Top Stroke Conferences to Attend in 2026

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. In 2026, the global stroke research community gathers across multiple major conferences — from acute treatment breakthroughs and thrombectomy trials to rehabilitation science and stroke prevention strategies. 

This guide covers the most important stroke conferences in 2026, with verified dates, locations, who should attend, and what you gain at each. We have also featured the PubScholars International Neurology Conference 2026, a hybrid event in Boston with abstract submission open and publication in conference proceedings — including sessions on stroke care. 

For brain research conferences more broadly, see our top brain conferences 2026 guide. For Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s research, see our top Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s conferences 2026 guide. 

Why attend a stroke conference in 2026? 

Stroke research and clinical practice are evolving quickly — from late-breaking thrombectomy trials to AI-assisted imaging and new approaches to rehabilitation. Conferences are where these advances are first shared with the global stroke community. 

Here is what you gain by attending: 

• Access to late-breaking clinical trial results before journal publication. 
• CME and CPD credits for licence renewal — major stroke conferences offer extensive accredited programming. 
• Hands-on workshops covering acute stroke management, thrombectomy, and neurointervention. 
• Networking with stroke neurologists, researchers, nurses, and rehabilitation specialists from around the world. 
• Abstract presentation opportunities to share your stroke research with an international audience. 

Top stroke conferences in 2026 

1. ★ International Neurology Conference 2026 — PubScholars (Boston, USA) 

Date: November 20–21, 2026 

Location: Aloft Boston Seaport District, 401–403 D St, Boston, MA 02210, USA (Hybrid — in-person and virtual) 

Theme: “Next-Generation Neurology: Integrating AI, Genomics & Clinical Excellence” 

The International Neurology Conference 2026 is the most accessible event on this list for stroke researchers and clinicians who want to present their work internationally and get it published. The conference covers stroke care and cerebrovascular disease, AI in neurological diagnosis, neuroimaging innovations, neurorehabilitation, and clinical updates across epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and movement disorders alongside stroke. 

Both in-person and virtual attendance are fully supported. Abstracts are reviewed by an international scientific committee and accepted papers are published in official conference proceedings. Virtual attendees receive full session access and a digital certificate. 

Who should attend: Stroke neurologists, cerebrovascular researchers, stroke rehabilitation specialists, neuroimaging researchers, stroke nurses, and postgraduate students presenting original stroke research 

CME / CPD Credits: CPD-accredited credits available. Contact info@pubscholars.org 

Abstract submission: https://pubscholars.org/submit-abstract/ 

Website: https://pubscholars.org/ 

 Early Bird Registration closes June 30, 2026. Abstract submission is open. 

2. International Stroke Conference (ISC) 2026 — American Heart Association (New Orleans, USA) 

Date: February 4–6, 2026 (already held) 

Location: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA, USA 

The International Stroke Conference 2026 is the American Heart Association’s flagship stroke event and one of the largest stroke research conferences in the world. The 2026 programme introduced a new Brain Health Symposium — a full-day pre-conference event on the latest breakthroughs in brain health research — alongside an expanded Digital Oral Poster experience and sessions organised into 15 distinct “communities” covering everything from acute stroke management to experimental stroke science. 

ISC also includes a dedicated Nursing Symposium. While the 2026 edition has already taken place, it remains the benchmark US stroke event — and the structure gives a clear preview of what ISC 2027 is likely to offer. 

Who should attend: Stroke neurologists, cerebrovascular researchers, stroke nurses, neurointerventionalists, and rehabilitation specialists, especially those based in or connected to the USA 

CME / CPD Credits: AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits — verify on professional.heart.org 

Website: https://professional.heart.org/ 

3. European Stroke Organisation Conference (ESOC) 2026 — Maastricht, Netherlands 

Date: May 6–8, 2026 (already held) 

Location: MECC Maastricht, Maastricht, the Netherlands 

The 12th European Stroke Organisation Conference is Europe’s leading forum for stroke research and clinical care, and one of the most influential stroke conferences worldwide. ESOC 2026 in Maastricht brought together more than 4,000 participants from 96 countries across over 300 speakers — with late-breaking trials including the HOPE trial on blood pressure management after thrombectomy and the OCEANIC-STROKE phase III trial on antiplatelet therapy. 

Maastricht was chosen partly for its connection to the MR CLEAN trial, a landmark study in endovascular stroke treatment. ESOC 2027 is already listed for May 2027 — location to be confirmed. 

