What to pack, where to go, how to connect, when to rest, and how to make the most of ESMO 2026 – from one lived experience advocate to another.

Hola!

For advocates, the ESMO Congress is an incredible opportunity to learn about the latest developments in cancer research, connect with healthcare professionals, meet advocates from around the world, and make sure that lived experience perspectives are part of important conversations.

And this year, we’re heading to Madrid! Enhorabuena! (good news!)

We know that attending a major oncology congress is about much more than understanding the latest science. It’s about building connections, finding our community, asking difficult questions, and bringing what we learn back to the people we represent. But also, as people with a lived cancer experience, we need to take care of ourselves.

Consider this your unofficial survival guide, from one advocate to another.

Before ESMO: A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way

1. Plan Your Congress, But Don’t Overplan It

ESMO is huge. There are scientific presentations, educational sessions, meetings, networking opportunities, and more interesting conversations than any one person could possibly attend.

Trying to do everything? Amigo ( friend) That’s a recipe for exhaustion (agotado).

Before arriving in Madrid:

Download the official ESMO Congress app when available.
Explore the scientific programme and identify sessions relevant to your advocacy work.
Check the Patient Advocacy Track sessions at the Seville Auditorium.
Arrange important meetings in advance.
Leave some free time for unexpected conversations.
Check the location, transport and registration requirements for events outside the congress venue.
Save important information offline, just in case your internet connection decides to take a break too.

Advocate tip: Choose three things you really want to learn and three people you would love to connect with, and look for them beforehand.

2. Important Update: Know Where Your Badge Can Take You

Due to European regulations and industry guidelines, patient advocates and other attendees who are not licensed healthcare prescribers may have limited access to the exhibition area this year. But don’t worry, the scientific and educational sessions, Patient Advocacy Track, and Networking Hub remain accessible! Just make sure to check your badge’s access conditions and plan meetings in spaces everyone can enter. And remember, our voices and lived experiences remain an essential part of the conversation.

Our lived experience is expertise, and our perspectives belong in scientific conversations.

What do you think about this measure? Meet me and tell OncoDaily about it!

3. Don’t Miss the ESMO Patient Advocate Workshops!

ESMO is offering practical workshops specifically designed to support patient advocacy work.

Here’s what’s planned:

Friday 23 October 15:00 – 16:00: Self-Care for Advocates
Saturday 24 October 08.30-09.30: Communication for Impact and Influence
Sunday 25 October 10:00 – 11:00: AI and Advocacy
Sunday 25 October 11:30 – 12:30: Disinformation and misinformation

Important: Places are limited, and each participant may attend only one workshop.

Submit your workshop preferences here.

My personal tip: Choose a workshop based on what will make the biggest difference to your advocacy work when you return home.

4. Pack Your Patient Advocate Survival Kit

You don’t need to bring your entire wardrobe, but a few essentials can make your congress experience much easier.

Comfortable shoes: Seriously, you won’t be the only one in snickers.
Portable charger: Your electronics will be working almost as hard as you.
Reusable water bottle: Hydration matters.
Light jacket or layers: Madrid in October can be mild, but temperatures vary and conference rooms can feel chilly.
Power adapter: Spain uses European type C and F plugs.
Medications and personal essentials: Keep what you need during the day with you.
Digital (or physical) business card or LinkedIn QR code: Networking made easier.
Small snacks: Because hunger doesn’t wait for the next coffee break.
A lightweight bag: Your shoulders will thank you.
Your congress badge: Keep it safe and check the replacement policy.

And perhaps the most important thing to pack?

Realistic expectations about how much you can do in one day.

During the Congress: Survive, Connect and Enjoy!

5. Rest. Yes, Really. Rest. (Descansa!) !

Long days, endless corridors, back-to-back sessions, networking events, and the constant feeling that you might be missing something important.

And for those of us with lived experience of cancer, it can be a whole different level of exhausting.

And that’s OK.

You don’t have to attend every session, accept every invitation, or stay until the last networking event to be a good patient advocate.

My survival advice?

Schedule rest like you schedule meetings. Seriously. Put it in your calendar.
Find your quiet corner. Look for seating areas or spaces where you can step away from the crowds.
Use the Meditation Room. ESMO’s practical information includes this facility. Check the official venue information for its exact location and availability.
Sit down whenever you can. Don’t wait until you’re completely exhausted.
Give yourself permission to leave early. Missing one session doesn’t mean missing ESMO.
Hotel time: Go to bed early and don’t feel bad for missing dinners or late events.
Eat, hydrate, and recharge. Your phone isn’t the only thing that needs a battery boost.
Listen to your body, not your FOMO.

And please, don’t compare yourself with others!

Rest Is Not a Reward for Finishing Everything. It’s Part of How We Make Participation Possible.

Need Some Fresh Air? There’s a Park Next Door!

Here’s a little Madrid insider tip: Parque Juan Carlos I is right next to IFEMA Madrid and it is free to enter!

