The previous six editions of the Barcelona International Community Day have made it the flagship annual event for the city’s international community. This year’s edition, which will be the seventh, reaffirms this status but also has a symbolic value, which is the return to a face-to-face format. After the Covid-19 pandemic forced the last fair to be held online, this year attendees will see one another again in person on 23 October at the Maritime Museum. Admission is free and tickets can be obtained at event website.

More than 50 activities designed so that Barcelona ex-pats can get the most out of the day. There will be informative talks to get to know more about the city and its services, plus round tables, guided workshops and participatory spaces. These will be distributed in 4 activity rooms and 3 different spaces, such as the Maritime Museum gardens. What’s more, there will be an area hosting more than 70 exhibitors, which will include companies, public institutions and associations, that will be distributed at stands and information points.

The activities of Barcelona International Community Day will focus on areas ranging from finding one’s feet and settling in, with useful information and services for when someone arrives and settles in Barcelona, to job seeking and the business world, focused on career development, starting up a company or investing in one. Room 4 will be the venue for workshops and dynamic networking activities throughout the day, and there will also be several meeting spaces to make contacts, plus leisure and entertainment activities.

Although Barcelona International Community Day is reverting to the in-person format, it will be possible to livestream the activities that take place in Room 3 of the show. Also, the week before fair, from 18 to 22 October, there will be an online activity each day, which can be followed on the Barcelona International Community Day platform. 

Featured activities at Barcelona International Community Day

Among the institutions that are taking part in the BICD, a prominent role will be played by Barcelona Activa, the economic development agency of Barcelona City Council. It will have a stand where people attending the show can sign up for free on the Company-Employment Platform, and register their CV so they may access any of the job offers posted. Courses and activities can also be run on the platform.  

Barcelona Activa will also organise activities that will demonstrate the professional opportunities the city has to offer. These have been designed to be held prior to Barcelona International Community Day, and include the webinars ‘Returning to opportunities: How to bring back the talent of Barcelona residents who emigrated during the crisis of 2008?’ (18 October) and ‘Entrepreneurs welcome: how to create a company and tips to start a new business in Barcelona’ (21 October). During the show, they will do work-related activities, such as ‘The secret formula for starting your own business in Barcelona’, ‘I’m looking for a job, what can Barcelona Activa do for me?’ and ‘Create your business’; or networking, such as ‘Elevator pitch: your minute of glory ‘, and ‘How do I present myself in society? The keys to your CV’. 

Activities promoted by other institutions related to work and business will also be carried out, such as ‘Discover Job Opportunities in the multinational Share Services Centres’; or to facilitate the discovery of the city’s attractions and living experience that comes with changing the place where you live, such as ‘Destination Barcelona: my retrospective journey’. There will also be sessions aimed at dealing with official bureaucracy, such as ‘From complexity to simplicity: immigration, business and tax procedures for ex-pats’, or lifestyle topics, such as ‘Meeting up with ex-pat Instagrammers & Social Media Influencers’ and ‘How to have a sustainable diet in Barcelona’.

Safe event 

Barcelona International Community Day will open its doors from 10 am to 7 pm, following all health protocols to ensure participants’ safety.

A COVID mobile vaccination point will be stationed outside the fair to provide all necessary information and access to the vaccine. 

Check the schedule and get your ticket for the Barcelona International Community Day, by clicking the link.