ESC Congress 2026: Transforming innovative ideas into clinical reality

Key takeaways

• The world's leading cardiology experts will convene in Munich for ESC Congress 2026.
• The event takes place from 28 to 31 August, with the press programme beginning on 27 August.
• This year's spotlight on artificial intelligence will explore the potential of this rapidly evolving tool to transform clinical practice.

Sophia Antipolis, France - 23 June 2026: The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) will hold the world's foremost cardiology meeting in Munich from 28-31 August. ESC Congress 2026 brings together international experts to advance cardiology through presentations and discussions on cutting-edge research, pioneering technologies and collaborative initiatives.

"With around 1 in 3 deaths caused by cardiovascular disease, we need novel strategies to reduce its burden through improved prevention, early detection, new treatments, better monitoring and wider use of rehabilitation," said ESC Media Relations Lead, Professor Filippo Crea. "ESC Congress 2026 will present the latest innovations across these areas and discuss how they can be implemented to transform current practice."

This year's spotlight on artificial intelligence (AI) explores its potential to support patient care from diagnostics to delivery. "AI is everywhere, but this is more than hype," noted Professor Crea. "AI has a key role to play in cardiology, and it is important that we discuss how to ensure that advancements are reliable, safe and easily implemented into current clinical pathways." Participants at ESC Congress 2026 will be able to discover AI in action through hands-on sessions, live demonstrations and immersive learning. The promise of AI to widen healthcare access and reduce global inequalities will also be discussed.

Other highlights of ESC Congress 2026 include:

• Four new ESC Guidelines will be unveiled, delivering the latest evidence-based recommendations to inform clinical practice and improve patient care.
• Hot Line sessions reveal the eagerly awaited results from recently completed clinical trials - more details on the potentially practice-changing studies will be announced in July!
• The Digital Cardiology Track showcases advances from machine learning to mobile applications, and discusses ethical and technical considerations.
• The AI in Practice Track explores how AI can support healthcare professionals in areas such as imaging, risk prediction and clinical decision-making.
• The New Horizons Track offers a glimpse into the future of emerging science − before it becomes clinical reality.
• The Patient's Perspective Track ensures that the patient voice is heard loud and clear throughout the congress.

With over 30,000 clinicians and scientists expected from more than 150 countries, ESC Congress 2026 represents a not-to-be-missed opportunity for journalists interested in breakthroughs that have real potential to impact human health.

The press area will host press conferences with global cardiology leaders and top trial investigators. Registration is now open and is free for accredited press. Key sessions will be streamed live. In addition, journalists can explore all the latest news via a dedicated webpage of ESC Congress press activities.

Join us at ESC Congress in Munich or online, where the global cardiology community will harness the power of innovation and collaboration to help people live longer, healthier lives.

ENDS