World Health Summit 2026 Opens in Berlin, Marking 5 Years of WHO Intelligence Hub

World Health Summit Opens in Berlin Amid Compounding Global Crises

The World Health Summit 2026 opened in Berlin on Sunday evening, marking both the fifth anniversary of the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence and a formal handover to the 2027 regional host in Hong Kong. More than 4,000 participants gathered on-site for the October 11–13 event under the theme “From Crisis to Resilience: Innovating for Health,” addressing compounding global challenges from geopolitical conflict to climate change.

“Health around the world is being challenged by compounding crises, from conflict and geopolitical tensions to climate change and widening inequities,” said Axel R. Pries, President of the World Health Summit, pointing to the need for new solutions between science, politics, civil society, and the private sector.

Five Years of the WHO Intelligence Hub in Berlin

Reflecting on half a decade of epidemic surveillance, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Georg Kippels, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Health of Germany, detailed the growth of the Berlin-based facility. The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence was launched at the summit five years prior to harness data and innovation against cross-border pathogens.

Five years on, the Hub has gone from strength to strength, helping countries detect and respond to threats faster, strengthening preparedness, and making the world safer from pathogens that know no borders, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated during the opening session. Georg Kippels added that Germany remains proud to host an institution that has become a vital pillar of the global health architecture.

The Launch of the Academic Alliance-Lancet Commission

The commission brings together experts from 22 countries and territories to evaluate academic responsibilities across four working groups over the next two years. Commission members published a commentary in The Lancet on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, emphasizing that universities require freedom from disruptive political interference to properly serve as catalysts for social good and economic prosperity.

Handover to the 2027 Regional Meeting in Hong Kong

The opening night also featured the official transfer of the WHS International Presidency from Lukoye Atwoli of Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya, to Chak-sing Lau of The University of Hong Kong. The LKS Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong will host the WHS Regional Meeting 2027 from May 7 to 9 under the overarching ambition of “Health Across Borders.”

Receiving the baton from Nairobi is such a privilege, and HKUMed is ready to help shape the next chapter of global health collaboration, said Chak-sing Lau, incoming International President of the World Health Summit. The annual summit continues its rotation between its permanent home in Berlin and regional meetings designed to bring local health priorities to the forefront.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core theme of the World Health Summit 2026?

The event centers on the theme “From Crisis to Resilience: Innovating for Health,” uniting more than 4,000 on-site participants and over 400 speakers across 75 sessions in Berlin.

Who is organizing the upcoming 2027 WHS Regional Meeting?

The LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong will host the regional meeting from May 7 to 9, 2027, under the leadership of incoming International President Chak-sing Lau.