If the crowds, noise, and endless conversations start to feel overwhelming, consider stepping outside for some fresh air and enjoy Spanish autumn (otoño). The park has green spaces, gardens, sculptures, water features, and walking paths.

Advocate tip: You came to ESMO to make your voice heard, not to prove how much exhaustion you can tolerate.

6. Accessibility Matters

ESMO provides accessibility information for wheelchair users and visitors with reduced mobility.

If you have specific accessibility requirements, review the venue arrangements before travelling.

For more details, visit the official ESMO 2026 Practical Information page.

7. Make the Most of the Patient Advocacy Track

This is where discussions about patient involvement, access to care, policy, research, and the realities of living with cancer can take centre stage.

Saturday, October 24 | Seville Auditorium

13:00–14:30: Access, Equity, and Reducing Inequalities
16:30–18:00: Innovations in Cancer Treatment

Sunday, October 25 | Seville Auditorium

13:00–14:30: Digital Health, Data, and Innovation
16:30–18:00: Extending Life, Realizing Potential: Bridging Innovation and Implementation in Cancer Care

And don’t forget the Networking Hub, another valuable place to exchange ideas and meet people who share your commitment to improving cancer care.

Advocate tip: Don’t just collect information. Think about how you can translate what you learn into something useful for your community.

8. Need a Meeting Space? Check the PA Lounge!

Small meeting rooms for up to four people will be available within the Patient Advocacy Lounge.

Advocate tip: If you have an important meeting planned, check availability at the PA Lounge early.

9. Networking Without Feeling Overwhelmed

Sometimes, a conversation over coffee can lead to a research collaboration, an advocacy initiative, or a friendship that lasts for years.

A few network ideas:

Introduce yourself to someone new each day.
Connect with advocates working in different cancer types.
Ask researchers how patients are involved in their work.
Share your perspective, even when it differs from others.
Follow up with new contacts after the congress.

Advocate tip: Want to be memorable? Don’t just talk about cancer! Share your hobbies, ask about theirs, and discover the person behind the badge. At a congress with thousands of people, we might forget names, titles, or scientific discussions, but we rarely forget how someone made us feel.

10. Don’t Miss the OncoDaily Events!

And the OncoDaily team has several exciting activities planned throughout the congress!

Patient advocates, your perspectives are welcome in oncology conversations!

Find the full programme, venues, and registration details here:

OncoDaily at ESMO 2026: Where Science Meets Community

And Please, Come Find the OncoDaily Team!

If you see the OncoDaily team during ESMO, come say Hola!

As the lead of the Lived Experience Advocacy Hub, I would love to meet fellow advocates, hear your stories, and learn what brought you to Madrid.

Come find us, grab a sticker, take a photo, and share your ESMO experience with the world!

Let’s share your ESMO with the world!

A Little Madrid Magic

11. Speak a Little Spanish!

You don’t need to speak fluent Spanish to enjoy Madrid, but learning a few words can make your experience even better.

ESMO 2026 Survival Guide for Advocates: Science, Spanish, Stickers and a Little Madrid Magic

And a couple of useful phrases for enjoying Madrid:

¡Una cerveza, por favor! – A beer, please.

¡Una tapa, por favor! – A tapa (small food dish), please.

¡Nos vemos! – See you!

And if you’re worried about the language barrier, remember: I speak Spanish, English, and cancer experience.

Sometimes, lived experience is the language that connects us all.

12. What to Eat in Madrid

You cannot come to Madrid without enjoying some Spanish food!

Some few things worth trying:

Tortilla española
Patatas bravas
Croquetas
Bocadillo de calamares
Churros con chocolate
Cocido madrileño

And don’t forget that Spanish meal schedules may be different from what you’re used to. Lunch and dinner often happen later than in many other countries.

Advocate tip: If you have dietary restrictions or food allergies, check ingredients carefully and communicate your needs clearly. There is a supermarket (Carrefour) near by here

13. Enjoy Madrid, Even If It’s Just for an Hour

If you have some free time and enough energy, Madrid has plenty to offer.

After ESMO: Turn Connections Into Action

14. The Congress Ends, but Advocacy Continues

ESMO may last only five days, but its impact can extend far beyond Madrid.

When you return home:

Follow up with the people you met.
Share important scientific updates with your community.
Translate complex research into accessible information.
Explore potential collaborations.
Reflect on what patients need to know.
Identify opportunities to bring lived experience into future research and policy discussions.

Final Thoughts: Your Voice Belongs at ESMO

Whether it’s your first ESMO or your tenth, remember: your voice matters! Stay curious, take breaks, make connections, and enjoy Madrid. And if you see me rushing around with a coffee in hand, please stop me and say hello! I’d love to hear your story.

Remember, I speak Spanish, English, and cancer experience. No translation needed for that last one!

Come for the science. Stay for the connections. Grab an OncoDaily sticker (or two!). And leave Madrid with new friends, fresh ideas, and stories worth sharing.

See you at ESMO 2026. ¡Nos vemos en Madrid!

You can also read:

OncoDaily Grand Rounds at ESMO 2026: Sarcoma Edition