The Connection Project: Why do we struggle to connect, even when we want to?

What if you walked into an event where meeting someone new was part of the experience? Join us for an interactive evening exploring why connecting with new people can feel so difficult, what different communities do to bring people together, and whether we can intentionally create environments where meaningful connections are more likely to happen. Expect a presentation of The Connection Project—including the results and learnings from the social experiment conducted at Norrsken Barcelona—a live conversation with panelists from different communities, fun connection challenges, a welcome drink, and a relaxed tardeo with music and time to socialize—where the experiment continues. Part of Barcelona4Impact 2026 This event is part of Barcelona4Impact, a city-wide week bringing together events and organizations across Barcelona around impact and innovation. From October 9–16, universities, entrepreneurs, investors, public institutions, innovation hubs, and communities across the city come together to exchange ideas, create connections, and contribute to a more positive future. We join communities because we want to meet people, share experiences, and feel part of something. Yet even when surrounded by people who want the same thing, taking the first step can still be surprisingly difficult. The Connection Project started with a simple experiment at Norrsken Barcelona: could small, intentional actions make it easier for strangers to connect? What began with an invitation to “come say hello” evolved into an ongoing field experiment exploring the invisible barriers between strangers and what happens when we intentionally try to lower them. During the evening, we'll share what happened throughout the experiment, what we learned along the way, and some of the unexpected ripple effects created by those first interactions. We'll also bring together panelists with perspectives from different communities to explore what makes communities work: How do they welcome newcomers? What helps people feel that they belong? What makes it easier to take that first step? And what can we learn from communities that successfully bring people together? But this won't be a traditional panel where you simply listen. Through conversation, audience participation, and a live social experiment, you'll have the opportunity to experience some of these ideas yourself. The evening: Welcome drink & mingling Presentation of The Connection Project, its results & learnings Interactive conversation with panelists from different communities Connection challenges & live social experiment Tardeo with music, drinks, and time to continue the connections you started What makes us feel like we belong? What makes the first hello easier? And can we intentionally create environments where connection is more likely to happen? Come curious. Meet someone you wouldn't normally meet. Discover how different communities create connection—and leave with a few new connections of your own.