The global stage for urban housing strategy
HOWS Barcelona | Housing World Summit is the international platform where governments, cities, investors, academia, multilateral institutions, public agencies, industry leaders, and third-sector and non-profit organizations come together to address every dimension of urban housing through a global, cross-sector lens.
The event creates a space for dialogue, exchange, and collaboration to drive coordinated action, partnerships, and solutions to respond effectively to the housing crisis. At HOWSBCN26, urban strategy, capital, and innovation converge to build a more resilient, accessible, and sustainable housing paradigm.
3/11
5/11
BARCELONA
BARCELONA
A CITY THAT HAS REINVETED ITS URBAN MODEL
Barcelona has a long tradition of strategic planning and public policy innovation, making it a global reference for how cities can evolve while preserving quality of life.
From the Cerdà grid to the transformation of Poblenou into an innovation district, and from the Superblocks reclaiming streets for people to new models of sustainable construction, the city has repeatedly turned bold urban ideas into working solutions.
This capacity to experiment, adapt, and implement has defined Barcelona’s development. This combination of scale, ambition, and international reach is what makes the city the natural setting for a global debate on the future of housing.
SMART CITY EXPO WORLD CONGRESS
A CO-CELEBRATED EVENT TO AMPLIFY IMPACT
HOWS Barcelona | Housing World Summit is held within the framework of Smart City Expo, the world’s leading event on cities — a global platform bringing together companies, governments, and organizations committed to making cities better places to live.
Housing is deeply interconnected with mobility, energy, technology, planning, sustainability, and governance, giving it an increasingly strategic role within Smart City Expo World Congress.
This alliance combines the international reach of Smart City Expo with the focused, high-level dialogue the housing crisis demands to drive real impact.
A WORLDWIDE MEETING POINT
Together with the Smart City Expo, the global hub conneting cities and people
27,000+
1,100+
600+
1,000+
Cities
135+
01
Urban Planning & Land Policy
Rethinking how cities allocate land, plan density, and align spatial development with housing demand.
02
Housing Regulation
Legal frameworks, regulatory reform, and the balance between market dynamism and public interest.
03
Social and Affordable Housing
Models, financing mechanisms, and governance structures enabling equitable access to decent housing.
04
Building Innovation
Industrialization, modular construction, and emerging technologies reshaping how we build at scale.
05
Renovation, Retrofit & Reuse
Urban regeneration, energy retrofit, and adaptive reuse of existing building stock.
KEY TOPICS
An open dialogue to address a shared challenge.
HOWS Barcelona | Housing World Summit
HOMES FOR PEOPLE. CITIES FOR LIFE.
HELP MAKE HOUSING WORK FOR ALL
NOVEMBER 3 – 5, 2026
BARCELONA
Get the latest news and secure your place at the international summit addressing the housing crisis.
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