The European Health Management Conference (EHMC) has launched the Call for Abstracts for its 2026 edition, inviting contributions from researchers, healthcare leaders, clinicians, policymakers, and academics. Organised by the European Health Management Association (EHMA), the conference offers a major stage for highlighting forward-thinking projects, sharing perspectives, and impacting the direction of health systems both in Europe and globally.

The 2026 conference will explore the theme “Future-proofing health systems for a changing world: from strategy to action,” encouraging submissions that engage with emerging issues in health system governance, digitalisation, workforce transformation, sustainable financing, and regulatory development.

Call Details

Opening in November 2025, the call remains active until Sunday, 11 January 2026 at 20:00 CET. All abstracts must be submitted via the official online platform.

Applicants may choose between:

• A short paper (maximum 450 words), or
• A structured abstract (maximum 550 words), including:
• Context (100 words)
• Methods (150 words)
• Results (150 words)
• Discussion (150 words)

Each author may appear on up to three submissions.

Conference Tracks & Themes

Submissions must be assigned to one of five core tracks:

• Governance & leadership
• Operations & practice
• Workforce & professionalism
• Finance & economics
• Policy & regulations

Within these tracks, authors are encouraged to focus on themes such as people-centred care, digital innovation, the future health workforce, resilience and sustainability, and improved access and outcomes. Together, these topics advance EHMA’s commitment to strengthening health systems in a context of demographic, technological, and social transformation.

Presentation Options

Contributors can indicate their preferred presentation format:

• Oral Presentation for completed studies
• Scientific Dialogue for ongoing work
• Poster, displayed throughout the event with an optional 3-minute pitch

Choosing “Poster” limits the submission to poster consideration only, whereas selecting Oral or Scientific Dialogue allows reviewers to assign the most suitable format.

Awards & Featured Opportunities

The 2026 conference will present several awards, including:

• Best European Paper
• Best non-European Paper
• Best Poster
• People’s Choice Poster Award

Additionally, the Karolinska Institutet Medical Management Centre (MMC) & EHMC Research Award will honour the strongest submission linked to a doctoral thesis in health management. Eligible candidates include PhD students nearing completion or recent graduates (within 12 months). Finalists will compete for a €1,000 prize, with the winner showcasing their work during the Closing Plenary.

For the complete guidelines for the 2026 Call for Abstracts, please consult the official document.