Welcome to the AGORA Conference 2026

Andri Phoka

President, AGORA Federation

Dear Colleagues,

As President of the AGORA Federation, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the AGORA Conference 2026, taking place in Sofia, Bulgaria, from September 24–26, 2026.

Building on the strong foundation of our 2025 Conference in Athens—which brought together patient representatives, experts, and organisations from across Southern Europe—this year we take a step further. We move from sharing knowledge to actively co-creating it.

Under the theme “More Than a Patient: Your Voice. Your Life. Your RMD Journey.”, the 2026 Conference places the lived experience of people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases at the heart of every discussion. It reflects our shared commitment to a more person-centred, participatory, and empowering approach to care and advocacy.

This year’s programme is intentionally designed around interactive workshops, forming the core of the Conference experience. Through parallel sessions and collaborative formats, participants will have the opportunity to exchange perspectives, address common challenges, and develop practical ideas that can be applied within their own communities and organisations.

By strengthening dialogue, fostering collaboration, and amplifying patient voices, AGORA continues to unite a powerful network representing millions of people living with RMDs across Southern Europe.

We look forward to welcoming you to Sofia for three days of meaningful interaction, shared learning, and collective progress!

Warm regards,
Andri Phoka
President, AGORA Federation