18th World Congress on Public Health 2026
Event Overview
The 18th World Congress on Public Health 2026 will take place from 6–9 September 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.
It is organized by the World Federation of Public Health Associations in collaboration with the Public Health Association of South Africa.
The Congress is a major global convening of public health professionals, policymakers, researchers, and advocates focused on advancing global health equity and sustainable health systems.
Theme and Strategic Focus
The 2026 edition is themed: “Health Without Borders: Equity, Inclusion, and Sustainability”
It reflects a global agenda addressing the following:
- Health inequities across and within countries
- Inclusive and rights-based health systems
- Sustainability and resilience in public health infrastructure
- Responses to systemic shocks such as pandemics, conflict, and climate stress
Core Objectives
The Congress is designed to:
- Strengthen global collaboration in public health policy and practice
- Share evidence-based and innovative public health solutions
- Advance equity-driven health systems and universal access
- Foster cross-border partnerships among practitioners and institutions
- Translate research into actionable health policy strategies
Key Thematic Areas
The programme is structured around three major pillars:
- Equity in Public Health – addressing structural disparities in access and outcomes
- Inclusion and Diversity – embedding inclusive approaches in global health systems
- Sustainability and Resilience – building long-term adaptive capacity in health systems
Target Audience
The event convenes a broad global public health ecosystem, including:
- Public health researchers and academics
- Government health policymakers
- International health organisations
- NGOs and civil society actors
- Healthcare practitioners and system designers
- Global health advocates and networks
Participation Value
Key participation benefits include:
- Access to global public health expertise and research
- High-level policy dialogue and technical exchange
- International networking and partnership formation
- Exposure to emerging global health innovations
- Contribution to global health policy shaping
Key Dates
- Abstract submissions: opening soon
- Registration: early bird registration begins in 2025
- Congress dates: 6–9 September 2026
Strategic Relevance
This congress is particularly relevant for stakeholders working in:
- Global health governance and diplomacy
- Health equity and social determinants of health
- Health systems strengthening
- Climate-health linkages
- Pandemic preparedness and resilience frameworks
- SDG-aligned public health programming