Now in its twelfth edition, Barcelona International Community Day will once again be a meeting point for the city’s international professionals. Led by Barcelona City Council, the event has become firmly established as the main forum for welcoming new arrivals and helping them settle in the city, and will once again offer information, entertainment, networking opportunities and much more.

This year’s slogans –‘I’m Barceloní by choice’, ‘I’m Barcelonina by choice’, ‘We’re Barcelonins by choice’— welcome people who have chosen to live in Barcelona and be a part of the city. But being part of the city means more than just living in Barcelona. That’s why the event will emphasise the importance of getting involved in and connecting with the city, especially by learning Catalan, exploring Catalan culture and volunteering.

Barcelona International Community Day also fosters connections between locals and internationals by inviting anyone interested in engaging with this diverse, talented community and helping them to integrate into their new home.

The previous edition welcomed more than 5,100 registered participants and visitors from 127 countries. This year’s event returns to the Maritime Museum, housed in the former Royal Shipyards, with a full programme of activities, workshops, lectures and performances, plus an exhibitors’ fair showcasing services, products and initiatives for the international community.

The event is open from 10 am to 7 pm, and admission is free, with prior registration.

Nearly 60 activities for all audiences

The activities planned include talks, workshops, networking sessions, music and performances in other disciplines, children’s activities and more.

To help new arrivals settle in the city and get involved, the event will be offering sessions with practical information on tax matters, how the Catalan healthcare system works and finding schools for children. There will also be activities to introduce the community to the Catalan language, a workshop to learn about local current events, a round table with volunteering options in the city and ideas for more sustainable local tourism.

There will also be a chance to explore Catalan cuisine with an esmorzar de forqulla (hearty breakfast, literally ‘fork breakfast’) workshop, and discover some Catalan traditions first hand, such as el ball de bastons (stick-dancing) and a typical cercavila (street parade) from the Terres de l’Ebre area. Performances will include live concerts and dances from around the world.

Those looking to start, change or enrich their careers will find Barcelona Activa talks and workshops with resources for finding a job or starting a business, for instance, as well as an AI-based virtual reality job interview simulator. There will also be a session on funding for entrepreneurs, a round-table discussion on opportunities for digital talent, and much more.

The programme will offer workshops and networking sessions to foster personal and professional connections among participants. As ever, there will be an indoor toy library with children’s activities, and this year a podcast will also be produced with interviews recorded throughout the day.

As always, the event’s host ambassadors will also be present. These six Barcelona-based professionals will be sharing their experiences in the city to inspire other participants. They are among 80 speakers and experts taking part in the programme of activities.

Services, products and initiatives for newly arrived professionals

Barcelona International Community Day’s annual exhibitors’ fair will feature more than 78 exhibitors this year, showcasing services offered by Barcelona City Council, other public bodies, companies, educational services and associations. More than 25% of these exhibitors are participating in the event for the first time.

At their respective stands, these exhibitors will be offering information, resources and specialised services for foreign professionals in Barcelona. There will be exhibitors from a wide range of sectors: real estate, relocation services, talent management, legal and financial advice, education and training, insurance, medical services and more. Public and private cultural and social organisations will also be offering products, services and initiatives to help foreign nationals enjoy the city and become part of it.

The community’s ties with and involvement in the city are among the core themes this year. The Barcelona Linguistic Normalisation Centre will have a stand with information on the Catalan courses it offers, and the Torre Jussana stand will provide resources on volunteering, including an interactive map of the city’s different volunteer organisations by neighbourhood.

Public-private partnerships as a key aspect of the event

Barcelona International Community Day is sponsored by Banc Sabadell and also supported by ERES Relocation Services, experts in managing workers’ international mobility; Entre Trámites, tax and legal advisers for SMEs, freelancers and foreign companies that want to set up in Barcelona; Maremagnum Shopping Centre; The Old Irish Pub; and the multilingual educational resource company Milingui.

La Vanguardia is also back again this year as one of the event’s media partners.

This business ecosystem provides support for an international community that now makes up over 25% of Barcelona’s population and which nourishes the city’s diverse and multi-cultural spirit. These new arrivals generate wealth and boost the city’s competitiveness through their talent, work, investment, companies and professional projects. Welcoming and integrating them is essential and a priority for positioning Barcelona in the world as an open, diverse and cosmopolitan city.