Welcome Message

Join us in London for the “Queen of Hearts” of ophthalmology congresses in 2026!

The ESCRS convenes in the city where the first intraocular lens (IOL) was implanted!

Take the Elizabeth line to the historic Victoria Docklands and prepare to meet the royalty of ophthalmology in the Excel Arena – or take the light rail from Tower Hill, where Henry VIII had two of his wives incarcerated (and later beheaded). London is a metropolis rich in history and innovation – there is no better place to experience 21st century eye care and eye surgery at its finest!

The 44th Congress of the ESCRS will take place on the banks of the River Thames from 11 to 15 September 2026. All signs point to surpassing even the remarkable success of the Copenhagen Congress in 2025!

As always, the ESCRS Congress will feature Main and Research Symposia, Arena Debates, The Global Refractive Symposium, 3D Surgical Microscope and AI Summit, ESCRS/EURETINA Symposium, Near Live Surgery, Instructional Courses, Wetlabs, Video Sessions, Posters and Oral Presentations as well as various other special interest days and sessions. ESCRS iNovation® Day might still be young, but it is already well-established and in high demand. It is never too early to get your tickets! Or, as a true Londoner would say: “It’s about bloody time…”

Building on the legacy of the recent ESCRS Congresses under the leadership of Filomena Ribeiro (to name just one of the society’s former presidents), we will continue promoting excellence in clinical practice, research, and education, while fostering a culture of sustainability and social responsibility.

There will also be several novelties. A few of these are of particular interest to the pharmaceutical industry. We are actively working on these innovations and remain highly optimistic about their impact.

Plan ahead and mark your calendar!

We look forward to seeing you at the 44th Congress of the ESCRS in the “City of Dreams”!

Burkhard Dick
ESCRS President-Elect

“You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”