Last year's MWC saw the unveiling of Xiaomi's modular camera phone concept. What about in 2026? Kerry Wan/ZDNET
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Mobile World Congress (MWC) is shaping up to be an exciting one this year. Off the heels of Samsung and Google's recent phone launches, the Barcelona trade show will shine a brighter spotlight on the trends and innovations we'll see for the rest of 2026.
As always, leading global brands, including Xiaomi, Honor, and TCL, will be present -- and they'll likely occupy a large part of the show floor. Google and Samsung are also expected to have a presence, but the likelihood of major announcements is slim. And there's almost always a showstopper that no one sees coming.
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At MWC 2026, expect to see all of that, both in market-ready products and concepts that, while unconventional, may be just buzz-worthy enough to influence future business decisions. Here's a rundown of what's coming at this year's trade show.
When is MWC 2026?
This year's MWC will occur from March 2 to March 5, but manufacturers typically make announcements as early as the weekend before, so you'll likely hear more about the event starting tomorrow. While the trade show was built around members of the press, analysts, business partners, and brands, anyone can access the show floor by purchasing a ticket, which costs about $1,028.
What are we expecting at MWC 2026?
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