The International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology (IFCN), in collaboration with their host society the Colombian Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine (ACME), are delighted to welcome you to the 34th International Congress of Clinical Neurophysiology (ICCN 2026), taking place in Cartagena, Colombia, from 8-12 September 2026.

The ICCN is the world’s premier congress for clinical neurophysiology, bringing together experts from across the globe to share advances in research and clinical practice. The Forum programme is currently being developed by the Scientific Committee, co-chaired by Professors Tankisi and Guterriez, with the goal of combining recent research advances with the best clinical teaching to deliver both breadth and depth to the neurophysiology community.

ICCN 2026 will feature an exciting programme of plenary lectures, scientific symposia, technical workshops, educational sessions, career development opportunities, and networking events against the stunning backdrop of Cartagena’s rich colonial history and Caribbean charm. This marks the first visit of an ICCN to Colombia, reflecting the IFCN’s commitment to spreading best practice and education in Clinical Neurophysiology throughout the world.

Don’t miss the best of Clinical Neurophysiology in this unique and beautiful part of Colombia, where scientific excellence meets cultural discovery and professional collaboration flourishes into lasting friendships.

Advancing Care Pathways for Ataxia and Rare Neurological Diseases in Europe

8th of September 2026 | European Parliament

Rare neurological diseases represent a complex and under-recognised challenge for European health systems. These conditions are chronic, progressive and highly heterogeneous, requiring timely diagnosis, specialist expertise and long-term multidisciplinary care. Yet across Europe, patients still face diagnostic delays, fragmented referral pathways, uneven access to specialist centres and insufficient coordination between medical, rehabilitative and supportive services.

The European Brain Council’s Value of Treatment (VOT) project on ataxia, a rare neurological disorder that causes a loss of control of voluntary muscle coordination, has generated an important evidence base by demonstrating that patient care pathways matter. These studies found that patients attending specialist ataxia centres reported better understanding of their condition, more tailored care, better coordinated referrals and better satisfaction trends than those in non-specialist settings. The accompanying cost analysis showed that, within countries, resource use and total costs were broadly similar between specialist and non-specialist settings, while inpatient stays remained a major contributor to overall costs. The innovation of this work is therefore not only clinical, but also organisational and policy-relevant: it shows that better coordinated specialist care can improve patient experience and pathway quality without clear evidence of a systematic cost penalty. At the same time, innovation in ataxia is entering a new phase. Advances in genomics, biomarkers and emerging therapeutic approaches — including gene replacement, gene editing, oligonucleotide and protein-based strategies — are creating new opportunities in hereditary ataxias, even if major translational and access challenges remain. This makes the need for structured care pathways, expert centres and coordinated research-ready systems even more urgent, so that patients can benefit from both current best care and future therapeutic innovation.

Within EBC’s Rare Brain Disease Ecosystem (RBDE), the ataxia case study forms part of a broader project portfolio aimed at bridging neuroscience, clinical innovation and patient needs across rare brain conditions. In that sense, ataxia serves as a strategic entry point for addressing wider challenges shared across rare neurological diseases, including inequalities in access, fragmented care, emerging needs in genomics and health data, and the need to translate expertise into more coordinated and patient-centred pathways. The challenge is no longer only to document unmet needs, but to build shared priorities for implementation: how to improve earlier diagnosis, organise multidisciplinary follow-up, connect national systems with European expertise, and ensure that innovation translates into tangible improvements in patients’ lives. Such a meeting is essential to move from evidence generation to actionable policy recommendations and to ensure that future rare neurological disease strategies are informed by clinical expertise, lived experience and health system realities alike.

Meeting objective

This invite-only meeting aims to translate the European Brain Council’s Value of Treatment findings on ataxia into concrete scientific and policy priorities for Europe, while positioning ataxia within the broader Rare Brain Disease Ecosystem. Using ataxia as a strategic case study, the event will bring together experts, patient association representatives and policymakers to identify how earlier diagnosis, specialist multidisciplinary care, rehabilitation, patient-centred outcomes and cross-border expertise can be better integrated into care pathways for ataxia and other rare neurological diseases. The goal is to support more coordinated, equitable and forward-looking care models and to inform the next phase of European action on rare brain diseases.

