World Health Summit 2026: Berlin Becomes Global Meeting Point for the Future of Health

Leaders and changemakers gather from October 11–13 under the theme “From Crisis to Resilience: Innovating for Health”

The World Health Summit (WHS) 2026 opens in Berlin today, bringing together leaders and experts from politics, science, civil society, and the private sector for three days of exchange on the most pressing challenges in global health.

At the official WHS 2026 press conference on Sunday morning, representatives from the World Health Summit, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Wellcome, and Gallup presented key priorities, initiatives, and new research findings.

World Health Summit President Axel R. Pries highlighted the broader context in which this year’s Summit is taking place: “Past achievements and continued progress in global health are increasingly challenged by multiple and overlapping crises. To build resilient, effective, and equitable health systems, we need innovation across biomedicine and technology, financing, delivery, and political coordination. This requires partnership and trust within and beyond the health sector and is at the heart of the World Health Summit 2026 leitmotif.”

Three further announcements were presented at the press conference:

Diene Keita, Executive Director of the UNFPA, highlighted the Government of Bangladesh's landmark investment of 250 million euros in women’s health, supported by the European Investment Bank:

"We need to shift the way we view women's health: from cost to investment, from a niche sector to a national economic priority. Women's health is one of the smartest investments a country can make in its people, its productivity and its future. With this initiative, Bangladesh is showing what that shift looks like in practice, and as leaders gather at the World Health Summit, it sets an example others can follow."

John-Arne Røttingen, CEO of Wellcome, launched the Wellcome Global Monitor 2026, which shows trust in science has fallen since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Public trust shapes whether scientific advances can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. As the world faces increasing challenges, from infectious diseases to climate change and mental health, science has the potential for shaping a healthier future, but only if people trust that it is a force for good. Launching at this year's World Health Summit, the Wellcome Global Monitor – the world's largest survey of public attitudes towards science with more than 140,000 respondents in 140 countries – shows us we can’t take that trust for granted. Trust must be earned through openness, transparency and a willingness to understand and respond to the reality of people’s lives for the benefits of science to be realized.”

Ilana Ron Levey, Managing Director at Gallup, presented new findings from Gallup’s State of the World’s Emotional Health 2026 Report on how social media connects to emotional wellbeing.

“The data push back on the idea that more time online always means worse wellbeing. What stands out is that moderate social media use for adults is associated with better outcomes on many wellbeing measures, but the picture changes depending on the specific emotion and from one country to the next. Like so many things in life, moderation has benefits.”

Watch the press conference live or access the recording.

The World Health Summit 2026

Under the theme “From Crisis to Resilience: Innovating for Health,” the World Health Summit 2026 brings together more than 4,000 participants on-site and tens of thousands online, with more than 400 speakers across over 75 sessions. All sessions of the WHS 2026 main program are livestreamed on the World Health Summit YouTube channel and will remain available as recordings.

The program focuses on six central topics:

• global health architecture;

• pandemic preparedness and response;

• health equity for women, children, and youth;

• future-ready health systems;

• conflict and health; and

• environmental drivers of health.

About the World Health Summit  

The World Health Summit is the leading platform for global health. Founded in 2009, it brings together stakeholders from politics, science, the private sector, and civil society to set the agenda for a healthier future. The annual Summit is held every October in Berlin, organized by the WHS Foundation GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. The Summits are complemented each year by a WHS Regional Meeting held in a different part of the world, where regional health priorities take center stage.

Press Contact

World Health Summit Communications Team
communications@worldhealthsummit.org