Smart City Live 2020: a unique edition for an unusual context

Will consist of a full-day, broadcast television show on day one, with interviews, debates, and success stories focusing on how COVID-19 has impacted cities and is redefining citizens' normality

Since the global pandemic is still impacting our daily lives, the Smart City Expo team and Fira de Barcelona are finding a new way to reconnect all the industry actors and rebuild ecosystems to accelerate a much-needed recovery. This year we are transforming ourselves into an online event: Smart City Live, a one-shot, innovative edition happening digitally on November 17 – 18, 2020, that will maintain the event quality and international scope that we are known for while putting our participants' safety first.

The new Smart City Live will consist of a full-day, broadcast television show on day one, with interviews, debates, and success stories focusing on how COVID-19 has impacted cities and is redefining citizens' normality, plus a program on day two featuring workshops, sessions, and side events, which will gather key players and global institutions to tackle the challenges beyond the short-term impact of the pandemic.

Along with Smart City Live, we will see the kick-off of the first Tomorrow.City initiatives. Our global platform of platforms that combines research, technology, and investment 365 days a year will, in the coming months, launch a capacity-building platform, a radar exploring disruptive technologies, and a podcast series reflecting on the new 'smart' for cities.

Next year Smart City Expo World Congress will be back in Barcelona on November 16-18, 2021, to celebrate its 10th edition. We will use the lessons learned this year to keep improving and challenging ourselves, and put on the best edition yet.

In the meantime, I would like to take this chance to thank you for your support during these recent changes and I promise to share more information soon.