Acknowledgement: We would like to thank Biogen for sponsoring this event.

The EFNA Conference will take place in Dublin, Ireland, on 25-26 September 2026. Organised by the European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA), the inaugural conference marks a new milestone in the Federation’s 25-year commitment to championing the rights and needs of people living with neurological disorders across Europe.

Held during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the conference will bring together people living with neurological disorders, patient organisations, policymakers, clinicians, researchers and industry representatives to co-create a more inclusive and impactful neurology landscape in Europe.

Further information on registration, the scientific programme, abstract submission and accommodation is available on the official conference website.

The European Association of Neurosurgical Societies is delighted to welcome you to the EANS Congress 2026, taking place in Hamburg.

The EANS Congress is one of Europe’s leading neurosurgical meetings, bringing together clinicians, researchers and healthcare professionals from across the world. Held at the Congress Center Hamburg, the 2026 edition will take place under the theme “Responsibility, endurance and resilience”, reflecting the core values guiding neurosurgical practice, research and education.

The congress will provide a platform for scientific exchange and international collaboration, while addressing the latest developments in neurosurgery, including advances in areas such as artificial intelligence, neurostimulation and personalized approaches to treatment. The Japanese Society for Neurosurgery will join as the first official guest society, highlighting the global dimension of the meeting.

The European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) is delighted to welcome you to the 39th ECNP Congress, taking place in Munich, Germany, from 10–13 October 2026.

As one of Europe’s leading meetings in neuroscience and psychiatry, the ECNP Congress will present a high-quality scientific programme covering a broad range of cutting-edge topics, from fundamental research to clinical applications. The programme is designed to deliver the latest advances and foster exchange across disciplines within the brain research community.

ECNP Congress 2026 will feature a diverse selection of scientific and industry sessions, appealing to a wide range of participants. Most sessions will also be accessible to virtual attendees, ensuring broad participation and engagement from the global community.

Date: 23 October 2026

Location: Toronto, Canada & Online

Patient Community Day is a free event organised by ECTRIMS and dedicated to people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) and related neurological conditions, as well as their families, caregivers and the wider community. Held alongside the annual ECTRIMS Congress, the event aims to make the latest scientific developments accessible through clear, patient-friendly presentations delivered by leading experts.

Designed to be inclusive and accessible, Patient Community Day is available both onsite and online with free registration. The programme will be delivered in English with AI-powered simultaneous translation in more than 50 languages, while session recordings with subtitles will be made available one week after the event, allowing participants worldwide to access the latest research and discussions.

As a Supporting Partner, the European Brain Council (EBC) is pleased to promote this initiative, which aligns with our commitment to improving access to reliable scientific information and empowering people living with neurological conditions through education, collaboration and knowledge exchange.

We are delighted to bring the brain community together once again for the 6th edition of the Brain Innovation Days, a dynamic two-day event designed to inspire collaboration and accelerate innovation across the brain ecosystem.

On 18–19 November 2026, this year’s event will take place at Area 42 in Brussels, offering a vibrant setting for creativity, knowledge exchange and partnership-building. The programme will feature inspiring plenary discussions alongside interactive sessions designed to spark dialogue, collaboration and new ideas across the brain community.

Innovation Hall

The Innovation Hall is the vibrant networking hub of the Brain Innovation Days, where attendees can discover cutting-edge technologies, breakthrough research and emerging solutions shaping the future of brain health. It is the perfect place to connect with innovators, researchers, clinicians, industry leaders and investors in a dynamic networking environment beyond the plenary programme.

Are you developing an innovative solution, product or service in the brain space? Apply to showcase your work in the Innovation Hall and connect directly with a multidisciplinary audience of experts and decision-makers.

Pitch Competition