The real estate fair will mark its second edition, scheduled for September 20, 21 and 22, at the Gran Via hall in Fira Barcelona, located in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. Organizers estimate a turnout of about 10,000 industry executives, with more than 7,000 registrations already in place. The event will feature 250 real estate companies and a total of 270 hours of presentations delivered by 350 invited speakers over three days, creating a dense program for attendees and exhibitors alike.
The organizers emphasize that the second edition aims to mirror the breadth and energy of its inaugural edition. There is strong interest in participation from a wide spectrum of capital sources, including family offices, sovereign funds, venture funds and hedge funds, as well as private equity. The goal is to ensure representation from all major capital segments with an international perspective that broadens the scope beyond local markets, according to Juan Velayos, a leading executive in the sector and president of the fair.
Beyond the funds, a diverse mix of participants will be present through consulting firms, developers, socimis, service providers, law firms and platforms offering alternative financing. The collaboration extends to regional and national entities as well, with participation from the Community of Madrid, the Generalitat Valenciana, and the municipalities of Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga and Bilbao. All contribute to a major cross-border dialogue around real estate investment and development strategies.
Unlike last year when the event took place at a different Barcelona venue, this edition will be hosted at Fira de Barcelona in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. Regional manager Gema Travería notes a significant expansion of the fair’s physical footprint, with the area doubled from 7,000 square meters to more than 14,000 square meters, reflecting a clear intent to accommodate more exhibitors and a larger audience.
A period of investment caution shaping the market
This second edition unfolds in a macroeconomic climate reminiscent of October 2022, when central banks rapidly raised interest rates and real estate investors paused to reassess. The market has shown limited momentum since then. In the first half of 2023, investment activity reflected a substantial contraction, with total investment dropping to around 5 billion euros, a decline of roughly 47 percent compared with the previous year, according to CBRE’s market analysis. This slowdown has prompted market participants to re-evaluate risk, cost of capital, and project timelines as they navigate tighter funding conditions.
Despite the softer environment, observers see differences across regions. Juan Barba, senior advisor at Meridia Capital, argues that Spain is performing relatively well in comparison to other EU countries. He highlights that the proximity to Ukraine and the rise in global interest rates have impacted some peers more than Spain, maintaining a more positive sentiment for Spanish real estate relative to others. Juan Velayos notes that debt investments are currently more attractive than equity in the present market cycle, a shift that influences how developers and funds structure deals and allocate capital in the near term.