City Backs Digital Rights Event Through 2028
Barcelona will host Open Tech Week every year until 2028, following a new funding agreement between the city council and the BIT Habitat Foundation. The event, which brings together international experts in digital rights, open technologies and democratic innovation, will be fully financed by the municipality with a total commitment of €190,000 across three editions. This year’s event, taking place from 26th to 31st October 2026, will receive €27,142 in funding, with €81,428 allocated for each of the 2027 and 2028 editions. The agreement establishes a joint monitoring commission that will meet at least twice a year to oversee implementation.
Global Gathering for Open Technology
Open Tech Week, launched in November 2025, unites civil society, public institutions, academia and technology communities around the principles of open, secure and accessible digital systems. The 2026 edition will feature key international events including MozFest at the Fabra i Coats Complex in Sant Andreu, DecidimFest at the Canòdrom, and the 4D Conference. MozFest 2026, running from 28th to 30th October, will draw over 3,000 participants and host more than 200 sessions focused on ethical digital transformation. The festival’s return to Barcelona was secured through a November 2025 agreement between the city council and the Mozilla Foundation, which guarantees its presence until 2027.
Barcelona is the leading technological city for companies, hubs, and employment, and it has also historically been a leader in promoting public and open technologies.
Jordi Valls, Deputy Mayor for Economy, stressed the city’s dual ambition: to be not only a tech hub but a democratic one. He said the goal is to promote digital policies that place “people and rights at the center,” building on Barcelona’s status as the first city worldwide to sign the United Nations Open Source Principles.
What This Means for Residents
The continued hosting of Open Tech Week reinforces Barcelona’s position in the global digital rights landscape and supports local innovation initiatives such as the Barcelona Innova Lab. Residents can participate in public sessions and debates on digitalisation, including those hosted via the Canòdrom platform. Events are open to the public, with full programming available on the Barcelona Digital City website.
Primary sources: Barcelona City Council, ajuntament.barcelona.cat, bcnroc.ajuntament.barcelona.cat, Editorial department. Reported by metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, canodrom.barcelona, Official meeting, Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life.
