The economic impact of the activities of the Fira de Barcelona in 2024 exceeded 6.1 billion euros, improving by 28.1% the figure registered in 2019. This is one of the main conclusions, perhaps the most striking, of a new report prepared by the Barcelona Institute of Economics (IEB), a research center linked to the University of Barcelona. The study also highlights that the Fira generates more than 49,000 jobs and that its gross added value (GVA) is equivalent to one hundredth of the GDP of Catalonia, which in 2024 reached 316,728 million euros. The IEB has estimated that the energizing effect of this activity is perceived above all in the services sector, which absorbs almost two thirds (64.7%) of the total impact, but also affects the food industry (14.1%), chemicals (2.9%) or machinery manufacturing (1.9%). In his assessment of the results of the report, Pau Relat, president of Fira’s board of directors, stated that the figures «confirm the good pace of the institution and its key role as a driving force of the Catalan economy.” Furthermore, he attributes the strong increase that has occurred in the last five years «to the good work done and the growth and size of the shows held in our venues, many of them world leaders in their sectors.» Constantí Serrallonga, general director of the consortium, added that «these figures, together with record annual results, with more than 350 million euros earned in 2025, push us to continue working with the aim of growing the shows and reinforcing the role of the institution as a strategic element in the economic and social development of the territory.» The study calculates the direct, indirect and induced effects of the actions carried out by Fira de Barcelona based on three variables: the costs of operation and organization of congresses and exhibitions, the expenses of visitors and exhibitors (which in 2024 exceeded 2,418 million euros) and the business creation that derives from all of this (3,283 million, according to the IEB estimate). From the combination of these data it is inferred that Fira de Barcelona has a spending multiplier effect of 1.75. Furthermore: the activities of the entity reported to the Public Treasury in the year analyzed a collection of 1,224 million euros. Also very noteworthy is the number of full-time jobs generated totally or partially: 49,423, of which nearly half correspond to commercial, hospitality and restaurant activities. Forecasts also indicate that this global impact could increase significantly in the medium term. Specifically, Fira has embarked on a large-scale productive investment, the construction of the new Zero pavilion at the Gran Via venue, which will provide an additional impact of 675 million annually from 2027, when it comes into operation. The new space will increase the venue’s capacity by a quarter. The IEB report concludes that Fira’s main asset continues to be the sustained growth in the volume of attendance and bookings recorded by its events.
