World Parkinson Congress 2026 Support - Project Summary The purpose of the 7th World Parkinson Congress (WPC 2026) is to address a continued need for worldwide dialogue on the multifaceted problems of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and to formulate and propose effective solutions, including new approaches to research and better models of care for people with PD (PWP). The WPC 2026, to be held from May 24 – 27, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona, is the only international meeting in the field of PD that brings the whole PD community together for high-level scientific and lay sessions. Delegates at the meeting represent neuroscientists, physician-researchers, physicians, PWP, care partners, NPs, RNs, PTs, OTs, SLPs, SWs, and more from around 70 countries. The four-day program highlights advancements in the science of PD and models of care for PWP. Allowing researchers (basic, translational and clinical) the opportunity to exchange data on scientific advancements across different areas of science to help them explore and discuss new ideas and build collaborations they might otherwise not have considered. Including junior investigators in this important meeting offers interaction between early-stage and established leaders supporting the next generation of scientists. Inspiring those who are new to the PD field will help them to stay motivated and dedicated to ending PD. Broad support and involvement from the PD community (over 100 partnering organizations from 40 countries) shows that the WPC is the right venue for these multiple stakeholders to meet and build collaborations. Cross-pollination of experts researching and treating PD along with those living with the disease will spur new innovative research, identify potential solutions to unmet needs, and advance therapies for people with PD. More than 60 committee members have designed an elaborate scientific program with 160 speakers from all areas of the PD community with sessions designed to maximize learning potential and dialogue, including large and medium-sized as well as incredibly intimate round-table sessions with just 12 participants discussing a topic in depth. The morning plenaries will look at the Biological definition and staging of PD: Use and Implications for care and research; Current state of the disease- modifying therapy (DMT) pipeline for Parkinson’s disease; and Exercise and PD. Plenaries set the stage for discussion in later sessions covering a wide range of topics such as: Organelle (Dys)function and Crosstalk in PD; Subtypes of PD and their Implications; Research Advances in GBA1- and LRRK2-associated PD; Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and Digital Devices in PD Care; Immunity and inflammation in PD; The science of boosting physical and cognitive health in PDs; The Gut-Brain Axis in PD; Therapies for Advanced Disease and more. At the end of each day, Controversy sessions bring the delegates together for lively debates. There will be both Scientific and Living with PD posters highlighted in Poster sessions and tours to maximize interaction among the delegates. Authors of the 12 most outstanding posters will be invited to present oral ʻHot Topicsʼ talks to the plenary audience, to further promote scientific dialogue, and foster more collaborations.
