Barcelona Launches HOWS Barcelona to Address Urban and Affordable Housing Challenges
HOWS Barcelona – the Housing World Summit – is an international congress on urban and affordable housing set for November 3–5, 2026. Hosted by Fira de Barcelona at Gran Via as part of Smart City Expo World Congress, it aims to lead global discussions on housing challenges through a three-day program featuring over 100 speakers across 20 sessions. The event will focus on five key themes: urban planning and land policy; housing regulation for public affordability; building innovation; renovation and reuse; and financing mechanisms. It includes high-level activities like the Housing Mayors Meeting, where mayors and officials from around the world can collaborate and share best practices in affordable housing. HOWS Barcelona is supported by government bodies such as the Government of Catalonia and the Spanish Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda, along with international organizations including C40 Cities, UN-Habitat, and Metropolis. The congress also integrates the Barcelona Housing and Renovation Forum (FHAR), previously a standalone event.
Topics: affordable housing conferences housing urban planning