MWC26 Doha draws more than 10,000 participants from 100 countries
MWC26 Doha brought more than 10,000 participants from 100 countries and territories together in Qatar, as the GSMA event took place alongside the opening days of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference. The three-day gathering focused on connectivity policy, digital infrastructure and innovation across the Middle East and North Africa.
- More than 10,000 participants attended from 100 countries and territories.
- MWC26 Doha took place alongside the opening days of ITU PP-26.
- The GSMA Ministerial Programme included 86 delegations.
- The event recorded 42 signed partnerships and announcements.
- MWC27 Barcelona is scheduled for March 1 to 4, 2027.
A joint setting for industry and policymakers
The event closed on November 11 after three days of plenary sessions, conferences and summits organised in partnership with Qatar's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, or MCIT.
MWC26 Doha ran in parallel with the first days of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, PP-26. The GSMA said this created a setting where policymakers and regulators could engage directly with business leaders, technology companies and investors.
Discussions examined how embedded intelligence, next-generation infrastructure and national digital strategies are shaping the Middle East and North Africa's role in the global connectivity ecosystem.
Senior participation and regional representation
The GSMA reported more than 10,000 unique participants from 100 countries and territories. Senior representation included 14% executives and 37% directors and above.
Participants from industries connected to the core mobile ecosystem accounted for 62% of attendance. The GSMA Ministerial Programme brought together 86 delegations, including 36 ministers and 34 heads of national regulatory authorities. In total, 74 countries and 12 intergovernmental organisations were represented.
The event featured 195 speakers across plenary sessions, summits and partner programmes. About 100 exhibitors, sponsors and partners took part in the exhibition alongside ITU PP-26.
Announcements and the next events
The dedicated announcements area recorded 42 signed partnerships and announcements. More than 220 journalists, content creators and industry analysts attended in person.
Sianne Ryder, CEO of Events and Industry Services at GSMA Ltd, said the simultaneous scheduling helped bring together the people setting the global digital agenda and those delivering connectivity through operators, technology companies and investment.
According to the GSMA, the partnerships established in Doha are intended to have an impact across the region and beyond. The organisation is now turning to MWC27 Barcelona, scheduled for March 1 to 4, 2027, with registration open. It also plans to welcome the region's connectivity ecosystem back to Doha from November 15 to 17, 2027.
For the regional technology sector, the event combined commercial networking and industry showcases with ministerial and regulatory discussions. The figures supplied by the GSMA show the scale of participation, while the co-location with ITU PP-26 connected those discussions with a wider international policy gathering.
