ESMO Congress 2026 Madrid: Oncology Congress Guide & List
By Ilyas Kerbal,
ESMO Congress is Europe’s largest oncology congress and, with ASCO, one of the two most important oncology meetings in the world. The 2026 edition runs from 23 to 27 October 2026 at IFEMA (Feria de Madrid). Around 30,000+ participants and 200+ exhibitors attend (estimate). The 2027 host city has not been confirmed.
Practice-changing trial data is presented in late-breaking sessions, which makes ESMO a key event for pharma and biotech medical, commercial and business-development teams, and for the CROs, diagnostics and service companies that work with them.
ESMO Congress 2026 at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Industry | Oncology / pharma |
| Venue | IFEMA – Feria de Madrid (2026) |
| City and country | Rotating European cities, Europe |
| Next edition | 23–27 October 2026, Madrid; 2027 host TBC |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Does it move? | Yes. Rotates between major European congress cities (e.g., Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin). |
| Scale | ~30,000+ participants; ~200+ exhibitors (estimate) |
| Organiser | ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) |
| Typical ticket price | ~€800–1,300+ (members lower); industry badges separate (estimate) |
| Event app / platform | ESMO Congress app |
| Website | esmo.org |
What ESMO covers
- Oncology pharma and biotech
- Cancer diagnostics and precision medicine
- Radiotherapy and oncology medtech
- Clinical research and CROs
- Digital oncology and real-world data
A rotating congress
ESMO rotates between large European venues, such as Barcelona, Madrid and Berlin. Madrid hosts in 2026. Rotation means logistics change every year.
Who attends ESMO
| Audience | Interest | Relevance for industry sellers |
|---|---|---|
| Medical oncologists and cancer researchers | Data and guidelines | Clinical audience, strict promotion rules |
| Pharma medical affairs and clinical development | Trial results, KOLs | Buyers of CRO and data services |
| Biotech BD and licensing teams | Partnerships | Deal-makers |
| Diagnostics and CRO companies | Partners | Vendors and partners |
| Investors and analysts | Data readouts | Funding |
Access to promotional areas is limited to healthcare professionals.
IFEMA exhibition centre at Campo de las Naciones, Madrid. Photo: Zarateman, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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Registration
Registration fees typically run around €800–1,300+ depending on membership and timing, with lower member and trainee rates (estimate). Industry representatives register through exhibitor or industry badges.
The ESMO Congress app
The ESMO Congress app provides the programme, abstracts, maps and notifications. It is a scientific tool, not a sales tool, and it gives no structured view of the industry teams attending.
How to prospect ESMO
- List exhibiting and sponsoring companies by therapeutic focus.
- Identify medical affairs, clinical operations and BD leads at each.
- Follow the late-breaking abstracts. They show which companies have news and budget.
- Respect compliance. Promotion to HCPs is regulated, so focus B2B outreach on industry teams.
- Plan around rotating venues and book hotels early.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Top-tier oncology data releases | Expensive registration |
| Dense concentration of KOLs and pharma BD | Strict promotion rules |
| Strong investor attention | Rotating city |
Frequently asked questions
When is ESMO Congress 2026?
From 23 to 27 October 2026 at IFEMA, Madrid.
Where is ESMO 2027?
The 2027 host has not been confirmed.
Who organises ESMO Congress?
ESMO, the European Society for Medical Oncology.
Can I get an ESMO attendee list?
Attendee data is not published. An enriched list covers exhibitors, sponsors and public faculty, with company and role data.
ESMO is weeks away
For an enriched list of oncology companies and decision-makers ahead of Madrid, ask for a quote on the Prospector home page.
Related event guides
- ESC Congress 2027 Milan: Cardiology Congress Guide & List
- EHA Congress 2027: Haematology Congress Guide & Attendee List
- BIO-Europe 2026 Cologne: Biotech Partnering Guide & List
Sources
Image credits
- Cover image: Photo: Alquiler de Coches, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Facade of IFEMA Madrid, host of ESMO Congress 2026.
- In-article image: Photo: Zarateman, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. IFEMA exhibition centre at Campo de las Naciones, Madrid.
