Organised by the European Respiratory Society, the ERS Congress 2026 is set to become the most important global event in respiratory medicine. This international congress will bring together thousands of healthcare professionals, scientists and researchers to share the latest advances in pulmonology.
- Dates: 5–9 September 2026
- Location: Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain (halls 1 to 3, Carrer de les Ciències, s/n, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat).
- The theme of this edition is: “United for Better Breathing”.
- Official website: ersnet.org
Barcelona has been selected as a strategic host city, offering an environment that combines scientific excellence with a rich cultural offering.
This is the world’s largest event in respiratory medicine.
Recognised as the largest congress in its field worldwide, the ERS Congress is an established meeting point for healthcare professionals, researchers and international experts.
For five days, Barcelona will be the global epicentre of innovation in lung health.
The focus is on collaboration between patients, clinicians, and researchers to improve the quality of life of people with respiratory diseases.
Strategic priorities
The programme will focus on three key areas:
- Co-creating healthcare: Empowering patients as active participants in their treatment through shared decision-making.
- Listen First: Identify unmet needs by prioritising the voices of patients and carers.
- Discover Together: Promote collaborative research to advance respiratory health globally.
The central role of the patient:
The patient perspective will be one of the fundamental pillars of the congress. In collaboration with the European Lung Foundation, we will make efforts to:
- Integrate the voices of patients and carers into sessions.
- Align the programme with the real needs of people living with lung diseases.
- Promote a more human-centred approach in respiratory medicine.
Main scientific areas
ERS Congress 2026 will cover a wide range of specialties:
- Clinical care and respiratory physiology
- New modalities of pulmonary rehabilitation.
- The impact of vaping on lung health.
- The use of telemedicine in chronic respiratory diseases.
- Respiratory intensive care
- Reducing the environmental impact of treatments.
- Remote care in assisted ventilation.
- New strategies for COPD exacerbations.
Basic and translational science
- Use of patient-derived organoids.
- Artificial intelligence applied to diagnosis.
- Advanced cellular models.
Basic and translational science
- Use of patient-derived organoids.
- Artificial intelligence applied to diagnosis.
- Advanced cellular models.
Sleep-related respiratory disorders
- New CPAP guidelines.
- Pharmacological innovation.
- Links with cardiovascular diseases.
Chronic respiratory diseases
- New biological treatments for asthma and COPD.
- The application of artificial intelligence.
- And the study of chronic cough.
Epidemiology and Environment
- Impact of climate change.
- Design of healthy cities.
- Prevention strategies.
Barcelona is an international host city.
Choosing Barcelona as the host city reinforces the global nature of the event. The city offers world-class infrastructure, such as the Fira Gran Via exhibition centre, as well as a highly attractive cultural and professional environment for attendees.
This is a key event for the future of respiratory health.
ERS Congress 2026 will be a global collaboration platform, transforming research and clinical practice in respiratory diseases and driving advances that will directly impact patients’ lives.
Accommodation during ERS Congress 2026
For those travelling to Barcelona for the congress, a well-located option is the Hotel Arc La Rambla.
Located in the city centre on La Rambla, it allows visitors to enjoy the city while offering good connections to the exhibition venue.
The hotel also offers congress attendees a 15% discount, making it an attractive option in terms of both location and value for money.
It is recommended to book in advance, as demand for the hotel is usually high during these dates.
How to get from the Hotel Arc La Rambla to the ERS Congress 2026
How to get from the Hotel Arc La Rambla to the Fira Gran Via:
- By car: 23–24 minutes via the B-10 (Ronda Litoral)
- By public transport: 30–35 minutes (metro L3 + bus)
