8 July, 2026
The European Respiratory Society (ERS) has officially confirmed that its 2026 General Assembly will be held as a premier in-person event during the highly anticipated ERS Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. Scheduled for Tuesday, 8 September, the meeting will convene from 14:00 to 15:30 CEST in Room 3G at the FIRA Barcelona. This assembly serves as a critical junction for the global respiratory community, offering members a direct platform to influence the strategic trajectory, governance, and administrative evolution of one of the world’s most influential medical societies.
Main Facts: The 2026 General Assembly
The General Assembly is the supreme governing body of the ERS. As the organization navigates an era of rapid technological advancement in medicine and increasing global health challenges, the 2026 gathering is positioned to be a pivotal moment for transparency and democratic participation.
- Date: Tuesday, 8 September 2026
- Time: 14:00 – 15:30 CEST
- Location: FIRA Barcelona, Room 3G
- Eligibility: While all members are invited to observe and participate in the discourse, only active, dues-paying ERS members are eligible to exercise their voting rights on formal resolutions.
The agenda for the meeting is comprehensive, focusing on institutional accountability and long-term vision. It covers the review of the Society’s performance over the preceding 12 months, the approval of financial accounts, and critical deliberations on the proposed changes to the ERS by-laws and the 2026 Constitution.
Chronology: A Roadmap to Governance
The lead-up to the General Assembly is a meticulously planned process designed to ensure that members are fully briefed on the issues before stepping into the room in Barcelona.
- Early July 2026: Official announcement of the Assembly logistics and the publication of preparatory documentation, including the meeting agenda and proposed constitutional amendments.
- Late Summer 2026: Ongoing member review period. During this time, the leadership encourages members to analyze the financial statements and proposed by-law shifts to ensure informed debate.
- 8 September 2026 (The Assembly): The formal session at FIRA Barcelona. The meeting will be chaired by the ERS Executive Committee, who will present the annual report and facilitate the democratic process of voting on structural changes.
- Post-Assembly: The finalization and publication of the official minutes, ensuring that the decisions made during the session are archived and implemented in the subsequent fiscal year.
Supporting Data: Why Participation Matters
The strength of the ERS lies in its member-driven model. The General Assembly is not merely a formality; it is the legislative engine of the society. The data-driven decisions made in this room impact thousands of clinicians, researchers, and allied health professionals across Europe and the globe.
Key Responsibilities of the Assembly
- Statutory Adaptation: The Society must evolve alongside the medical landscape. The General Assembly is the sole body empowered to modify the statutes, ensuring they remain relevant in the face of modern digital health initiatives and cross-border collaborative research.
- Financial Stewardship: Members review the annual accounts, ensuring that membership fees—which fund everything from prestigious journals to life-saving clinical trials—are being utilized with maximum efficiency and transparency.
- Strategic Proposal Submission: The assembly provides a structured environment for members to put forward proposals to the Executive Committee, directly influencing future research priorities, advocacy campaigns, and educational initiatives.
- Membership Fee Determination: In an inflationary global economy, setting membership fees is a delicate balance between maintaining the high quality of ERS services and ensuring that the society remains accessible to researchers and trainees from diverse economic backgrounds.
Official Responses and Strategic Vision
The ERS leadership has expressed a strong desire to see a high turnout for the 2026 meeting. A spokesperson for the Society emphasized that "the strength of the ERS is derived directly from the engagement of its members."
The focus for 2026, as outlined in the provided documentation, is a transition toward a more streamlined and responsive constitutional framework. By reviewing the proposed ERS Constitution for 2026, it is evident that the Society is prioritizing agility. The proposed changes to the by-laws suggest a move to optimize decision-making processes, allowing the organization to react more quickly to public health emergencies, such as new respiratory virus threats or climate-related respiratory health crises.
The minutes from the 2026 General Assembly (preliminary drafts and historical records) highlight a consistent commitment to transparency. By making these documents available ahead of the meeting, the ERS leadership is signaling that they welcome scrutiny and open dialogue.
Implications: The Future of the Society
The decisions made in Barcelona this September will have profound implications for the medical community.
Institutional Agility
As healthcare systems grapple with the aftermath of past pandemics and the rising burden of chronic respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, the ERS must be a nimble organization. The constitutional changes on the table are designed to remove bureaucratic hurdles, allowing the society to form new global partnerships more efficiently.
Democratization of Medical Governance
By encouraging members to voice their queries and share future ideas, the ERS is reinforcing its commitment to a "bottom-up" approach. For the individual clinician or researcher, the General Assembly is a rare opportunity to influence the direction of an organization that sets the standard for respiratory care globally. Whether it is advocating for more funding for pulmonary research or changing the way medical guidelines are formulated, the influence of the General Assembly is vast.
Fiscal Responsibility
The review of the accounts is particularly important. As the society expands its digital footprint, including its massive congress infrastructure and online education platforms, the financial oversight provided by the membership ensures that the society remains solvent and capable of reinvesting in its core mission: to alleviate suffering from respiratory disease.
Conclusion: Preparing for Barcelona
For those planning to attend the ERS Congress 2026, the General Assembly should be considered a "must-attend" event. It is the heartbeat of the society, where the policy meets practice.
To prepare, members are strongly urged to review the provided documentation:
- The Agenda: Access here to understand the flow of the session.
- By-Law Changes: Read here to understand how the rules of governance are changing.
- The Constitution: Review here to see the overarching framework of the society.
As the ERS prepares to descend on Barcelona, the message to the membership is clear: the future of the Society is not just in the hands of the Executive Committee—it is in the hands of every member who takes the time to show up, speak out, and vote. The 8th of September will be more than just a meeting; it will be a collective statement on the direction of respiratory health in the modern age.
Active members are reminded that their voice is their vote. By participating in this process, they ensure that the ERS remains a vibrant, transparent, and effective force in the global fight against respiratory disease. We look forward to seeing the membership unite at the FIRA Barcelona to shape the next chapter of the European Respiratory Society.
