Spannabis 2026: Europe’s Biggest Cannabis Fair Moves to Bilbao

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Spannabis is Europe’s largest and oldest cannabis fair. Born in Barcelona in 2002, it has grown over more than two decades into a unmissable event for everyone who works in or is passionate about the world of cannabis: growers, researchers, industry professionals, genetics enthusiasts, CBD experts and curious visitors from every corner of the planet.

With its 22nd edition held in March 2025, Spannabis closed a historic chapter. From 2026, the fair moves to Bilbao, opening a new era for the most important cannabis event on the European continent.

In this article we cover everything: the history, what you’ll find inside, the numbers, the farewell to Barcelona and what to expect from the next edition at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre.

What is Spannabis: Europe’s Largest Cannabis Fair

Spannabis is not a simple trade show. It is an ecosystem: three days where exhibitions, competitions, scientific conferences, product launches and networking come together, bringing the main players of the European and global cannabis industry under one roof.

The name blends Spain and cannabis, and already tells you everything about its identity: an event born in Spain, in a city — Barcelona — that over the years became the unofficial European capital of cannabis culture, home to over 200 cannabis social clubs and a legal framework that decriminalises personal possession and use.

Across its 22 editions, Spannabis became the go-to reference point for:

Seed banks — the world’s leading seedbanks present their latest genetics and exclusive collaborations.

Grow shops and substrate producers — fertilisers, substrates, indoor and outdoor cultivation systems.

Laboratories and CBD companies — extracts, isolates, full spectrum products, cosmetics and nutraceuticals based on cannabinoids.

Vaporisers and accessories — the sector’s most innovative brands showcase their latest hardware releases.

Research and medicine — through the World Cannabis Conference, which runs alongside the fair, Spannabis is also a forum for scientific debate among doctors, researchers and legal experts.

The History of Spannabis: From Barcelona to the World

The first edition of Spannabis was held in 2002 in Barcelona. From the very beginning, the choice of city was no coincidence: Catalonia had developed one of Europe’s most vibrant cannabis scenes, with a culture deeply rooted in social clubs and an institutional tolerance that made Barcelona unique across the continent.

From the second edition onwards, the fair found its home at the Fira de Cornellà, the exhibition complex in the satellite city of Cornellà de Llobregat, in the Barcelona metropolitan area. A venue that over the years became an integral part of Spannabis’s very identity.

Year after year, the event grew exponentially: more exhibitors, more nationalities represented, more visitors, more international media coverage. Until it became, in the eyes of many industry observers, the most influential cannabis event in the world alongside the North American High Times Cannabis Cup.

The Numbers of the 2025 Edition: A Farewell in Record-Breaking Style

The final Barcelona edition, held from 14 to 16 March 2025, broke every record in the fair’s history. Despite the harsh weather — cold, rain and the smoke-filled pavilions that had become something of a tradition — the final numbers exceeded all expectations.

Over 25,000 attendees from 50 different nationalities passed through the gates of the Fira de Cornellà over three days. The direct economic impact on the city of Cornellà exceeded 8 million euros, confirming the real weight of the event on the local economy.

On the exhibition side, more than 500 companies were present: seedbanks, grow shops, testing laboratories, CBD producers, nutraceutical companies, vaporiser and accessories brands. A complete cross-section of everything the cannabis sector had to offer in 2025.

As Raúl del Pino, Spannabis spokesperson, put it: “Cornellà gave us everything. It was our home and there we grew to become the epicentre of the sector in Europe. We leave with gratitude, but also with enthusiasm for what lies ahead.”

The Spannabis Champions Cup: The Competitive Heart of the Fair

One of the most anticipated parts of every edition is the Spannabis Champions Cup — the competition that rewards the best cannabis varieties and the best extractions presented by exhibitors.

This year marks the 20th edition of the Cup, with the awards ceremony taking place on Friday 17 April 2026 at 7:00 PM in the World Cannabis Conference hall. The Champions Cup has become one of the most coveted recognitions in the cannabis genetics sector. Winning — or even reaching the finals — carries significant weight for any seedbank or extract producer, with a direct impact on their reputation and global sales.

