Conference themes Bilbao 2026

The 19th European Public Health Conference in Bilbao, Spain, will examine key research and policy challenges shaping population health, with a focus on the interconnected forces of urbanization, equity, and climate resilience. As urban populations continue to grow — already around 80% in Europe and projected to exceed two thirds globally by 2050 — the need to translate expanding urban health knowledge into effective, equitable policies has never been greater. At the same time, processes such as urban renewal, segregation, and gentrification, alongside accelerating climate change, are creating complex and evolving challenges for health, equity, and environmental sustainability in cities.

The conference will bring together researchers and practitioners worldwide to address both infectious and non-communicable diseases, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and advance innovative data collection and analysis across cities. By generating policy-relevant evidence and improving how research informs decision-making, the conference aims to support healthier urban populations and reduce health inequities in an increasingly urbanized world.

Health systems are increasingly on the front lines of the climate crisis, both responding to its impacts and contributing to its causes. This plenary will explore how health systems can strengthen resilience to climate-related pressures while reducing their environmental footprint, highlighting opportunities for sustainable transformation that protects population health now and in the future.

The research, methodologies, and translational challenges encountered in urban health provide valuable insights and practical opportunities for application in rural health contexts. These settings are closely connected, with shared determinants, resources, and policy needs. Urban and rural health are therefore complementary and interdependent — sustainable progress in one cannot be achieved without strengthening the other.