Organised by Fira de Barcelona in collaboration with the Catalan Cybersecurity Agency (ACC), the awards are open to Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), senior security executives and digital protection leaders from both the public and private sector. Applications can be submitted until 14 September 2026 through the awards website.

This year’s edition features ten categories, including recognition of female leadership, the Global CISO of the Year Award and an honour for outstanding career achievement.

High-Profile Jury

The jury is chaired by Anett Mádi-Nátor, President of Women4Cyber. The ten-member panel includes Jon France (CISO of ISC2), Marcos Gómez (INCIBE) and Katy Anton (Executive Director of Cybersecurity Architecture at JP Morgan), among others. The awards ceremony will take place on 4 November as part of the congress.

Exhibition, Congress Programme and Startup Area

Beyond the awards, BCC will feature an exhibition area bringing together close to 100 companies, alongside a congress programme structured around three major themes: cybersecurity as a strategic business risk; Artificial Intelligence, identity and trust in the digital environment; and systemic, cyber-physical and supply chain resilience.

The programme also includes a Showcase Corner for innovative solutions, a Networking Hub with leading European cybersecurity organisations and “The Startup Cyber Experience”, a dedicated space for emerging companies. Hands-on laboratories, hackathons and practical sessions round out the event.

Synergies with Smart City Expo World Congress

Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress 2026 will be held in Hall 2 of Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue, running alongside the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC). The co-location aims to strengthen synergies between the digitalisation of urban environments and protection against digital threats, addressing cybersecurity challenges from a cross-sector perspective.