AIDS 2026 objectives
AIDS 2026, the 26th International AIDS Conference, takes place at a turning point for the HIV response, marked by a severe funding crisis and cutbacks to HIV programmes. The world’s largest conference on HIV and AIDS will unite people living with, affected by and working on HIV – to Rethink. Rebuild. Rise.
The protection of service infrastructure and continuing scientific progress are at the core of a strong HIV response. We have to protect an environment where science can drive decision making so that policies are evidence based. Unhindered scientific inquiry must be protected, clinical trials must continue, and policy must reflect new research.
Against this background, AIDS 2026 will focus on five key objectives. Achieving these objectives requires sustained political commitment, equitable resource allocation, and increased domestic funding, as well as continued international funding.
Objective 1
Accelerate innovation in basic and clinical science, spanning research into reducing HIV acquisition and transmission, developing immunotherapeutics and vaccines, understanding pathogenesis, improving treatment options, managing co-infections, co-morbidities and ageing-related issues, and advancing towards a cure and/or sustained remission strategies.
Objective 2
Enhance HIV prevention to optimize cost-effective biomedical, behavioural and structural interventions, with special attention on identifying and overcoming implementation challenges and scaling successful HIV prevention strategies.
Objective 3
Advance interdisciplinary collaboration in programme implementation to improve HIV outcomes across all life stages, with emphasis on translating research findings into actionable policies and practices.
Objective 4
Promote a human rights-based and evidence-informed HIV response that is tailored to the needs of key and vulnerable populations, protects civil society spaces and strengthens community resilience.
Objective 5
Discuss the most recent HIV science and policy in the Americas, empowering regional actors to actively contribute and disseminate their findings and experiences globally and integrate firmly into global HIV networks.