Girona Trade Fair Centre: when large-scale events are tailor-made

A 360º venue for thousands of people, an international congress with an exhibition area and simultaneous work spaces, or a convention that combines presentations, gastronomy and recreational activities. At the Girona Trade Fair Centre, size matters, but what really sets it apart is everything that can be created there.

When a corporate event needs to go beyond the stage, the chairs and the conventional rooms, the space stops being just the container and becomes part of the production. This is one of the main strengths of the Girona Trade Fair Centre: an infrastructure designed to host large-scale events, special productions and complex set-ups, with enough flexibility to adapt to the concept of each project.

With 1,650 m² of open-plan space (30 × 55 m) and a height of 13 metres at its centre, the central hall is the starting point. Without a pre-set layout, it allows you to work on the space practically from scratch. Large-scale sets, networking areas, product displays, catering, temporary auditoriums or experiential activities can all coexist within the same production.

In addition to this freedom of layout, there is a multi-activity licence that allows for a standing capacity of almost 8,500 people and that, according to the venue’s management, places it among the few spaces in Catalonia with these characteristics.

This configuration opens the door to formats that go beyond the classic convention: trade fairs with training rooms and talks, conferences with concerts and food and drink, or corporate gatherings that combine work, networking and leisure activities.

The versatility also makes it possible to reduce the size of the space when the project requires it. The large size, therefore, does not mean always working with large capacities: the space can be divided into sections and adapted to the needs of each event. Direct access for production vehicles and a roof structure designed for large-scale set-ups also make it easier to stage complex productions.

This flexibility is complemented by the support of the team at the Girona Trade Fair Centre, which works alongside the organiser from the first technical visit to the execution of the event and can be involved in the design and production depending on the needs of each project.

A recent example helps to visualise the possibilities. In May 2025, the Trade Fair Centre hosted an international convention for 3,200 seated delegates. A large 360º stage was built in the centre of the hall, surrounded by tiered seating spread across the ground and upper floors, with particularly demanding technological and audiovisual production.

The venue was also the epicentre of CONNECT 2025, the international aviation industry congress that brought together more than 800 executives from airlines, airports and tourism companies. The format combined exhibition spaces, professional meetings, conferences and networking, showcasing the Palau’s ability to bring together different uses in a single event.

Other recent events demonstrate this versatility: the first Girona Emotional Wellbeing Congress attracted around 1,200 people; the Oncolliga Charity Dinner, 650 guests; and Waste in Progress combined a conference, an exhibition area and professional sessions between the Girona Trade Fair Centre and the Conference Centre.

The experience doesn’t end at the doors of the venue. The Fairgrounds (Palau de Fires) are located in the Parc de la Devesa, next to the Conference Centre and within walking distance of the historic quarter of Girona. This proximity makes it possible to combine work spaces and exhibition areas with auditoriums and rooms for plenary sessions, presentations or simultaneous meetings within the same venue, as well as expanding the social, cultural, heritage and wine and gastronomy programme.

Girona‘s connectivity by land, sea and air also makes it easier for attendees, teams and suppliers to arrive, a particularly important factor for corporate events.

Because, at a major corporate event, the value doesn’t just depend on what happens on stage. Conversations, shared experiences, accommodation and everything that the destination can offer before and after the professional programme also count.

• From the professional programme to cultural discovery

Just a few minutes from the venue, the Old Town makes it possible to incorporate heritage and culture into the social programme. In addition to guided tours to discover Jewish Girona or the locations used in Game of Thrones, companies such as Humanside Experiences design team-building and incentive activities  that link business objectives with the participation and experience of attendees.

• Gastronomy, another space for connecting

The culinary offering of Girona and its surroundings ranges from haute cuisine to farmhouses, unique venues and options linked to local produce, with members such as Mas Marroch – El Celler de Can Roca and La Miranda. What’s more, options such as Girona Food Tours make it possible to combine gastronomy, culture and city exploration within the MICE programme.

• Accommodation adapted to different group formats

The MICE offering makes it possible to tailor the stay to the profile of each group. In Girona, hotels such as the Hotel Carlemany, the Best Western Premier CMC, the DoubleTree by Hilton and the Ultònia Hotels offer options for groups of different sizes, while the destination as a whole expands the range with boutique hotels and smaller properties for stays that are looking for a more personalised experience.