MWC 2026 Preview: Exploring the New Era of AI, 6G, and Robotics in Barcelona

The highly anticipated global technology event, the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026, is set to begin in Barcelona after the Spring Festival holiday. This year’s theme is The IQ Era, which signals that MWC 2026 will not only showcase advanced communication technologies but will also serve as a practical platform for the deployment of AI products and applications. Key topics will include AI smartphones, robotics, and more.

According to John Hoffman, CEO of the GSMA, “Today’s MWC is no longer just a gathering for the telecommunications industry; it has evolved into a global technology platform centered around connectivity, with full participation from various sectors.”

What new technologies and products will be featured at MWC 2026? What industry trends should we pay attention to? How can future communication technologies better integrate with AI?

Industry insiders believe that with the theme The IQ Era, MWC 2026 is expected to focus on the deep integration of artificial intelligence and communication technologies, advancements in 6G technology, the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem, and innovations in green digital solutions. Noteworthy highlights may include AI-driven network optimization solutions, cross-device intelligent collaboration experiences, advancements in satellite communication technology, and innovative scenarios combining the metaverse with communication.

As for industry trends, AI-native devices, sustainable technologies, and privacy-enhancing computing could present new opportunities.

Mobile Brands Compete

“AI will be a key focus area for us this year, especially in applications like AI smartphones and smart home devices,” stated a representative from a telecommunications company who has participated in MWC for many years.

As a major global technology event, MWC serves as a critical platform for numerous smartphone brands to unveil new products. Reports indicate that at MWC 2026, companies such as Xiaomi, vivo, and Honor will introduce new models. For instance, Xiaomi is set to launch its flagship Xiaomi 17 Series and the new Xiaomi Pad 8 Series. Honor will globally debut its flagship foldable smartphone, the Honor Magic V6, alongside the preview of the Honor ROBOT PHONE.

The Honor ROBOT PHONE, unveiled on October 15, 2025, is described as the world’s first “mobile robot” equipped with a robotic gimbal that can automatically perform tasks such as composition and target tracking with a single button press.

Zhang Xinyuan, head of a consulting firm, noted that MWC, as the most influential exhibition in the global telecommunications sector, brings together operators, suppliers, and global media, providing a concentrated platform for exposure, technical dialogue, and cross-industry collaboration. “Choosing this time to launch new products allows brands to leverage industry attention to seize global market opportunities and aligns with the flagship product iteration cycle in the first half of the year, facilitating connections with supply chain resources and channel layouts,” Zhang explained.

More Than Just Phones: Big Announcements from Honor

“MWC is coming, and it’s not just about the Magic V6 and the robotic phone; there’s an even bigger announcement to make,” posted Honor’s Chief Imaging Engineer, Luo Wei, on social media on February 24, teasing that Honor will unveil its first humanoid robot at the upcoming MWC.

According to Honor, this humanoid robot has become one of the most anticipated highlights of MWC 2026. Zhang Xinyuan remarked that Honor’s introduction of a humanoid robot signifies a shift for smartphone manufacturers expanding into the broader robotics field. This move reflects both the extension of technological capabilities such as AI vision and motion control, and the industry’s exploration for new growth points. He added that if robots can deeply integrate with smart living scenarios, it could lead to the widespread adoption of service robots, though challenges regarding the maturity of practical application scenarios and industry chain collaboration must be addressed.

Currently, companies like vivo and Xiaomi are also exploring humanoid robot technology, with vivo having established a robotics lab and Xiaomi previously announcing its embodiment intelligence model, Xiaomi-Robotics-0.

Deep Integration of AI and Communications

This MWC 2026 will also feature discussions on the integration of AI with communication technologies. According to official materials, the digital pillars of our era are undergoing a reconstruction process. The conference will address topics such as next-generation networks, AI-driven automation, and cloud and edge computing. “From 5G Advanced and dedicated networks to satellites, NTN, and quantum-ready data centers, we will showcase how AI-driven automated infrastructure can enhance efficiency, scalability, and resilience. This transformation not only has the potential to unlock new industrial potential but also accelerates data-driven decision-making,” officials stated.

On the topic of AI and communication integration, Zhang Xinyuan sees opportunities in enhancing real-time interaction and privacy protection through edge-side AI, optimizing resource allocation and energy efficiency through network AI, and creating new experiences such as AI assistants and immersive communications.

“However, challenges remain, including a lack of standardization for heterogeneous hardware and algorithms, data security concerns, balancing high computing power demands with terminal power consumption, and barriers to cross-vendor ecosystem collaboration. Future efforts should focus on chip-level innovation, edge computing architecture, and co-building industry standards,” Zhang emphasized.

Regarding 6G, the latest report from GSMA titled Vision 2040: Future Spectrum Needs indicates that global 6G commercial deployment will begin around 2030, with regions like China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Europe, India, Vietnam, and the Gulf countries becoming hotspots for 6G development. By 2040, it is anticipated that there could be 5 billion 6G connections worldwide, accounting for about half of all mobile connections.

MWC 2026 will not only feature new technologies in 5G-A/6G communications but will also vividly showcase applications and solutions in AI, IoT, XR, robotics, cloud computing, and smart mobility, covering six major themes: AI4Enterprise, AI Nexus, ConnectAI, Game Changers, Smart Infrastructure, and Tech4All.