The global community of heart rhythm specialists will unite later this month at the annual congress of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA; 12–14 April 2026, Paris, France) with the goal of “shining a light” on cardiac arrhythmia management. That is according to a press release from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
“With around one in 3–5 people likely to develop a heart rhythm disorder in their lifetime, gathering heart rhythm specialists together to expand their knowledge and discuss the latest advancements has never been so important,” said Natasja de Groot (Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands), scientific programme committee co-chair for EHRA 2026. “Guided by the theme, ‘illuminating arrhythmia management’, this year’s programme will spotlight the innovations that are transforming the field. For example, a new digital cardiology track will discuss various ways that digital methods, including artificial intelligence [AI], can be incorporated in our daily practice to improve aspects such as risk prediction, diagnosis, and monitoring.”
“This edition is bold,” added EHRA scientific programme committee co-chair Stylianos Tzeis (Mitera Hospital, Athens, Greece). “We are not just discussing the latest techniques and devices—we are bringing them to life through practical sessions and hands-on workshops.”
Tzeis also highlighted live cases performed by international experts and the ‘simulation village’ where participants can enhance their own practical skills.
Additionally, more than 100 scientific submissions were made to this year’s late-breaking science programme, as stated in the ESC’s recent press release.
“The number of submissions has doubled in 2026 compared with 2025, but it is not only the quantity that is high—the quality of the trials is impressive,” commented Jose Luis Merino (La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain), EHRA scientific programme committee member and past president of EHRA.
One of the main topics covered in the late-breaking science programme involves optimising the management of patients with heart failure who require cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT), while other late-breaking presentations are set to focus on different ablation techniques to treat the increasing numbers of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), exploring ways to provide more effective and faster treatment.
Expert-driven clinical advice will also be unveiled via new scientific statements developed by EHRA in collaboration with other ESC associations and international heart rhythm societies—including a statement from EHRA and the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) on echocardiography imaging from within the heart during invasive electrophysiological procedures.
The ESC release goes on to detail that the patient voice will be heard “loud and clear” at EHRA 2026 with five sessions designed to provide a stage for patients to share their experiences.
“With all the discussions on advanced techniques and the latest therapies, it is important that we as healthcare professionals remain in touch with how arrhythmias and their treatment impact our patients’ lives,” Tzeis noted. “With new data, new technologies and new perspectives, EHRA 2026 promises to enlighten us all.”
