The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) will host the ESMO Congress 2026 from 23–27 October 2026 in Madrid, Spain, bringing together leading oncology professionals, researchers, and stakeholders from around the world.
Recognized as one of the most influential global meetings in oncology, the congress will provide a comprehensive platform for presenting the latest advances in cancer research, clinical practice, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Alongside the in-person meeting in Madrid, many sessions will also be accessible through a dedicated virtual congress platform, enabling broader international participation.
Scientific Co-Chairs of the ESMO Congress 2026
The scientific programme of the ESMO Congress 2026, will be guided by four internationally recognized oncology experts serving as Scientific Co-Chairs: Fabrice André, Yelena Y. Janjigian, Nadia Harbeck, and James Larkin.
Fabrice André
Fabrice André, MD, PhD, is President of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and a medical oncologist at Gustave Roussy in Villejuif, France. He specializes in breast cancer and precision oncology, with research focused on biomarkers and personalized therapies.
Professor André leads multidisciplinary research teams working on translational science and targeted treatment strategies. He has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals including Nature, The Lancet, and The New England Journal of Medicine. In addition to his research work, he has held several leadership roles within ESMO, including Editor-in-Chief of Annals of Oncology from 2017 to 2023.
Fabrice André Recognized among The 100 Most Influential People in Oncology in 2025
Nadia Harbeck
Nadia Harbeck, MD, PhD, is Director of the Breast Center and Chair for Conservative Oncology at LMU University Hospital Munich in Munich, Germany. She is an internationally recognized leader in breast cancer research, focusing on personalized treatment strategies and prognostic biomarkers. Professor Harbeck currently serves as ESMO Director of Education and is Subject Editor for Breast Cancer in the ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines.
She has authored more than 680 peer-reviewed publications and is among the most highly cited clinical researchers worldwide. Her contributions to oncology were recognized with the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020 and the German Cancer Award for Clinical Research in 2023.
James Larkin
James Larkin, MD, PhD, is a Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Medical Oncology at The Institute of Cancer Research in London, United Kingdom. His clinical and research work focuses on melanoma and kidney cancers, particularly in the development of immunotherapies and targeted treatments.
Professor Larkin has been recognized as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher since 2021. He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2018 and became an NIHR Senior Investigator in 2020. He also leads several research and training initiatives at The Royal Marsden and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre.
Yelena Y. Janjigian
Yelena Y. Janjigian, MD, is Chief of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, United States and Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. She is a leading expert in gastric and esophageal cancers and has led numerous clinical trials shaping treatment strategies for these diseases.
Dr. Janjigian pioneered a combination therapy using trastuzumab and pembrolizumab for HER2-positive gastric cancer, which showed promising results and led to further phase III studies. She has received several awards for her research contributions, including the ASCO Career Development Award. She has also been recognized among OncoDaily’s “100 Influential Women in Oncology” in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Yelena Janjigian recognized among The 100 Most Influential People in Oncology in 2025
Written by Nare Hovhannisyan, MD