Kristina Ishmael, Cristóbal Cobo and Ousman Umar, featured speakers
EdTech Congress focuses on technology with a human touch as a catalyst of change
EdTech Congress Barcelona is set to convene 81 experts and over 60 companies to explore how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies can transform education while preserving its human essence. Under the slogan ‘Reimagining education and training in the age of artificial intelligence,’ the event aims to ensure that innovation fosters inclusive, ethical, and human-centered opportunities.
Organized by Fira de Barcelona and EduTech Clúster, with Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) as a strategic partner, EdTech Congress Barcelona 2026 will take place on February 4 and 5 at the Palau de Congressos de Montjuïc. The event will focus on humanizing digital tools for learning, highlighting their significant positive impact on education systems. Among the featured speakers is Ousman Umar, social entrepreneur and founder of NASCO Feeding Minds, whose work brings digital training to rural African communities to combat poverty and forced migration. His inspiring story of resilience positions him as a leading voice on technology as a tool for empowerment.
The opening keynote will be offered by Kristina Ishmael, an education expert who led the position of Deputy Director of Educational Technologies of the U.S. Department of Education and who will offer a vision of future scenarios. And the congress will be closed by the Chilean researcher and edtech expert Cristóbal Cobo, who will provide a humanist vision with his theory of “invisible learning”, which revalues tacit knowledge and warns against technological determinism.
Continuing the focus on the human role in technology, the program will feature contributions from paleoanthropologist Ignacio Martínez Mendizábal, who argues that cooperation and care are drivers of progress; philosopher Fernando Broncano, an advocate for critical thinking amid the rise of artificial intelligence; and writer Belén Gopegui, whose latest novel explores intimacy in the context of new technologies.
The program will also feature leading experts such as Mariana Ferrarelli, a prominent figure in educational AI in Ibero-America and an advocate for aligning innovation with cultural diversity; and Professor Faraó Llorens, a pioneer in gamification and university digital transformation, who will emphasize the need for humans and machines to complement each other—alongside other leading voices in AI and education.
At the same time, the show will also host the We Love Learning Summit, specifically dedicated to corporate training. Held independently in Madrid until last year, the conference is integrated this year into the EdTech Congress Barcelona program. This initiative, promoted by Netex Learning, will dedicate its 2026 edition to reflecting on the impact of AI on business training, with special attention to companies in the financial field. To this end, it will have experts in Learning & Development and HR professionals.
News, experimentation and good practices
Beyond its conference program, EdTech Congress Barcelona 2026 will feature an exhibition area showcasing innovations from over 60 technology companies in hybrid classrooms, connectivity, accessibility, and inclusion. This space will include the Demo & Immersive Lab for hands-on experiences with smart classrooms, simulations, and AI assessment systems; the Discovery Stage and Investor Forum, platforms for pitches by edtech companies; and an interdisciplinary hackathon on educational inclusion with participation from Fundació La Caixa, the Mona Foundation, 3CAT, and Fundació Sant Joan de Déu. National and international educational centers will also be recognized for best practices in the use of educational technology and artificial intelligence.
With an expected attendance of around 2,500 participants, EdTech Congress Barcelona is establishing itself as a must-attend event for educational and university leaders, ICT managers, public administrations, and all stakeholders driving innovation in learning models. Through its strategic partnership with Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), EdTech visitors will also gain access to ISE and its cutting-edge audiovisual technology for education, expanding opportunities for schools, universities, and public institutions seeking to implement new technological solutions.
Images from the 2025 edition HERE
Press accreditations HERE
Barcelona, January 15th, 2026
Josep Lluís Mérida
932 332 114
jmerida@firabarcelona.com