Agora Conference 2026
Scientific Programme
Browse the scientific programme of the AGORA Conference 2026 and discover the sessions, workshops, speakers, and key topics that will shape this year's meeting in Sofia.
Thursday September 24 September 24
17:00 - 17:30
Registrations
- 1st Floor
- Foyer
19:15
Dinner
- Ground Floor
- Restaurant
Friday September 25 September 25
09:00 - 09:30
Registrations
- 1st Floor
- Foyer
09:30 - 10:00
Opening Ceremony
Representative of Sofia Municipality
Prof. Anastas Batalov
President, Bulgarian Rheumatology Society
Dr. Vladimira Boyadzhieva
President, Bulgarian Society of Health Professionals in Rheumatology
Prof. Xenofon Baraliakos
EULAR President 2025–2027
Boryana Boteva
Head, BOPRD
10:30 - 12:00
SESSION 1 | Innovation & Personalised Care in RMDs
10:30 – 12:00
Workshop 1
- 1st Floor
- Main Hall - Europe 2/3
AI & Digital Health in RMDs — From Hype to Real Impact
Mira Ganova
Instructor
10:30 – 12:00
Workshop 2
- 1st Floor
- Breakout room 1 - Bulgaria
Vaccination and Autoimmune Diseases — From Prevention to Confidence
Dr. Ekaterina Kurteva
Instructor
10:30 – 12:00
Workshop 3
- 1st Floor
- Breakout room 2 - Boyana
Living with Comorbidity — Navigating Complex Care in RMDs
Souzi Makri
Instructor
Andri Phoka
Instructor
12:00 – 12:15
Plenary Discussion on Workshops
Facilitators: Katy Antonopoulou, Chrysanthi Sardeli, Sebastian Micallef, Machi Salamaliki
- 1st Floor
- Main Hall - Europe 2/3
12:15 – 13:30
Lunch Break
- Ground Floor
- Restaurant
13:30 - 15:00
SESSION 2 | Empowering Patients & Improving Outcomes
13:30 – 15:00
Workshop 4
- 1st Floor
- Main Hall - Europe 2/3
From Fear to Confidence— Managing Treatment Concerns in RMDs
Dr. Vladimira Boyadzhieva
Instructor
13:30 – 15:00
Workshop 5
- 1st Floor
- Breakout room 1 - Bulgaria
Building the Next Generation of Patient Advocates
Simon Stones
Instructor
13:30 – 15:00
Workshop 6
- 1st Floor
- Breakout room 2 - Boyana
Your Daily Toolkit — Strategies to Ease Life with RMDs (Vitamins & Food Intolerance)
Dr. Svetla Dancheva
Instructor
15:00 – 15:15
Plenary Discussion on Workshops
Facilitators: Boryana Boteva, Souzi Makri, Igor Medojevic
- 1st Floor
- Main Hall - Europe 2/3
15:15 – 15:30
Ηow AGORA and its members can engage with, and benefit from, the work of the Global Remission Coalition
- 1st Floor
- Main Hall - Europe 2/3
Neil Betteridge
Speaker
16:30
Cultural Overview of Sofia
- Offsite
- Hotel Lobby
Saturday September 26 September 26
09:00 - 10:30
SESSION 1 | Empowering Patients & Improving Outcomes
09:00 – 10:30
Workshop 4
- 1st Floor
- Main Hall - Europe 2/3
From Fear to Confidence— Managing Treatment Concerns in RMDs
Theognosia Apostolou
Instructor
09:00 – 10:30
Workshop 5
- 1st Floor
- Breakout room 1 - Bulgaria
Building the Next Generation of Patient Advocates
Deyan Denev
Instructor
09:00 – 10:30
Workshop 6
- 1st Floor
- Breakout room 2 - Boyana
Your Daily Toolkit — Wellbeing & Rehabilitation
Dr. Aycha Zaralieva
Instructor
Dr. Elena Nikiphorou
(pre-recorded)
Instructor
10:30 – 10:45
Plenary Discussion on Workshops
Facilitators: Boryana Boteva, Souzi Makri, Ivanova Miglena
- 1st Floor
- Main Hall - Europe 2/3
10:45 – 11:15
Break
- 1st Floor
- Foyer
11:15 – 12:45
SESSION 2 | Innovation & Personalised Care in RMDs
11:15 – 12:45
Workshop 7
- 1st Floor
- Main Hall - Europe 2/3
Mental Wellbeing in Rheumatic Diseases — Tools, Techniques and Everyday Coping
Souzi Makri
Instructor
11:15 – 12:45
Workshop 8
- 1st Floor
- Breakout room 1 - Bulgaria
Sexual Health & Intimacy in RMDs
Prof. Chrysanthi Sardeli
Instructor
12:45 - 13:00
Plenary Discussion on Workshops
Facilitators: Katy Antonopoulou, Andri Phoka
- 1st Floor
- Main Hall - Europe 2/3
13:00 – 13:30
Closing & Recognition
- 1st Floor
- Main Hall - Europe 2/3
13:00 – 13:15
Best Practice Awards
13:15 – 13:25
Update on Serbia's Initiatives (Hosting Country 2027)
13:25 – 13:35
Closing Remarks
13:35 – 14:30
Lunch Break
- Ground Floor
- Restaurant