The 2026 edition of CHI will be held at Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona or CCIB (Barcelona, Spain). You will find detailed information on how to get to the venue and recommendations on what to do in the city (culture, gastronomy, getaways, leisure, etc.) at the CCIB website.
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Accommodation
Hotel rooms for CHI 2026 are being managed by KUONI Tumlare Congress. Booking through our conference hotels website allows for exclusive hotel rates and rooms for CHI attendees. Rates listed are inclusive of VAT and in most instances include breakfast. The site also lists “🌱 Green Credential” hotels which score well in eco-sustainability. For questions or concerns or help about hotel booking, please contact the hotel website via email.
You may also be interested in exploring alternative options on lodging web portals. Barcelona, like many cities around the world, is facing the challenges of gentrification and mass tourism. To align with the CHI core value of sustainability, please ensure that your accommodation is officially licensed so you can enjoy your visit without negatively impacting the welfare of local residents.
Transport
If you are planning to use the metro and local trains (recommended) or buses the Local Chairs recommend you buy a multi-day pass with access to the airport, or a “T-Casual” metro card of 10 trips without access to the airport. T-Casual card is non-transferable, therefore only one person at a time can travel. Note the metro card also gives you access to trains within the city limits (zones 1 and 2), and allows a transfer with bus within the 90 minutes of starting a trip. The metro runs until midnight on weekdays, and all night on Saturdays. More info is at the TMB (public transit) website.
Taxis in Barcelona are black and yellow. Available taxis are identified by a green light on top, and drivers appreciate but do not expect tips. If you are used to ride-hailing services, you might want to use the FreeNow app, which is operated by local taxi companies and available on Android and iOS.
Restaurants
Gastronomy in Barcelona is wonderful. For dining near the conference venue, the Diagonal Mar shopping center offers most of the nearby options, mainly consisting of chain restaurants. If you are looking to explore more authentic local cuisine after a day at the conference, the Local Chairs suggest this map of dining spots for an authentic taste of Catalonia (accurate, though not exhaustive). Some attendees might also be interested in this map of gluten-free restaurants and shops and this other map of vegan restaurants.
However, you will also be exposed to overpriced, low-quality restaurants aimed at tourists.
There may be exceptions to the following rules, but in general, the Local Chairs recommend avoiding restaurants that:
- Avoid places on very touristic streets (e.g., Las Ramblas). Sometimes just walking one block perpendicular can find you something quieter, more authentic, and cheaper.
- Do not be lured in by something mostly in English if you don’t speak the local language. Sure something with an English menu option is likely fine, but if it looks all English, we’d recommend you find somewhere else. You’ll find that most places are ok if you communicate politely using English and they will try their best as you try yours.
- On a similar note, places advertising ‘tourist friendly’ with too much use of the word TAPAS and picture menus are probably worth a skip as well.
- Paella for one person is a favorite red flag of ours. Paella is usually prepared for at least two people and in larger quantities; otherwise, there is a risk it was batch made and reheated and might not be fresh.
Safety tips
tl;dr : beware of pickpockets
Barcelona is a great city, but like any other major city, a little awareness goes a long way. While violent crime is extremely rare in Barcelona, pickpocketing is a common problem. To avoid incidents, the Local Chairs recommend that you:
- Be mindful of your belongings, particularly in crowded areas, escalators in/out of metro stations, near tourist attractions, and on the train and buses coming from/to the airport;
- Do not carry your wallet in your back pocket;
- Do not leave your phone or wallet over the table,
- Keep your bag on you or your lap or in front of you at any cafe/bar/restaurant;
- Beware of strangers approaching you, bumping into you, or blocking your way on purpose, as pickpockets operate almost invariably in groups. For example, there’s a bump and grab technique used to dislodge your personal item or phone from your hand and run off. If you need to navigate somewhere or take a text message, stop walking and move to a clear area first.
The phone number for emergencies is 112.
Other Resources
Our Accessibility FAQ has great info for everyone about the city and convention center.
Other excellent sources of information to discover plans in Barcelona are:
