22 April, 2026
The European Respiratory Society (ERS) has officially unveiled the central theme for its highly anticipated 2026 Congress, set to take place in Barcelona, Spain, from 5–9 September. Under the banner “United for better breathing: partnership between patients, clinicians and researchers,” the society is signaling a definitive shift in the landscape of respiratory medicine—moving away from traditional top-down clinical models toward a paradigm of co-design and shared expertise.
This year’s theme is not merely a slogan; it represents a strategic evolution for the ERS. While the Congress will continue to provide its signature, all-encompassing coverage of the full breadth of respiratory specialties—from interstitial lung diseases and oncology to sleep-disordered breathing and pediatric pulmonology—the core narrative of the 2026 event will center on the symbiotic relationship between those who treat, those who study, and those who live with respiratory conditions.
Main Facts: The Blueprint for Barcelona 2026
The ERS Congress remains the world’s largest gathering of respiratory professionals, and the 2026 edition promises to be its most inclusive yet. By prioritizing "genuine co-design," the ERS is ensuring that patient involvement is not a post-script or a secondary track, but an foundational element of the scientific program.
Key components of the 2026 Congress will include:
- Enhanced Patient Presence: A record number of sessions will feature patient speakers, advocates, and representatives.
- Co-Developed Programming: In collaboration with the European Lung Foundation (ELF), the program has been curated to reflect patient priorities, ensuring that abstract reviews and session selections are informed by the lived experience of those navigating respiratory illness.
- Dedicated Community Spaces: The return of the “World Village” community space will provide a hub for dialogue, while the annual ELF Patient Organisation Networking Day will continue to serve as a catalyst for advocacy and collaboration.
- Broad Scientific Reach: Despite the thematic focus, the Congress retains its commitment to cutting-edge scientific research, clinical trials, and educational workshops, maintaining its reputation as the gold standard for respiratory professional development.
Chronology: A Roadmap to the Congress
The ERS has structured a clear path toward the September gathering, ensuring that the theme of partnership is built upon through a series of pre-congress engagements.
- 11 May 2026 – The Foundation: The journey begins with the ERS Vision Live event, titled "United for better breathing: partnership between patients, clinicians and researchers." This digital kickoff is designed to set the intellectual stage for the Barcelona gathering, inviting global stakeholders to explore the practical applications of patient-professional collaboration.
- Summer 2026 – Educational Series: Throughout the summer months, a series of webinars will dive deeper into specific thematic topics. These sessions are intended to provide the scientific and ethical context for the upcoming discussions in Barcelona.
- 5–9 September 2026 – The Congress: The culmination of these efforts will occur in Barcelona, where thousands of clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates will converge to translate these partnerships into actionable clinical outcomes.
Supporting Data: Why Partnership Matters
The impetus for this shift in strategy is supported by mounting evidence that patient-professional partnerships lead to superior health outcomes. Data from various international respiratory registries suggests that when patients are active partners in their care—a concept often referred to as "patient activation"—adherence to treatment regimens increases, exacerbation rates decrease, and quality-of-life metrics show significant improvement.
The ERS is looking to bridge the gap between "clinical expertise" and "lived experience." Research presented at previous ERS events has consistently shown that clinicians often prioritize markers like FEV1 (forced expiratory volume) or oxygen saturation levels, while patients prioritize day-to-day functional capacity, mental health, and the ability to maintain social connections. By embedding patient voices into the planning of the 2026 Congress, the ERS aims to align these disparate priorities, ensuring that future research agendas address the concerns that matter most to the patient community.
Official Responses: Voices from the Leadership
The leadership of both the ERS and the ELF has framed this congress as a pivotal moment for the future of the field.
Dr. Rosa Faner, ERS Congress 2026 Co-Chair, highlighted the transformative potential of the theme:
"The ERS Congress 2026 theme provides a fantastic platform to highlight the importance of patient-professional partnerships. Patient perspectives are paramount for research and for the advancement of treatment and care. This is why ERS places the patient voice at the center of many of its activities and events. It aligns with one of the Society’s strategic aims to strengthen partnerships with patients. Alongside the European Lung Foundation, ERS provides the respiratory community with a powerful voice to support better respiratory health, and through this year’s Congress theme, that voice will be clearer than ever on the world stage."
Dimitris Kontopidis, Chair of the European Lung Foundation, emphasized the evolution of this collaborative model:
"Patients and patient representatives have been part of the ERS Congress for many years, and that is something we should be proud of. In 2026, this continues to evolve, with patients and carers involved across a wider range of sessions than ever before. They bring unique insights from their lived experience and, shaped by this year’s theme, will help to challenge attendees to think differently about how partnership works in practice—from day-to-day clinical interactions to setting research priorities and supporting future advances. This reflects a direction ELF and ERS have been taking for some time, moving towards genuine co-design."
Implications: Building a Lasting Legacy
The impact of the 2026 Congress is intended to extend far beyond the five days spent in Barcelona. The ERS is consciously building a "legacy" framework. By formalizing the structures for patient input—such as the inclusion of patient representatives in abstract reviews and session selection committees—the Society is creating a blueprint for future years.
1. Changing the Clinical Dynamic
One of the most significant implications is the potential for changing the power dynamic within the doctor-patient relationship. By training clinicians to value the patient’s perspective as a form of expert knowledge, the Congress aims to foster more effective, compassionate, and personalized care pathways.
2. Prioritizing Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs)
The integration of patient-led content is expected to accelerate the adoption of PROMs in clinical trials. As researchers see firsthand the impact of their work on the daily lives of patients, the definition of "treatment success" is likely to expand from simple lung function improvements to holistic well-being.
3. Strengthening Global Advocacy
By uniting thousands of respiratory professionals with patient organizations, the ERS is creating a powerful lobbying force. This unified front will be better equipped to advocate for improved air quality policies, increased funding for respiratory research, and equitable access to innovative treatments across Europe and beyond.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
The 2026 ERS Congress represents a profound commitment to the idea that the best science is done in partnership. As the respiratory community faces unprecedented challenges—from the long-term impacts of climate change on lung health to the rising prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases—the need for a collaborative approach has never been more urgent.
Registration for the Congress is now open, and the ERS encourages all stakeholders—from early-career researchers to senior clinicians and patient advocates—to participate in the upcoming pre-congress events. By engaging with the Vision Live sessions and the summer webinar series, attendees can begin to prepare for a congress that promises not only to inform but to fundamentally redefine the way we think about respiratory health.
For those interested in the full program or wishing to secure their place in Barcelona, further details can be found on the official ERS Congress website. The 2026 ERS Congress is more than a professional meeting; it is a movement toward a future where better breathing is a goal shared by all, and achieved together.
