39th ECNP Congress 10-13 Oct. 2026 | Munich, Germany
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Session formats

The 39th ECNP Congress offers a variety of scientific sessions designed to appeal to a wide range of participants.

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All the sessions will be available for in-person participants. Most of the sessions will also be available for  virtual participants.

The livestreamed sessions will be recorded for on-demand viewing by registered participants until 11 January 2027 at 12.00 CET (Central European Time).

Scientific sessions

The 39th ECNP Congress programme features a wide range of scientific sessions presented in various formats.

Keynote Lecture

80 minutes (including welcome speech and ECNP Award hand-overs); livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants
The ECNP President opens the meeting with a welcome, followed by the Keynote Lecture delivered by a distinguished, internationally recognised speaker. This lecture officially marks the start of the scientific programme, and all participants are warmly invited to attend.

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Plenary Lectures

45 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants.
Plenary Lectures at the ECNP Congress are delivered by leading, internationally recognised scientists and form the central pillar of the scientific programme. Of the six lecture slots, two are dedicated to the 2026 ECNP Neuropsychopharmacology Award recipient and the Brain Prize winner. Make sure to take advantage of this exceptional opportunity!

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Symposia and other presentations
See below the list of symposia and other presentations available to both in-person and virtual participants of the 39th ECNP Congress.

Questions can be asked by in-person and virtual participants.

Symposia

80 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants
In these traditional ECNP Symposia, four leading experts — guided by a symposium chair — provide an overview of the current state of the field and share their latest research insights. The sessions are designed from open submission, ensuring a broad and diverse range of perspectives. Each speaker is assigned 15 minutes to present, followed by questions and answers.  

Breaking Hot Topic Symposium

80 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants
The Breaking Hot Topic Symposium provides a platform for discussing the timeliest science during a short talk.
Speakers are selected by the Scientific Programme Committee (SPC).
Session proposals could be submitted, with a deadline of 30 April 2026.

New Findings in Applied Neuroscience

80 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants
New Findings in Applied Neuroscience is a special symposium that gives six promising Early Career Scientists – selected from the best research presented at the ECNP Workshop on Applied Neuroscience – the opportunity to present their latest findings. Each lecture ends with a short questions and answers segment. 

Novel Therapies Symposium

80 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants
The Novel Therapies Symposium is a dedicated session focusing on clinical trials of new compounds, including proof‑of‑concept and post‑marketing studies, using data from human trials — particularly phase II and III studies. The scope has been expanded to also include studies involving new medical devices, such as neurostimulation technologies.
Session proposals could be submitted, with a deadline of 30 April 2026.

Career Development Sessions

45 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants
The Career Development Sessions offer training led by experienced experts in the field. These intimate sessions cover a range of topics aimed at supporting your scientific career, such as writing research papers, enhancing presentation skills, launching a spin‑off company, or exploring career opportunities in industry. Designed especially – though not exclusively – for Early Career Scientists, each session concludes with an interactive questions and answers segment.

Love Your Brain Sessions

30 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants
These sessions – each led by a single speaker – focus on the importance of prevention of brain disorders and promotion of mental health through a healthy and brain-friendly lifestyle. These sessions will explore neuroscience from a different perspective! The presentation of the speaker is followed by a short questions and answers segment.  

Top Paper Sessions

30 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants
In the Top Paper Sessions, distinguished speakers present and discuss four papers published within the past year that they consider the most clinically relevant and cutting‑edge in their field. These sessions offer an excellent opportunity to quickly catch up on the latest advances in clinical research. 

Interactive sessions
Engage with experts through open floor formats and ample interaction.

Campfire Sessions

45 minutes; in-person & virtual (audio only)
The Campfire Sessions allow maximum interaction between experts and participants on a specific topic. In these unique sessions, participants gather in a circle — as if around a campfire — without slides or screens. The expert, supported by a moderator, introduces the topic before opening the floor for an engaging, interactive conversation.

The campfire format provides a perfect opportunity to ask your burning questions directly to a leading expert. Limited to a maximum of 80-100 in-person participants, Campfire Sessions operate on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. 

One of this year's campfires will be hosted by the European Brain Council. Additional sessions will be dedicated to the Neuroscience‑based Nomenclature project and to the ECNP Rising Star Award winner(s). 

Course Sessions

80 minutes; available for in-person participants
These interactive sessions are linked to ECNP’s online courses on the ECNP Knowledge Hub. It builds directly on the course contents by focusing on the practical application of key concepts in real-world scenarios. Speakers engage participants throughout via live polling, brief peer-to-peer exchanges, and moderated discussion, encouraging active reflection and knowledge sharing. It is primarily designed for current course participants, while also welcoming congress delegates interested in the topic and considering joining the course.

