Welcome to 63rd ERA Congress

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

We are delighted to welcome you to the 63rd ERA Congress, taking place in the vibrant city of Glasgow and online from June 3 to 6, 2026.
This year’s Congress invites you to “Open your mind”, the central theme of ERA26, encouraging curiosity, fresh perspectives, and bold scientific dialogue.

Under the leadership of Roser Torra (ERA President, Spain), Kate Stevens (Local Congress President, United Kingdom), and Patrick Mark (Congress Secretary, United Kingdom), we look forward to an exceptional scientific experience shaped by innovation and global collaboration.

The Scientific Programme, curated by the ERA Scientific Committee and led by Serhan Tuglular (Türkiye), will feature seven main tracks that reflect the full breadth of nephrology. This dynamic programme strengthens scientific exchange and highlights new developments across the discipline.

The CME Courses, overseen by the ERA CME Committee chaired by Beatriz Fernández-Fernández, will once again open the Congress, offering high-quality educational content for learners at every stage. As in previous years, two hands‑on courses, Central Venous Catheter Placement and Kidney Biopsy, will also take place on the first day. These practical sessions offer our delegates an invaluable opportunity to develop and refine essential clinical skills.

We are also pleased to acknowledge the extraordinary engagement of the nephrology community: 3,172 abstract submissions, representing a 12% increase compared with 2025, from 95 countries around the world contribute significantly to the scientific impact of ERA26. The highest‑scored abstracts will be showcased in Free Communications and Focussed Orals, while all accepted abstracts will appear as e-posters in the Research Zone, providing an interactive environment to discuss research findings and foster collaboration.

As in previous years, the Late Breaking Clinical Trials (LBCT) session will highlight major advances in clinical research. A total of 60 LBCT abstracts from 23 countries were submitted between February 23  and March 25, 2026, collectively reporting data from approximately 19,000 patients and 27 randomized controlled trials.

A notable novelty this year is the introduction of two joint sessions with the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). These joint symposia will present new joint guidelines on hypernatremia (ESE collaboration) and updated recommendations on diabetes-related complications in post‑kidney transplant patients diabetes management in peritoneal and haemodialysis patients, including the role of emerging diabetes technologies (EASD collaboration).

The Congress will conclude on Saturday morning with a series of workshops led by the ERA Committees and KDIGO, offering delegates a valuable opportunity to deepen their knowledge. The sessions will address key themes including ethics and shared decision‑making at critical points in patient care, sustainability in nephrology, support strategies for kidney patients and nephrologists during disasters, the development of effective awareness campaigns, and leadership development for the next generation of nephrologists.

This final workshop represents an important collaboration between ERA, the Women of ERA Committee, and the Oxford Saïd Business School.

The Scottish city of Glasgow provides an exceptional congress setting. The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) is easily accessible via a range of sustainable transportation options, including frequent local trains, extensive subway connections, and regular airport buses. In keeping with ERA’s strong commitment to sustainability, participants are encouraged to explore eco‑friendly travel choices such as reduced‑fare rail passes and the city’s widespread bike‑sharing network.

We warmly encourage all participants to take full advantage of the scientific, educational, and networking opportunities that the ERA Congress provides. Your active engagement is essential to driving forward innovation in nephrology and improving care for kidney patients worldwide.

We look forward to welcoming you to Glasgow and sharing an inspiring and transformative ERA26 together.

With our warmest regards,