SIMA 2026 Living Conference Expo (IFEMA)

SIMA, the Madrid real-estate fair now branded as the Living Conference & Expo, opened at IFEMA Madrid on May 20 and runs through Saturday, May 23, according to IFEMA and the event organizer. The event brings together developers, investors, public administrations, advisory firms, construction companies, lenders and proptech groups around Spain’s residential market and newer “living” formats such as flex living and senior housing. Organizers describe SIMA as Spain’s reference event for the residential sector and say the conference program this year focuses on affordable housing, investment, technology, asset classes and international markets. ### When is the fair actually open, and what is happening on the last day? IFEMA Madrid lists SIMA 2026 from May 20 to May 23 at its fairgrounds, while the event’s visitor page says SIMA Expo and SIMA Invest run from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. each day in Hall 4. The professional conference program, branded SIMAPRO and SIMA Tech, ran May 20-22, with the May 22 sessions ending at 3:00 p.m., according to the organizer. Saturday, May 23, leaves the exhibition floor and investor-facing areas as the main public-facing parts of the event. (ifema.es) The fair’s own materials say the venue is Hall 4 at IFEMA Madrid, with the South Entrance listed for access. ### What kind of housing and property business is SIMA built around? SIMA says it is focused on the residential and living sector rather than the broader commercial property market. The organizer’s English and Spanish pages say the event connects private buyers, professional investors and companies around new residential supply, affordable housing and related services. (ifema.es) Madrid’s tourism office says general visitors can use the fair to review options for a first home, replacement housing, vacation property in Spain or abroad, and residential investment opportunities. (simaexpo.com) The same listing says the event also includes financing and other housing-related services. The conference side is organized around five tracks. SIMA says those tracks cover investment, affordable housing, technological innovation, asset classes and international markets. (simaexpo.com) ### Which numbers tell you the scale of this year’s edition? SIMA’s main event page says the 2026 edition is presenting more than 350 exhibitors and partners, more than 200 speakers, participation from 35 countries, and more than 21,000 visitors overall, including 8,500 professionals and investors. (esmadrid.com) IFEMA repeats the same headline figures on its event page. FIABCI, the international real-estate federation, said in an April 27 item about the event that the 2025 edition drew 21,000 attendees, 350 exhibitors, 5,000 represented companies and 200 speakers, figures it said set the stage for a more international 2026 edition. (simaexpo.com) That language indicates the organizer is using last year’s attendance base as a benchmark while promoting this year’s event. ### Who is showing up on the floor? (simaexpo.com) SIMA’s participating-companies page lists exhibitors and partners ranging from ASPRIMA, CBRE and Century 21 España to CASAFARI, Centro Tecnológico del Notariado and the Ayuntamiento de Madrid. The directory also shows a Dominican Republic presence through companies and stands tied to the guest-country program. IFEMA says the represented sectors include developers, investors, consultants, construction groups, financial institutions and proptech companies. (fiabci.org) The event registration page also breaks the fair into SIMA Expo, SIMA Invest, SIMA Tech and SIMAPRO, separating residential offer, private-investor services, technology and professional networking. ### Why does affordable housing keep appearing in the program? SIMA’s official description says the event is designed to connect supply, capital and demand in the residential market, with affordable housing named as one of the central themes. (simaexpo.com) The SIMAPRO program page highlights a session on “Affordable Housing & Private Investment,” describing a discussion on the role of private and institutional capital, developers, financiers and governments in expanding affordable housing. (ifema.es) Santiago Herreros de Tejada, managing partner at SIMA, said in FIABCI’s April item that the event had become a place where “global capital, innovation and new residential models come together.” FIABCI’s write-up said housing remains under pressure in many markets because of supply constraints, demographics, affordability and regulation. ### What is the international angle this year? The Dominican Republic is the guest country at SIMA 2026, according to SIMA, IFEMA and Madrid’s tourism office. (simaexpo.com) Organizer materials say the country’s presence includes a dedicated space for strategic projects and information on its fiscal and legal framework for attracting residential and tourism investment. SIMA says delegations from 35 countries are participating and that it has partnerships with international organizations including ULI, RICS, FIABCI, CEPI and the Miami Association of Realtors. (fiabci.org) FIABCI’s April item also said pan-European living-focused funds and asset managers were expected to attend. Saturday, May 23, is the last day of SIMA 2026 at Hall 4 of IFEMA Madrid, according to the organizer’s visitor page. The same page says participating companies and visitor access details remain available through the event’s online directory and registration system. (simaexpo.com) (simaexpo.com) (fiabci.org)