In a world where geopolitics, technology, energy and security are redefining growth, what drives progress today? 

World in Progress Barcelona 2026 brings together leaders from politics, business, academia and civil society to explore the major transformations reshaping the global order. On 2 and 3 November, Barcelona will serve as a meeting point between Europe and Latin America to exchange perspectives and work towards shared responses to the challenges of our time. 

Agenda

Nov

02

Nov

03

Europe in the World
09:30  to  10:00
  • Nadia Calviño, President of the European Investment Bank
Health, Innovation and Prevention
10:00  to  10:30
  • Dr. Josep Tabernero, Chair of the Scientific Council of the CaixaResearch Institute and Director of the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO)
  • Gates Foundation
  • Lorena Arroyo, EL PAÍS
The Challenges of Technology
10:30  to  11:00
  • Borja Ochoa, Executive Chairman of Telefónica Spain

  • Ricardo de Querol, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of EL PAÍS and Editor-in-Chief of Cinco Días

Break
11:00  to  11:30
Peace in a World of Conflicts
11:30  to  12:00
  • Juan Manuel Santos, Former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
  • Shlomo Ben-Ami, Historian and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel
  • Gustavo Gómez, Caracol Radio Colombia
The energy transition in a fragmented world
12:00  to  13:00

A conversation about current trends in the energy sector through the prism of the objectives of security, affordability and reducing emissions against the backdrop of a global scenario marred by conflicts and mistrust. 

  • Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
  • Tim Gould, Chief Energy Economist at the International Energy Agency (IEA)
  • Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Member of the French National Assembly and Former Minister for Energy Transition
  • Andrea Rizzi, EL PAÍS
Europe in the Age of AI
13:00  to  13:30
  • Manuel Muñiz, Rector of IE University and Chair of IE New York College
  • Jordi Fabrega, SER

 

Live from Washington, D.C.: America Votes, the World Watches
13:30  to  14:00

Live analysis of U.S. Election Day and its global implications.

  • Arancha González Laya, President of World in Progress
  • Julissa Reynoso, Former U.S. Ambassador to Spain
  • Sara Canals, Cadena SER
  • María Sánchez, EL PAÍS, United States
Lunch
14:00  to  16:30

High-Level Meetings — Invitation-Only Lunches

  • Peace in Colombia: Lessons and the Future of an Agreement, with Juan Manuel Santos, Former President of Colombia and 2016 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and General Óscar Naranjo, Former Vice-President of Colombia and Former Director of the National Police,  and Diana Calderón, Caracol Radio Colombia
  • The Price of Security, with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Andrea Rizzi, EL PAIS, head of global affairs
The World in 2026: A New Generation Beyond the Berlin Wall
16:30  to  18:00

In collaboration with the Princess of Girona Foundation​

  • Diego Garrocho, Associate Professor of Moral Philosophy at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) 

  • Noor Ammar, international consultant specializing in gender and conflict

  • Alfonso Rodríguez, PhD and writer

  • Pol Valero, SER

  • Josep Catà, EL PAÍS

  • Estefanía Salvatierra, SER

  • Nacho Corredor, political analyst and co-founder of beBartlet

*The program is subject to change.

Ponentes Barcelona 2026

Conectamos a referentes del panorama internacional con analistas locales, asegurando un intercambio dinámico y un debate global de máxima actualidad.

En colaboración con:



 
 

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