Who should attend: European stroke neurologists, cerebrovascular researchers, neurointerventionalists, stroke rehabilitation specialists, and policymakers in stroke care across Europe 

CME / CPD Credits: European CME credits available — verify on eso-stroke.org 

Website: https://eso-stroke.org/ 

4. World Stroke Congress (WSC) 2026 — Seoul, South Korea 

Date: October 21–23, 2026 

Location: COEX Convention & Exhibition Center, Seoul, South Korea 

The 18th World Stroke Congress is organised by the World Stroke Organization and is the most globally representative stroke conference of 2026. For the first time, WSC 2026 is combined with the International Conference Stroke Update in collaboration with the Korean Stroke Society — creating an integrated event spanning the full spectrum of stroke research and care. The 2025 edition in Barcelona drew over 2,700 attendees from more than 100 countries. 

WSC 2026 emphasises global collaboration, advocacy, diversity, equity, and inclusion alongside groundbreaking science and late-breaking clinical trials. The call for abstracts and session proposals is expected to open in mid-2026 — watch world-stroke.org for the announcement. 

Who should attend: Stroke clinicians, researchers, scientists, nurses, rehabilitation specialists, public health experts, and patient advocates from around the world 

CME / CPD Credits: CME credits available — verify on worldstrokecongress.org 

Website: https://worldstrokecongress.org/ 

5. EAN Congress 2026 — European Academy of Neurology (Geneva, Switzerland) 

Date: 2026 — confirm exact dates on ean.org 

Location: Geneva, Switzerland 

Theme: Computing in Neurological Practice 

The EAN Congress is the most important general neurology conference in Europe, with stroke and cerebrovascular disease featuring prominently across its programme each year. The 2026 theme on computing in neurological practice includes sessions on AI-assisted stroke imaging and decision support — an increasingly important area in acute stroke care. 

For European neurologists who want broad coverage of stroke alongside other neurology subspecialties in a single event, EAN Congress is the most efficient option. 

Who should attend: European neurologists across all subspecialties including stroke, cerebrovascular researchers, and clinicians integrating AI into stroke imaging and care 

CME / CPD Credits: European CME credits (ECMEC) available — verify on ean.org 

Website: https://www.ean.org/ 

6. AAN Annual Meeting 2026 — American Academy of Neurology (Chicago, USA) 

Date: April 18–22, 2026 

Location: McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA (Hybrid) 

The AAN Annual Meeting is the world’s premier clinical neurology conference, with stroke care as one of its largest subspecialty tracks. The 2026 Chicago meeting drew more than 14,500 neurologists from 110 countries, with sessions covering acute stroke management, secondary prevention, and the latest AHA/ASA guideline updates. 

For US-based stroke clinicians who want comprehensive CME alongside stroke-specific content, AAN offers one of the most complete CME programmes of any neurology conference. 

Who should attend: Practising neurologists including stroke specialists, neurology trainees, advanced practice neurology clinicians, and stroke researchers with a broader neurology focus 

CME / CPD Credits: AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credits™ — one of the most comprehensive programmes in neurology 

Website: https://www.aan.com/events/annual-meeting 

7. Neuroscience 2026 — Society for Neuroscience (Washington, DC, USA) 

Date: November 14–18, 2026 

Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC, USA 

The SfN Annual Meeting is the largest neuroscience conference in the world. While not stroke-specific, its scale means stroke and cerebrovascular research — from basic mechanisms of ischaemic injury to neuroprotection and recovery — forms a substantial part of the programme. Abstract submission opens May 27, 2026 and closes June 10, 2026. 

For basic and translational researchers working on stroke mechanisms, neuroprotection, or recovery biology, SfN offers the broadest platform for presenting this work alongside the wider neuroscience community. 

Who should attend: Basic and translational stroke researchers, neuroscientists working on ischaemia and neuroprotection, and graduate students in stroke-related neuroscience 

CME / CPD Credits: CME credits available — verify on sfn.org 

Website: https://www.sfn.org/meetings/neuroscience-2026 

Quick comparison: stroke conferences 2026 at a glance 

Use this table to find the best match for your goals and timeline.

Conference	Hybrid	Abstract	CME	USA	Date
PubScholars Neurology 2026 ★	Hybrid	✓	✓	✓	Nov 20–21
ISC 2026 (New Orleans)	In-person	Closed	✓	✓	Feb 4–6
ESOC 2026 (Maastricht)	In-person	Closed	✓	✗	May 6–8 ✓ held
WSC 2026 (Seoul)	In-person	Open soon	✓	✗	Oct 21–23
EAN Congress 2026 (Geneva)	In-person	✓	✓	✗	2026
SfN Neuroscience 2026	Partial	✓	✓	✓	Nov 14–18
AAN Annual Meeting 2026	Hybrid	Limited	✓	✓	Apr 18–22

How to choose the right stroke conference for you 

If you want the most globally representative stroke event 

The World Stroke Congress 2026 (Oct 21–23, Seoul) is the most globally representative stroke conference, combined for the first time with the International Conference Stroke Update. The 2025 edition drew attendees from over 100 countries. If you need a 2026 option with abstract submission still open, the Neurology Conference 2026 (Nov 20–21, Boston) covers stroke care in its clinical neurology sessions and has submissions open now. 

