Here is what’s on our radar for Mobile World Congress, between the show’s official daily agenda and evening events.

Saturday, February 24 to Wednesday, February 28 

GSMA’s Meet & Eat / Networking Events and Lounges
Time: Feb. 24; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. / Feb. 25; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. / Feb. 26-28; 12 to 9 p.m. All times are Central European Time Zone (CET).
Location: plaça d’Europa, within walking distance from the south entrance to de Fira Gran Via Venue, next to the L9 and FFCC (Fira-Europa) stations (Map)

GSMA, the trade organization that puts on MWC, has organized a “Meet & Eat” experience to give attendees the opportunity to network or plop with their laptops outside while experiencing Catalonian culture and culinary delights. There will also be music and other performances throughout each day.

The GSMA has also arranged 10 networking events by brands like Oath, Citi and Visa from Monday to Wednesday. Each will feature complimentary food, drinks and entertainment in a relaxed environment. There are four separate networking lounges.

Sunday, February 25

MWC won’t officially begin until Monday, but apparently Samsung didn’t get the memo—the electronics manufacturer has all but confirmed it will announce its flagship phones, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus, during an event it’s orchestrating a day before show doors open.

Mobile Lunch
Time: Not available
Location: Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, Plaça de les Arts (Map)

For the third consecutive year, Mobile World Capital Barcelona is organizing a lunch designed to unite companies, entrepreneurs and SMEs to share and explore business opportunities and ideas around mobile marketplaces.

Monday, February 26 

What You Need To Know: Augmented Advertising
Location: Hall 8.0 NEXTech, NEXTech Lab
Time: 1:30 to 2 p.m. CET

The rise of smartphone users and their desire for mobile entertainment has ushered in a new era of mobile advertising. It’s also led brands to increasingly develop augmented advertising experiences. This session will aim to explain how AR experiences lead to higher viewability, engagement and brand lift than traditional advertising.

Tuesday, February 27

How To Build A 21st Century Mobile-Always Brand
Location: Hall 8.0 NEXTech Theatre C
Time: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CET

Its fourth time running the event, the Interactive Advertising Bureau and dmexco will lead conversation around mobile marketing, cross-screen consumer engagement and new revenue streams for AI and the IoT-connected home. Other topics include storytelling innovation in OTT, brand safety on mobile, cross-platform addressability and mobile-to-offline retail experiences.

Women In Mobile
Location:La Bonne, Sant Pere Més Baix 7 (Map)
Time: 7:30 to 11 p.m.

This year’s female-focused event focuses on “personalization based on AI” and will feature panel discussions around how AI-based products deliver what users really want, handing out the Women in Mobile 2018 Award and a networking party to cap of the night.

Wednesday, February 28

CMO Summit
Location: Hall 8.0 NEXTech Theatre D
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

The day-long affair will feature 37 speakers and have multiple sessions and partner events, aiming to offer CMOs a wealth of opportunities to learn from peers and engage in discussion. Key marketing themes include maximizing exposure, protecting the brand, embracing AI, utilizing networks, creating a personalized context for audiences and staying within regulation. 

VR/AR Association Dinner
Location: H10 Casa Mimosa, Pau Claris, 179 (Map)
Time: 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. CET 

May be best for those first dipping their toes into immersive technology. Dinner is served with insights and discussion about VR and AR trends and issues affecting companies, projects and roles.

Thursday, March 1

Gamelab Mobile
Location: Hall 8.0 NEXTech Theatre B
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

This one-day, gaming-oriented summit brings mobile gaming leaders to discuss trends, opportunities and the convergence of entertainment, technology and media. Sessions will be divided into mobile gaming, mobile esports, player content, mobile VR and AR and how what prospects 5G, data, cloud gaming and IoT present. 

YoMo: The Youth Mobile Festival
Location: La Farga de L’Hospitalet, Carrer de Barcelona, 2 (Map)
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CET (Monday to Thursday)

If you’re a brand considering STEM as part of a larger marketing strategy and looking inspire the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers and designers to succeed in an increasingly mobile world while you’re at it, then join over 15,000 students and educators from across Catalonia at The Youth Mobile Festival.