionals, and facilitating their arrival.
Welcoming and integrating these individuals is crucial for positioning Barcelona as an open, diverse and cosmopolitan city globally. The Barcelona International Community Day aims to amplify the positive impact of international talent while serving as a welcoming and integrative space.
The event showcases the services and products the city offers to newcomers, as well as resources, tools, and organisations that promote understanding of the city, integration into its culture and language, and connection with the local social and economic fabric. This helps newcomers feel at home in Barcelona, fostering a sense of belonging and care for the city.
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