Agora Conference 2026
Preliminary Scientific Programme
Preliminary Scientific Programme
Browse the preliminary scientific programme of the AGORA Federation 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 Session
Chair: Andri Phoka, Boryana Boteva
- 1st Floor
- Europe 2/3
09:30 - 09:45
Opening Ceremony
Vasil Terziev
Mayor of Sofia
Boryana Boteva
Head, BOPRD
Prof. Anastas Batalov
President, Bulgarian Rheumatology Society
Dr. Vladimira Boyadzhieva
Bulgarian Society of Health Professionals in Rheumatology
09:45 - 10:00
Opening Speech
From Innovation to Impact: Transforming RMD Care
PRERECORDED
Prof. Xenofon Baraliakos
EULAR President 2025–2027
10:00 - 10:30
Keyonote Speech
Chair: Andri Phoka
- 1st Floor
- Europe 2/3
10:00 - 10:30
AI and the Future of RMD Care: Hype or Reality?
Mira Ganova
Speaker - Instructor
10:30 - 12:00
SESSION 1 | Innovation & Personalised Care in RMDs
Parallel Workshops (You can only register to one) *
10:30 – 12:00
Workshop 1
Facilitator: Katy Antonopoulou
- 1st Floor
- Europe 2/3
AI & Digital Health in RMDs — From Hype to Real Impact
Mira Ganova
Speaker - Instructor
10:30 – 12:00
Workshop 2
Facilitator: Chrysanthi Sardeli
- 1st Floor
- Bulgaria
Vaccination and Autoimmune Diseases — From Prevention to Confidence
Ekaterina Kurteva
Speaker - Instructor
10:30 – 12:00
Workshop 3
Facilitators: Sebastian Micallef - Machi Salamaliki
- 1st Floor
- Boyana
Living with Comorbidity — Navigating Complex Care in RMDs
Souzi Makri
Speaker - Instructor
Andri Phoka
Speaker - Instructor
12:00 – 13.30
Lunch Break
- Ground Floor
- Restaurant
13:30 - 15:00
SESSION 2 | Empowering Patients & Improving Outcomes
Parallel Workshops (You can only register to one) *
13:30 – 15:00
Workshop 4
Facilitator: Boryana Boteva
- 1st Floor
- Europe 2/3
From Fear to Confidence— Managing Treatment Concerns in RMDs
Vladimira Boyadzhieva
Speaker - Instructor
13:30 – 15:00
Workshop 5
Facilitator: Souzi Makri
- 1st Floor
- Bulgaria
Building the Next Generation of Patient Advocates
Simon Stones
Speaker - Instructor
13:30 – 15:00
Workshop 6
Facilitator: Igor Medojevic
- 1st Floor
- Boyana
Your Daily Toolkit — Strategies to Ease Life with RMDs
(Vitamins & Food Intolerance)
Ekaterina Ivanova-Todorova
Speaker - Instructor
15:00 – 15:15
Plenary Discussion on Workshops
- 1st Floor
- Europe 2/3
15:15 - 15:45
Satellite Symposium
16:30
Cultural Overview of Sofia
- Offsite
- Hotel Lobby
19:00
Dinner
- Offsite
- tba
Saturday September 26 September 26
09:00 - 10:30
SESSION 2 🔁 (Repeat)| Empowering Patients & Improving Outcomes
Parallel Workshops (You can only register to one) *
09:00 – 10:30
Workshop 4
Facilitator: Boryana Boteva
- 1st Floor
- Europe 2/3
From Fear to Confidence— Managing Treatment Concerns in RMDs
Theognosia Apostolou
Speaker - Instructor
09:00 – 10:30
Workshop 5
Facilitators: Ivanka Spassova - Miglena Ivanova
- 1st Floor
- Bulgaria
Building the Next Generation of Patient Advocates
Deyan Denev
Speaker - Instructor
09:00 – 10:30
Workshop 6
Facilitator: Igor Medojevic
- 1st Floor
- Boyana
Your Daily Toolkit — Wellbeing & Rehabilitation
Dr. Aycha Zaralieva
Speaker - Instructor
Dr. Elena Nikiphorou
(pre-recorded)
Speaker - Instructor
10:30 – 11:00
Break
- 1st Floor
- Foyer
11:00 – 12:45
SESSION 3 | Innovation & Personalised Care in RMDs
Parallel Workshops (You can only register to one) *
11:00 – 12:30
Workshop 7
Facilitator: Katy Antonopoulou
- 1st Floor
- Europe 2/3
Mental Wellbeing in Rheumatic Diseases — Tools, Techniques and Everyday Coping
Souzi Makri
Speaker - Instructor
11:00 – 12:30
Workshop 8
Facilitator: Andri Phoka
- 1st Floor
- Bulgaria
Sexual Health & Intimacy in RMDs
Chrysanthi Sardeli
Speaker - Instructor
12:30 – 12:45
Plenary Discussion on Workshops
- 1st Floor
- Europe 2/3
12:45 – 13:15
Closing & Recognition
- 1st Floor
- Europe 2/3
12:45 – 12:55
Best Practice Awards
12:55 – 13:05
Update on Serbia's Initiatives (the hosting country in 2027)
13:05 – 13:15
Closing Remarks
13:15 – 14:15
Lunch Break
- Ground Floor
- Restaurant
19:00
Dinner
- Offsite
- tba
* Note: The scientific programme is organised in parallel sessions taking place over two (2) days and includes eight (8) different workshops in total.
Friday includes two parallel sessions:
• Session 1 (10:30–12:00): Workshops 1, 2 and 3 (W1, W2, W3)
• Session 2 (13:30–15:00): Workshops 4, 5 and 6 (W4, W5, W6)
Participants may select one workshop per session.
Saturday includes:
• Session 2 – Repeat (10:30–12:00): Workshops 4, 5 and 6 (W4, W5, W6)
This repeated session allows participants to attend an additional workshop from Session 2. Please note that participants must select a different workshop from the one they attended on Friday, as it is not possible to attend the same workshop twice.
• Session 3 (13:30–15:00): Workshops 7 and 8 (W7, W8)
Again, participants may select one workshop per session.