Barcelona | After more than three years of delays, ISE will soon have more room to grow. The Fira Gran Via's ongoing expansion will boost exhibition space by 25% to 300,000 m². A site inspection.
Fira Barcelona: 25% More Space for ISE
The centerpiece of the expansion is Hall Zero, currently under construction across the street from the South Entrance of Barcelona’s Fira Gran Via. The new structure is already reshaping the skyline of Barcelona’s exhibition district. A massive visitor connector now bridges the notorious taxi stand and access road in front of the South Entrance, giving ISE 2026 attendees a glimpse of the scale of the upcoming addition.
Hall Zero will add 60,000 m² of exhibition space across two floors, complemented by an adjacent tower for offices and services. This new hall promises to relieve pressure on existing halls and provide much-needed flexibility for large-scale events like ISE. The 2028 ediiton will be first ISE show to benefit from the expansion.
Investment and timeline
The expansion is part of Barcelona’s Trade Fair Infrastructure Plan, which also includes the transformation of the historic Montjuïc site. The total investment amounts to EUR 498 million, with EUR 323 million allocated to Gran Via and EUR 175 million to Montjuïc. According to the current schedule, Hall Zero is expected to open in summer 2027, more than three years later than originally planned.
ISE’s growth strategy
While waiting for the new space, ISE continues to expand across Barcelona. At ISE 2026, the EdTech Congress will be co-located at the Palau de Congressos de Barcelona, bringing 2,500 education technology delegates into the orbit of the world’s largest ProAV show. This move reflects ISE’s strategy to accommodate vertical-specific growth while maintaining its position as the leading global platform for AV and systems integration.
