Eight heads of state from around the world will attend the Global Progressive Mobilisation summit in Barcelona on April 17-18, 2026, convened by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to coordinate a response to the rise of far-right politics internationally.
The summit, described as the most ambitious effort yet to build a common response from socialism, trade unions and civil society across dozens of countries, will also host the VI Meeting in Defence of Democracy, featuring the presidents of Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Colombia and Spain, along with former Chilean president Gabriel Boric.
Attendees include Latin American leaders Gustavo Petro of Colombia, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico and Yamandú Orsi of Uruguay, alongside South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and former Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven.
More than 3,000 participants from across the globe are expected at the Fira de Barcelona venue, with organisers aiming for the event to be the first step in building a lasting political community beyond national borders.
The summit’s agenda covers democracy defence, technology regulation, social cohesion, equality and climate change, driven by the Socialist International, Spain’s PSE and the Progressive Alliance, with Sánchez and Lula as primary drivers.
The participant list also features British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Filipina Nobel laureate Maria Ressa, Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and Italian Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein.
In parallel, Sánchez and Lula will hold a bilateral summit today to sign agreements on economy, technology and innovation, marking a face-to-face meeting between Spain, and Brazil.
Claudia Sheinbaum’s presence as president marks her first appearance at such a gathering, reflecting improved relations between Spain and Mexico after years of friction.
The event has drawn criticism from Spain’s far-right Foro Madrid alliance, which labelled it a “grotesque apotheosis” of Sánchez amid allegations he is exploiting his clashes with Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu over the Iran war for political gain while facing corruption allegations.
Analysts note the summit seeks to advance alternative forms of global integration in a geopolitical context where the United States, as the world’s largest power, is perceived to be leading the planet into war while pursuing unprecedented militarisation in the Caribbean.
The organisers stress that the concrete outcome of the summit will be the relationships forged, arguing that trust must be built before joint action can occur, and such gatherings provide indispensable opportunities to create a transnational political community.
What are the main topics to be discussed at the summit?
The agenda includes the defence of democracy, regulation of technology, social cohesion, equality and climate change.
Who are the key leaders driving the summit?
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are identified as the main motors behind the Mobilisation.