NASA Space Apps presents its 2026 edition in Barcelona

Barcelona will once again host one of the Spanish venues for the NASA Space Apps Challenge, the world’s largest STEAM hackathon, organised with the support of Telefónica Foundation, the Government of Catalonia, the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), Barcelona Activa and the Spanish Space Agency (AEE). The hackathon will take place on 14 and 15 November at 42 Barcelona, the programming campus backed by Telefónica Foundation, Barcelona City Council (via Barcelona Activa) and the Government of Catalonia.

The initiative aims to boost digital talent, inspire scientific and technological vocations, and connect new generations with the current challenges facing the planet and space.

With this new edition, NASA Space Apps Challenge Spain reinforces its commitment to Barcelona as a gathering point for young talent, open innovation and collaboration across STEAM communities.

During the hackathon, multidisciplinary participants work in teams to develop digital and innovative solutions to challenges linked to space, sustainability, health, the environment and other scientific fields.

The initiative has been organised in Spain since 2018, building a nationwide community of approximately 10,000 people. The previous edition (2025) reached 980 registrants and 125 teams, 11 of which made it to the global semi-finals. Spanish talent also boasts two historic global victories: in 2018 with the project ‘Galaxy Quest by Pillars of Creation’ and in 2024 with the Asturian entry ‘AsturExplorers’.

In 2026, Space Apps Spain will take place simultaneously across host cities including Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao, Málaga, Seville and Murcia, consolidating a national network focused on identifying, training and raising the profile of technical and creative talent.

“NASA Space Apps demonstrates what talent is capable of when given a meaningful challenge and a real platform to put its skills into practice. Our goal is to highlight this potential and connect it directly with key companies and institutions within the ecosystem,” highlighted Álvaro Montoliu, partner at NASA Space Apps Spain.

This morning, NASA Space Apps Spain launched the 2026 edition of the NASA International Space Apps Challenge at the 42 Barcelona campus.

The launch event featured key representatives from the government, technology and academic sectors, including: Lia Miller, US Consul General in Barcelona; Cristina Fernández Bornay, Director of 42 Barcelona, Telefónica Foundation; Meritxell Granger, Head of the Digital Sector Promotion Area at the Secretariat for Digital Policies of the Government of Catalonia; Humbert Ruiz, Director of Digital Talent Promotion at Barcelona Activa; and Paula Lomascolo, Talent and Society Coordinator at the Area for the Promotion of the Space Sector of Catalonia at the IEEC.

Additionally, the event included a business panel discussion entitled ‘The Talent Needed in Tomorrow’s Workplace’, moderated by Álvaro Montoliu, partner at NASA Space Apps Spain, featuring contributions from Cristina Fernández Bornay, Director of 42 Barcelona Telefónica Foundation, and Humbert Ruiz, Director of Digital Talent Promotion at Barcelona Activa.

Anyone interested in taking part in this new edition, whether individually or as a team, can register via the official NASA Space Apps Challenge website: https://www.spaceappschallenge.org/2026/local-events/barcelona/