Pablo Serrano: what to expect at FESPA Global Print Expo 2026

We look forward to this year’s FESPA Global Print Expo in Barcelona with Pablo Serrano, secretary general of the host association, FESPA España.

With almost three decades of experience as FESPA España’s secretary general, Pablo Serrano has been to his fair share of conferences and trade shows. But it’s true to say that this year’s FESPA Global Print Expo in Barcelona (19–22 May ) will be something a little different – and a little extra special.

“With the FESPA Global Print Expo happening here in Barcelona, this year will really put FESPA España in the spotlight. That is great for our members and other people involved in visual communication here in Spain, but it’s also exciting because we are going to receive a lot of visitors who wouldn’t usually go to the more northern European countries that typically host the show,” Pablo says.

“It’s fascinating, first, to have the opportunity to speak about the subject that interests us all – visual communication – but it’s also exciting to host colleagues from other countries because it allows us to highlight what we do here in our own country.”

While Pablo modestly says most of the important work organising the FESPA Global Print Expo 2026 is done at FESPA’s headquarters in the UK, there is still no shortage of actions that have to be done in the host city. Especially as, this year, FESPA España is taking steps to maximise the opportunities that come with having the eyes of the print world upon it.

“With the exhibition being in Barcelona, FESPA has been very generous and offered us a large booth space – which we are working in cooperation with our members to design and create – and we also want to do something slightly different,” Pablo says.

“We have proposed to FESPA, and they are very happy with the idea, that we will organise an accompanying conference in Spanish. We have been in contact with a number of speakers in Spain, in order to put on this conference during the FESPA Global Print Expo.

“The other role that we at FESPA España have is to effectively promote the exhibition. We have made a special effort to involve the entire Spanish visual communication sector, including organisations that aren’t necessarily directly related to FESPA’s work, as well as regional organisations such as printers’ associations in Catalonia, Madrid, and southern Spain. Through FESPA…