ISE has always been a showcase for innovation, but ISE 2026 sees a renewed focus in this area. Innovation Park, at the heart of the show floor, is the location for a range of show features and content sessions designed to enable attendees to discover and connect with entrepreneurs and forward-thinking startups.
Centrally located close to Halls 4, 5, 6 and 7, Congress Square is the heart of ISE’s innovation ecosystem. Introduced at ISE 2025, Innovation Park returns as a dedicated space for startups and companies new to ISE. With over 130 companies exhibiting here, including 80 exciting startups, there’s no better place to discover new ideas that could transform your business.
Alongside Innovation Park is the Pitching Stage. This is hosting a free four-day programme on innovation, featuring presentations, roundtables and pitching sessions where start-ups can communicate their unique visions. On Friday it is hosting project presentations and the awards ceremony for the ISE Hackathon.
At ISE 2026, exhibitors and visitors can benefit from a series of exclusive matchmaking formats, powered by Ambivation (registration required). Sessions are held in the Matchmaking Area – adjacent to the Pitching Stage – which also hosts a networking event at 5pm each day.
Innovation Park is supported by the Investor Forum, which takes place on the first morning of the show upstairs in CC5.1. The Forum enables venture capitalists, private equity leaders, public institutions, and other investors to explore market trends, investment opportunities, and innovations that are driving growth.
Also within Congress Square are the Catalonia Pavilion and the Barcelona City Council stand, both of which play host to local start-ups and innovative AV businesses. The Catalonia Pavilion also hosts the Open Innovation Challenge, organised by ACCIÓ, which invites technology providers to offer solutions for local businesses’ specific requirements.