If you want to present and get published in 2026 

The  Neurology Conferences 2026 (Nov 20–21, Boston) is the most accessible remaining option in 2026. Abstract submission is open, the review process is handled by an international scientific committee, and accepted papers are published in official conference proceedings. Submit at pubscholars.org/submit-abstract/. 

If you are based in Europe 

ESOC 2026 (Maastricht, May 6–8) has already taken place, but ESOC 2027 is confirmed for May 2027. In the meantime, the EAN Congress 2026 (Geneva) offers strong stroke content within a broader neurology programme for European clinicians. 

If your focus is neurointervention or thrombectomy 

ESOC introduced a dedicated Neurointervention Track for 2026, run as a continuous non-parallel programme with partner societies including ESMINT. ISC 2026 also featured an expanded Simulation Zone for hands-on practice. Watch for similar tracks at WSC 2026 in Seoul. 

If you want comprehensive CME alongside stroke content 

The AAN Annual Meeting (Apr 18–22, Chicago) offers the most comprehensive AMA PRA Category 1 CME programme of any neurology conference, with stroke as one of its largest subspecialty tracks.

Useful guides for stroke researchers and clinicians 

These PubScholars resources will help you prepare: 

• How to write a conference abstract — structure, format, and template for stroke and neurology research 
• What is the purpose of a conference committee — understand how your abstract is reviewed 
• Top neuroscience conferences in 2026 — broader list covering SfN, AAN, FENS Forum, and more 
• Top brain conferences 2026 — broader brain research events including OHBM and NIH BRAIN Initiative 
• Guide to USA conference visa requirements — for international researchers attending events in New Orleans, Chicago, or Boston 

Frequently asked questions — stroke conferences 2026

What is the biggest stroke conference in 2026? 

The World Stroke Congress 2026 (Oct 21–23, Seoul) is the most globally representative, combined for the first time with the International Conference Stroke Update. The International Stroke Conference (ISC 2026, Feb 4–6, New Orleans), run by the American Heart Association, is the largest US-based stroke event and one of the largest stroke conferences in the world. 

Is there a stroke conference in the USA in 2026 with abstract submission still open? 

Yes. The PubScholars International Neurology Conference 2026 (Nov 20–21, Boston, MA) is a hybrid event covering stroke care, with abstract submissions open at pubscholars.org/submit-abstract/. ISC 2026 (New Orleans) and ESOC 2026 (Maastricht) have already taken place for this year. 

When is the World Stroke Congress 2026? 

The 18th World Stroke Congress (WSC 2026) takes place October 21–23, 2026 at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center in Seoul, South Korea. For the first time, it is combined with the International Conference Stroke Update in collaboration with the Korean Stroke Society. 

What is the difference between ISC, ESOC, and WSC? 

ISC (International Stroke Conference) is the American Heart Association’s flagship US stroke event, held annually in February. ESOC (European Stroke Organisation Conference) is Europe’s leading stroke forum, held annually in May. WSC (World Stroke Congress) is the World Stroke Organization’s global congress, held biennially — the 2026 edition in Seoul is the first combined with the International Conference Stroke Update. All three cover similar ground but serve different regional and global audiences. 

Where can I present stroke research and get it published in 2026? 

The PubScholars International Neurology Conference 2026 (Nov 20–21, Boston, MA) has abstract submissions open now, with accepted papers published in official conference proceedings after review by an international scientific committee. Submit at pubscholars.org/submit-abstract/. SfN (abstract submission opens May 27) and WSC 2026 (call for abstracts expected mid-2026) also offer presentation opportunities.

Plan your 2026 stroke conference calendar

The conferences on this list span the full breadth of stroke research and care in 2026 — from the late-breaking trials at ISC and ESOC, to the global representation of WSC, and the broader neurology context of EAN and AAN. 

If you are looking for a hybrid event with abstract submission open, international peer review, and publication in conference proceedings, the PubScholars International Neurology Conference 2026 (November 20–21, Aloft Boston Seaport District, Boston, MA) is the strongest remaining option in 2026.