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Dear Colleagues & Friends,

A decade after the inaugural World Bronchiectasis Conference in Hannover – brought to us by the determination and dedication of the brilliant Professor Tobias Welte, our community returns to the city where this dynamic global movement was born.

Over these ten years, bronchiectasis has moved from the margins to the mainstream. International registries have transformed our understanding of disease burden and phenotypes: updated guidelines and consensus statements have clarified standards of care; new clinical trials have tested anti‑inflammatory and anti‑infective treatment strategies; airway clearance and physiotherapy have dispersed; and advances in digital health, imaging and microbiome research are about to reshape how we monitor, personalise and prevent exacerbations. Most importantly, the patient voice is now more firmly embedded in research priorities and service design than ever before.

Uniting global expertise to shape better patient outcomes

WBC 2026 will once again gather clinicians, scientists, allied health professionals, industry partners and patients to translate this progress into better patient outcomes.

The programme will feature cutting‑edge sessions on treatable traits and endotypes, infection and NTM management, precision diagnostics, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, AI-enabled tools, and late-breaking clinical trials.

This year we have several parallel tracks including basic science, paediatrics, the perspectives of allied health professionals, PCD, NTM, and a dedicated German-language session on outpatient bronchiectasis care. For the first time at WBC, the main programme will also feature a dedicated track exploring the psychosocial impact of bronchiectasis on patients. In addition, two half-days of patient–professional discussions will offer practical, hands-on strategies for disease management.

The next generation of bronchiectasis experts

The theme of the 9^th World Bronchiectasis Conference 2026 is “Paving The Way For The Next Generation”. Early-career professionals sit at the heart of WBC 2026, with a wide range of dedicated activities designed to build skills, spark new ideas, and inspire confidence. Full details can be found in the programme.

A homecoming: shaping another decade of bronchiectasis care

Hannover represents both a symbolic homecoming and a defining moment for our field – an opportunity to celebrate and work together to set the agenda for the decade ahead.

At WBC 2026, we will strengthen cross-disciplinary collaboration, amplify the patient voice, empower the next generation, accelerate therapeutic development, and collectively push for equitable access to high-quality bronchiectasis care worldwide.

We invite you to join us in Hannover, 24–27 June 2026, to advance science, elevate clinical practice and improve the lives of people living with bronchiectasis.

Francesco Blasi, James Chalmers, Jessica Rademacher, Felix C. Ringshausen

WBC 2026 Organising Committee

Hannover, Germany