"Czechs and the BAR(celona)"—this connection has already left a lasting impression on the international Smart Cities community. Few fields rely as heavily on mutual understanding and cross-sector collaboration as urban innovation and regional development. That is why the Czech Republic does not just showcase cutting-edge technologies; we also pride ourselves on creating an informal atmosphere. It is a space designed to build genuine connections, tackle the core challenges facing our cities and towns as true partners, and catch up like old friends over a cold beer or a signature cocktail.

In 2026, the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona marks its 15th edition. As the world’s premier smart city event, it brings forward-thinking innovations and progressive solutions to address the most pressing challenges of modern urbanization, gathering global experts and key players under one roof. The Czech Republic simply cannot miss this platform—especially following our record-breaking participation in 2025, which also brought home awards for both the most sustainable exhibition and the most promising startup.

Building on last year's milestone, where the Czech Republic presented its largest-ever national pavilion covering 416 m², this year’s footprint will come close to that record at just under 400 m². This impressive scale is once again driven by seamless cross-sector synergy within our national innovation ecosystem. Leading the charge are five key ministries: Industry and Trade; Regional Development; Transport; Environment; and Foreign Affairs. They are joined by the Czech cities of Brno and Plzeň, which are actively involving their municipal companies and regional institutions. This year, the innovative towns of Zlín and Říčany are also joining the ranks, proving that with the right approach, any community can go SMART, regardless of its size.

The Czech pavilion will showcase over 30 innovative startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and academic institutions, reflecting the country’s growing potential and comprehensive capabilities in the smart city sector. The Czech delegation aims to demonstrate its expertise in circularity once again, competing against more than 1,000 exhibitors to defend the prestigious Green Exhibitor Award.