The Lead Innovation Tour is an annual gathering of the Stanford GSB LEAD community, hosted each year in a different global innovation hub. It provides curated access to local ecosystems while fostering meaningful connections among global leaders.

LEAD participants ONLY - current and past.

The 2026 edition will take place in Barcelona from October 7 to October 9, 2026.
An optional extra pre-event experience will be held in Madrid on October 6.

To ensure a high-quality, curated experience, participation will be limited to 100 attendees.

Participants are alumni of the Stanford GSB LEAD program ONLY.

We apply a first in policy. Those who sign up first and pay the reservation fee are the first to get a spot.

LEAD-only channels:
Workvivo: https://stanford.workvivo.us/spaces/98886/feed
Contact: info@leadinnovationtour.com to join the WhatsApp Group.

Public channels:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lead-innovation-tour
Website: https://leadinnovationtour.com

Day 1 – “Choose Your Adventure & The Summit” Welcome Summit featuring the Catalan Government, @22 President, and Stanford GSB Faculty Peter DeMarzo.

Day 2 – “Deep Dive & Vision” Short and Sharp Innovation stories built in the Barcelona Creative Core. Time to Reflect, Interact & Play. Engage with Barcelona’s Innovation Pulse: Track Taste. Fundació Èpica – La Fura dels Baus: How theatre, creativity, and human performance accelerate cutting-edge scientific research. Gala Dinner.

Day 3 – “Focused Exploration” Choose a specific company track- 1) Science; 2) Technology; 3) Creative Futures; across the city. Final Gala Dinner.

All participants will gather for the Welcome Summit. More info will be shared via the agenda.

Participants will join one of three thematic tracks:
● DeepTech Track (led by David)
● Bio & Pharma Track (led by Alejandro)
● Creative Future Track (led by Dominik)

Each track offers curated interactive visits and discussions tailored to its theme. Gala dinner for all participants at a great location.

Yes. Track selection will be required in advance due to capacity constraints. Selection opens in September.

Yes—an optional extra Madrid pre-track (October 6th) led by Emilie and Antonio. Activities on the theme of “Sustainability” in the morning. After lunch: time to travel to Barcelona.
Details on logistics and pricing to be shared separately. Stay updated on Workvivo!

Registration opened Friday 29 May at 8am PDT / 5pm CEST: LEAD participants.
Buy your tickets here: https://www.eventglint.com/e/barcelona/lead-innovation-tour-barcelona-2026-922580

The fee is €499.

● Curated sessions and speakers
● Company visits and immersive experiences
● Selected meals (including Welcome Dinner & Gala Dinners)
● Organized activities

Travel and accommodation are not included.

Cancellations and ‘no shows’ – refunds will only be issued for cancellations given by Tuesday, June 30 2026.

We are absorbing the Stripe processing fee. Therefore, if you cancel within the eligible refund period, the Stripe charges incurred for both the original registration and the refund transaction will be deducted from the refunded amount.

If you need to cancel, you are welcome to transfer your ticket to another LEADer. However, we will not be responsible for finding a replacement, especially for cancellations made after June 30. If you decide to cancel your ticket, please notify us at info@leadinnovationtour.com

Yes. Given the limited capacity (100 participants), early registration is strongly recommended.

Spain is part of the Schengen Area. Requirements vary by nationality.

● Schengen visa policy (European Commission)
● Spain entry requirements (Ministry of Interior)
● To request a letter, email info@leadinnovationtour.com

Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN).

Yes. Preferred rates with 2–3 selected hotels in central Barcelona are communicated via the Stanford LEAD Innovation Tour Channels on WhatsApp and Workvivo.

Recommended areas:

● Eixample (central & well connected)
● El Born / Gothic Quarter (historic & vibrant)
● Gràcia (local & relaxed)
● See updates on Workvivo.

Barcelona has an extensive and efficient network of metro, buses, trams and local trains. For most journeys during the Innovation Tour, public transport or walking will be the easiest options.

For the more adventurous, cycling is also a great way to move around Barcelona, with an extensive network of bike lanes. Donkey Republic and Cooltra are two convenient app-based options for renting bikes or e-bikes around the city.

Google Maps / City Mapper and the official TMB App are useful for planning routes, checking public transport options and getting real-time information.

For most participants staying in the city center, Eixample or Poblenou, we recommend either:

• Taxi – the easiest door-to-door option, particularly if you are travelling with luggage. Official Barcelona taxis are black and yellow, they are available outside both terminals, and they operate on a meter, with a minimum airport fare of €21.
• Public transport – the Aerobús is particularly convenient for the city center and Eixample, while metro and train connections are also available depending on where you are staying.

We recommend checking Google Maps / City Mapper for the best public transport route to your specific accommodation.

If you expect to use public transport regularly during your stay, these are the most useful options:

• Hola Barcelona Travel Card – unlimited public transport for 2–5 days and includes metro travel to/from the airport.
• T-casual – 10 journeys and a good option if you expect to use public transport only occasionally. Please note that the T-casual is not valid at the Aeroport T1 and AeroportT2 metro stations.

Barcelona has an extensive network of official black-and-yellow taxis, which you can hail on the street or find at taxi ranks. For booking through an app, we recommend FREENOW, which is widely used in Barcelona and allows you to book an official city taxi directly from your phone.
Uber and Cabify (founded by Stanford alumni) also operate in Barcelona and are useful alternatives.

Transport will be organized for specific parts of the programme where required. For other journeys, participants may be asked to walk or use public transport or taxis.

Exact addresses, meeting points and any specific transportation instructions will be included in the daily agenda. Please check the agenda carefully each day and allow some extra travel time during morning and evening rush hours.

Barcelona typically offers pleasant autumn conditions:

● Daytime: 20–25°C (68–77°F)
● Evening: 15–18°C (59–64°F)
● Mostly sunny with occasional light rain

● Smart casual attire
● Comfortable walking shoes
● Light jacket or blazer
● Optional formal/business attire for the gala

Yes, though the official program is reserved for LEAD participants.

Highly recommended—Barcelona offers a rich mix of culture, gastronomy, and leisure.

Official Barcelona tourism website

Contact the Stanford LEAD Innovation Tour team:

Email: info@leadinnovationtour.com
Website: https://leadinnovationtour.com/

Share them here: https://stanford.workvivo.us/spaces/98886/questions/6996

Review the notes and recording of the 20 May live session introducing the Stanford LEAD Innovation Tour in Barcelona here:
https://stanford.workvivo.us/comments/update/59782994