MWC Barcelona 2026: All the new tech, phones, wearables and AI we expect to see

Every year, just when we see the first signs of spring, CNET heads to Barcelona for Mobile World Congress.

This is the world’s most important mobile phone show, and one of the most exciting events on the technology calendar. This year we’ll be sending out a bigger team to bring you all the news from the show as it happens.

It’s set to be a wealth of new phones and wearables, with the odd robot thrown in for good measure. Certainly, some of the fun technology we see at MWC He never goes out into the wider worldbut we’ve also seen some of our most beloved tech debut at the show over the years — so expect a little bit of both.

Big topics are set to include AI and 6G, and with keynotes from SpaceX and Qualcomm, we’ll no doubt get a powerful glimpse into the future of mobile. With Gemini in everything and satellite dominance on the horizon, it’s an exciting time for the industry.

Here’s more of what we expect to see.

What are the key dates for MWC?

MWC 2026 is scheduled to take place from March 2-5, though we’ll be in town a couple of days early to report on some of the big launch events scheduled for this weekend. Don’t miss Xiaomi’s launch event on February 28 and Honor’s event in March. 1.

How to watch along

No matter how far away from Spain you live, there’s no need to feel like you’re missing out. The best place to get the latest MWC news is on our CNET live blog.

We’ve been attending this show for decades (by the way, this is the 20th year of MWC in Barcelona), and we have a team of experienced reporters and reviewers on the ground.

We’ll show you everything we think is interesting and important, and we don’t just admire new products from afar. We’re touching it, adjusting it, and trying not to drop it, so be sure to follow us through Bluesky, Instagram, Tik Tok, X and YouTubealso.

What phones are expected at MWC 2026?

Over the past few years, Chinese phone makers have dominated MWC, and it looks like 2026 will be no different.

The phone’s first big launch event is scheduled for 6 a.m. PT on Saturday, February 28, when we expect Xiaomi to unveil its latest camera-focused flagship. We loved it Xiaomi 15 Ultraand the 14 Ultra before it, so we’re excited to see what the company has in store for us. A teaser image hints at its partnership with premium camera brand Leica and promises a “new wave of photography.”

Then, we have Honor on Sunday, March 1, when the company said it would unveil its Magic V6, alongside the MagicPad 4 and MagicBook Pro 14. Perhaps most excitingly, Honor said it would give us a first glimpse at a working version of its Robot Phone, and will also reveal a humanoid robot at its event.

For other phone makers, MWC will likely be a triumph for their existing devices — especially Samsung, which held its own event in San Francisco this week to unveil the flagship phone. S26 series. Motorola will be in town, likely showing off its products Razrwhich like Samsung Galaxy Tri Foldnot many have been seen yet in Europe.

All in all, MWC 2026 is likely to be a big show Foldable phoneswhich, according to Ben Wood, CMO and senior analyst at CCS Insight, “is now a completely mature category.”

Another major trend in phones is likely to be a focus on batteries, especially silicon- and carbon-based technology, Wood said at an MWC preview session. He added: “We expect to see phones with some of the largest batteries we have seen in a long time, while offering fast charging – perhaps 300 watts.”

What other technologies are expected at MWC 2026?

After the early failures of the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1, we’re seeing more companies moving to jump on the wearable AI bandwagon. We expect to see a number of devices and demos appear at MWC – perhaps we’ll try to beat them OpenAI and Jony Ive Punch.

This will include glasses based on artificial intelligence and augmented reality, Ben Hatton, a CCS Insight analyst, said during the company’s briefing. “We expect to see a large number of glasses on offer this year, not just from Meta, but also from smaller players, (such as) TCL and Oppo, who are looking to get a slice of the pie,” he said.

One of the main challenges these companies face is differentiation, Hatton said. “Ultimately, there is still a long way to go before these products are generally on the market,” he added, noting that at this point, compelling use cases are still a bit thin on the ground.

It’s been two years since Samsung launched the Galaxy Ring at MWC, and smart rings have been fairly thin on the ground since then — although Oura CEO Tom Hill He is scheduled to speak at the show. We don’t necessarily expect to see any new episodes this year, but there’s always an outside chance.

A large number of new laptops and tablets are likely to appear. They rarely get top billing at MWC, but we’ll be keeping an eye on the more exciting launches. It’s also likely to feature some interesting concepts from the likes of Lenovo and Samsung Display, which are responsible for the technology behind the new display. Galaxy S26 UltraScene stealing View privacy.

Big Topics: AI, 6G and beyond

It’s no surprise here that AI is, of course, a major topic at MWC. Over the past few years, Google has dominated the AI ​​conversation at the event by showcasing Gemini’s capabilities and widespread integration. Will this year be different? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean the AI ​​conversation has stopped.

We expect to see more sophisticated AI agents integrated more deeply into wearable devices, delivering live translation, more actionable health insights, and more personalized experiences. Some of the biggest players in the AI ​​game will be present, including Nvidia and Qualcomm, on the hardware side. They’ve probably saved some exciting announcements to show, and hopefully they have some exciting demos for us to try.

Turn the clock back a decade, and everyone was talking about 5G and the huge difference it would make to our lives. Now that 5G is old news, we’re looking forward to 6G. Most discussions about 6G so far have focused on its impact on the industry, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to get excited about.

At the Web Summit in November Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon told me 6G will make our phones faster than ever and connect us to an “always-on sensor network.” This can include wearables, smart devices, cars, and even robots. No doubt Amon will elaborate on this topic further during his keynote at MWC, which revolves around 6G and AI.

Another theme that is likely to be prevalent at the exhibition is the role of satellites in enhancing network connectivity. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell will be on stage to talk about Starlink, and all of the world’s largest carriers will have their own booths where they’ll show us what they’re doing to take advantage of the latest networking technology.