The 3rd edition of the Madrid Investment Forum took place over three days in the capital and five municipalities across the region, bringing together companies, investors, institutions and economic stakeholders to explore investment opportunities and consolidate the region’s position as an economic powerhouse in Spain and one of the leading destinations for attracting foreign investment.
This was confirmed by President of the Madrid Region Isabel Díaz Ayuso during the opening session at Forbes House, where she announced that the Madrid economy grew by 3% over the past year, four tenths of a percentage point above Spain as a whole (2.6%) and three times the growth recorded in the euro area (1%), according to data from the Regional Accounts for the second quarter of 2026. These figures consolidate the region’s position as Spain’s economic powerhouse, accounting for 19.8% of the country’s total GDP. This dynamism is also reflected in the labour market, with 3,871,993 people registered with Social Security in August, the highest figure ever recorded for this month.
The forum continued in Valdemoro, Tres Cantos, Villanueva de la Cañada and Villaconejos, and concluded in Alcalá de Henares with the presentation of the Madrid, a Destination for Investment and Entrepreneurship awards and the closing session led by Rocío Albert, Minister for Economy, Finance and Employment of the Madrid Region. Albert highlighted that the Madrid Region leads Spain in terms of foreign-owned companies, with more than 15,500 and 43.5% of the national total. She attributed this leadership to economic freedom, legal certainty and an attractive tax system with no regional taxes of its own and the lowest personal income tax rate in the country. “We are talking about an economy that is no longer conceived from the centre outwards, but is distributed from the outset across all its municipalities,” she said.
This is complemented by the region’s role as a natural bridge between Europe and Latin America, from which €7.863 billion has arrived since 2019, accounting for three out of every four euros invested nationally. In this context, the work of Invest in Madrid, the regional agency responsible for attracting and supporting international investment projects, is key, generating a return of €549 for every euro received. In 2025 alone, the agency helped bring 77 projects to fruition, mobilising €1.099 billion and creating more than 2,000 jobs.
Throughout the three-day event, the forum featured the participation of Mercedes Zarzalejo, Minister for Education, Science and Universities of the Madrid Region; Carlos Novillo, Minister for Environment, Agriculture and Interior; Fátima Matute, Minister for Health; Miguel Ángel García Martín, Minister for the Presidency, Justice and Local Administration; Miguel López-Valverde, Minister for Digitalisation; and Ana Dávila, Minister for Family, Youth and Social Affairs. The programme also featured discussions on Digitalisation, Defence, Healthcare Innovation, Housing, Logistics and the reconstruction of the Sierra Oeste, among other topics.
The 2026 Madrid Investment Forum generated a number of significant headlines, including:
- The Madrid Region is Spain’s economic powerhouse, accounting for 19.8% of the country’s total GDP. This dynamism is reflected in the labour market, with 3,871,993 people registered with Social Security in August, the highest figure ever recorded for this month.
- 138,115 new jobs have been created over the past year, representing an increase of 3.7%, six tenths of a percentage point above the national figure, equivalent to 378 new jobs every day.
- Nearly 700,000 people work for companies linked to foreign investment in the Madrid Region.
- The Madrid Region has mobilised €126 million under the Sierra Oeste Reconstruction Plan, with 90% of the 50 measures already implemented.
- The Madrid Region leads Spain in the number of foreign-owned companies, with 15,548, representing 43.5% of the national total.
- The Madrid Region is home to 22% of Spain’s pharmaceutical companies, which choose the region for its favourable investment environment.
- The Madrid Region accounts for more than 40% of Spain’s protected housing stock and will expand the Plan Vive with 2,500 new homes, particularly aimed at people under 35, bringing the total number of homes launched during the current legislative term to 16,500.