The fair dates back to the 1888 World's Fair, the first exhibition fair of Barcelona , which gave rise to the public work of the Parc de la Ciutadella. The city of Barcelona then learned that the organization of large-scale international events not only facilitates public works around town, but also bring to the city a multitude of visitors and international projection.

In 1929 the World Expo was organized, instigating the urbanization of the whole Plaça Espanya area and the construction of the pavilions where the Fira de Barcelona at Montjuic stands today. The 1929 Expo was also the pretext for the construction of the Barcelona Metro, first opened in 1924 and extended in 1926 with the service of the so-called “Metro Transversal” between the stations of La Bordeta y Catalunya (currently L1), thus connecting the city center to the exhibition grounds in Plaça Espanya.

The historic grounds at Plaça Espanya include the Palau de Congressos. The opening of the grounds at Gran Via (just 2,5 km from the previously existing area) consolidates the great expansion of the Fira de Barcelona and promotes the urban and economic transformation of the Zona Franca between Gran Via and Montjuic.

In the vicinity of the fairgrounds, some equally important development is also under way: Plaça Europa, La Ciutat de la Justicia (City of Justice ), La Ciutat Metropolitana ( Metropolitan City ), and El Pla de la Marina (The Marina Plan).

Every year Fira Barcelona holds over 150 fairs with 30,000 exhibitors and receives 3.5 million visitors, a fact which makes it one of the most important trade fairs in Europe . It hosts the majority of the largest industrial and professional fairs in Spain and it houses at least 15 of the most exemplary exhibition spaces in all of Europe.