Educational Update Sessions

80 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants
These interactive sessions are designed to provide an educational update with an emphasis on new information relevant for clinical practice. During their talks, the speakers engage the participants repeatedly by inviting them to take part in multiple interactive polls on the presented topics. One of the Educational Update Sessions is hosted by the European Psychiatric Association (EPA). 

Poster and ePoster Sessions

Poster Sessions
Available for in-person participants in the poster area
The abstracts accepted for in-person presentation will be presented by means of a paper poster, printed for free by ECNP.

Poster Pitches
Available for in-person participants
Poster Pitches will feature a number of selected Excellence Award winners, each presenting their research through a brief and engaging pitch.

ePoster Sessions
Available for in-person and virtual participants
All posters from accepted abstracts are also available via the Congress platform and the app as ePosters, starting from the first day of the Congress.

Focus sessions
These 45-minute sessions offer a concentrated dive into key topics in neuroscience and mental health. Designed to be dynamic and varied in format, focus sessions may feature panel discussions, partner- and project-led presentations, or mini symposia.  

ECNP’s Got Talent – a contest in storytelling

60 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants
For this innovative format, ECNP challenges four Early Career Scientists to explain their research to a non-specialist audience. The contest is not only about what is presented, how the data is presented is equally important  — 'storytelling' and 'engagement' are key concepts. The performances will be evaluated by a jury and the best one will receive an award. 

ECNP Inspired – the stories behind the researcher and the research

45 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants
‘Inspiration’ can be defined as an event that reveals a new truth to our mind, guiding us to new acts or a new perspective about our life and work. The ECNP Inspired Session gives the stage to speakers that will inspire you by giving a short talk on their experiences as researchers and clinicians. 

EAN Mini-symposium

This short symposium brings together and highlights the strengths of both psychiatry and neurology, showcasing the valuable insights that emerge when the two disciplines intersect. Co-hosted by the European Academy of Neurology, it offers participants a unique opportunity to engage with leading experts at the forefront of both fields.  

Lived Experience Session

45 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants
ECNP is committed to ensuring that advances in the understanding of the brain are translated into better treatments and enhanced public health. Hence, one of the goals of ECNP is to facilitate the dialogue between researchers, regulators, government bodies, and persons with lived experience. This session is designed to create space for sharing personal experiences, challenges, and priorities, and to engage in meaningful dialogue with researchers, clinicians, regulators, and policymakers. Each year, the Congress hosts this session in partnership with lived experience organisations around a specific theme. This year’s session will be developed in collaboration with the Dutch ADHD association Impuls & Woortblind, ensuring that real-world expertise of people with ADHD are central to the discussion.

Regulatory Spotlight Session

45 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and online participants
This is a special regulatory dialogue session with the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Designed for open and active engagement amongst EMA stakeholders, the session is an excellent opportunity for scientific and regulatory exchange.

Industry sessions

These industry sessions are organised with financial support from industry and are reviewed for balance and rigour by the Scientific Programme Committee (SPC).
See below a list of industry session formats held at the 39th ECNP Congress.

Industry Satellite Symposia

80 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants, if applicable
These industry sessions are scientifically oriented and have a well-balanced programme (e.g. not concentrating on one specific medication). The programmes are not organised in parallel with the official ECNP scientific programme.

Industry Mini Sessions

45 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants if applicable
These scientifically oriented mini sessions have a well-balanced programme and are not organised in parallel with the official ECNP scientific programme.

Industry Interactive Discussions

30 minutes; not-livestreamed; available for in-person participants only
These interactive sessions offer the opportunity to move from commercial oriented exposure to more focused, scientifically driven engagement with participants. This format allows for close interaction with participants on a specific topic. After a short introduction by the expert(s), the session focuses on interactive discussion with the audience. The programmes take place in parallel with the official ECNP scientific programme.

Industry Product Theatre

30 minutes; livestreamed; available for in-person and virtual participants, if applicable
These high-value sessions provide a podium for industry to present to participants on a broad range of issues, including new treatment approaches, medical devices, digital health apps, the uses of specific medications, clinical insights, innovative services and product demonstrations. The programmes take place in parallel with the official ECNP scientific programme.

Industry Case Study

30 minutes; not-livestreamed; available for in-person participants only
These interactive sessions provide participants with the opportunity to discuss the application of medicines, devices, and/or treatment strategies in real-world clinical settings. After a short introduction, the session focuses on interactive discussion and problem solving with the industry expert(s). The programmes take place in parallel with the official ECNP scientific programme.