Goodbye Barcelona: Why Spannabis Is Leaving Catalonia

The news of the move surprised — and in many cases saddened — the entire European cannabis community. On 6 March 2025, just days before the opening of the last Barcelona edition, the organisers sent an official email to all exhibitors announcing the end of the Catalan era.

The reason is practical but final: the Fira de Cornellà will be demolished in 2026 as part of an urban regeneration plan. And no other venue in the Barcelona metropolitan area has the architectural and logistical capacity needed to host an event of Spannabis’s scale without compromising operational quality.

The decision was not taken lightly. Barcelona had built a unique ecosystem around the fair: the city’s cannabis social clubs, its bars and restaurants, the cannabis tourism that developed throughout the event week. A context that is very difficult to replicate elsewhere.

Spannabis 2026: A New Chapter in Bilbao

The 23rd edition of Spannabis will be held on 17, 18 and 19 April 2026 at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC), located in Barakaldo, Biscay, in the Basque Country of northern Spain. This marks the first ever edition held outside Catalonia in the fair’s entire history.

The BEC is not an unknown venue: Bilbao had already hosted a smaller version of Spannabis in 2024, with a positive reception that likely influenced the final decision. The complex covers a total area of over 150,000 m² across various pavilions and multifunctional spaces, designed to handle massive visitor flows and large-scale trade show setups, with cutting-edge infrastructure, a dining area, parking, Wi-Fi and rest areas throughout.

The venue change also brings a calendar shift: from March to April, with the hope of better weather conditions compared to the historically cold and rainy Barcelona editions.

The 15th edition of the World Cannabis Conference (WCC) will run across all three fair days in the conference hall of the Spannabis pavilion. This edition’s programme covers cannabis activism and rights, political regulation in Spain, medical cannabis and access to medicines, the CBD market and psychedelics. As a professional preview, the C-Days 2026 will take place on Wednesday 16 April at the UPV/EHU university, diving deep into academic and cutting-edge industry topics.

Practical Information: Spannabis 2026 at a Glance

Venue: Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC), Hall 1 — Ronda de Azkue 1, Barakaldo, Biscay, Spain.

Dates: Friday 17, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April 2026.

Opening hours: Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM. Sunday 11:00 AM – 7:30 PM. Ticket office opens at 10:30 AM.

Tickets: 1-day ticket €20 (early bird €19) — single entry only, re-entry not permitted. 3-day pass €45 (early bird €43) — wristband must be worn throughout the entire event.

Age limit: 18+ only. Valid ID required at entry. Tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable unless the event is cancelled.

Frequently Asked Questions About Spannabis

When is Spannabis 2026?

Spannabis 2026 takes place on 17, 18 and 19 April 2026 at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC), Barakaldo, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain.

Is Spannabis open to the general public or trade only?

Spannabis is open to both. General public tickets and professional accreditations for industry operators are both available. Entry is restricted to those aged 18 and over. Check the official website spannabis.es for the latest ticketing information.

What will you find at Spannabis?

Exhibitors from every category of the cannabis sector: seedbanks with the latest genetics, grow shops, fertiliser producers, CBD companies, testing laboratories, vaporiser and accessories brands. Running alongside the exhibition is the World Cannabis Conference with international speakers and panel discussions.

Can you buy cannabis at Spannabis?

No. Spannabis is a commercial and cultural trade fair, not a marketplace. It is not possible to buy or consume cannabis inside the event. You can purchase seeds, legal CBD products, accessories and much more.

Why did Spannabis move from Barcelona to Bilbao?

The fair’s historic venue, the Fira de Cornellà, will be demolished in 2026. The organisers could not find any other venue in the Barcelona metropolitan area with the necessary capacity to host an event of this size. The choice fell on the Bilbao Exhibition Centre — modern, spacious and already familiar with Spannabis after hosting a smaller edition in 2024.

Will Barcelona still have cannabis events after Spannabis leaves?

Yes. Barcelona’s cannabis scene — with its 200+ social clubs — will continue to exist independently of the fair. Many industry insiders expect that the city’s informal “smoke week” will keep attracting enthusiasts even without Spannabis as its centrepiece.