“Transforming Together! An Age-friendly World — Connected, Equitable, and Sustainable for All Generations”
Donostia–San Sebastián, Spain | 16–18 June 2026
Pre-Congress: 15 June 2026 | Study and cultural visits: 19 June 2026
The 3rd World Congress of Age-friendly Cities and Communities will take place in Donostia–San Sebastián (Basque Country, Spain) from 16 to 18 June 2026, with a Pre-Congress Day on 15 June and a special program of study and cultural visits on 19 June.
The Congress is organized by Imserso, in collaboration with the Basque Government, the Donostia–San Sebastián City Council, and the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, and is co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This global gathering will bring together representatives from cities, communities, regions, and countries participating in the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC), as well as international experts working on healthy ageing, equity, social participation, intergenerational solidarity, and inclusive community development.
The Congress will offer three days of plenary sessions and parallel sessions covering all eight WHO age-friendly domains, with discussions on key priorities such as: intergenerational connection, digital inclusion, caring and inclusive communities and climate resilience and sustainability.
Congress highlights include a Mayors’ Summit on Age-friendly Leadership, the launch of a global age-friendly research network, an Age-friendly Awards Ceremony, and a social evening at the San Telmo Museum.
Registration and call for abstracts
Registration for the Congress is free. Lunches and coffee breaks during the Congress will be provided, funded by the organizers and sponsors. Confirmation of attendance will be communicated in March 2026.
Participants are invited to contribute to the program by proposing a:
poster;
workshop;
presentation;
roundtable; or
exhibition stand in the Global Village
The call for abstracts closes on 9 March 2026. For more information about the Congress, please visit: https://3wcafcc.org/
Background
The world the age-friendly movement was built for is changing rapidly. Populations are aging at unprecedented rates, communities face increasing pressures from climate-related events and widening digital divides, and the need for connection across generations continues to grow.
By 2025, 18 countries and territories in the Region of the Americas have cities and communities that are committed to becoming age-friendly. This makes it the region with the largest presence in the WHO Global Network of age-friendly cities and communities. The WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities has expanded to more than 1,700 members across over 60 countries. This growth reflects progress, but also highlights the need to strengthen collaboration, share innovations, and accelerate action.
The 3rd World Congress will provide a key platform to shape the future of the global age-friendly movement, together.
A digital communications toolkit is available, including key messages, hashtags, sample social media posts, templates, and visual assets that can be adapted and translated.
For more information about age-friendly cities and communities in the Americas, please visit: https://www.paho.org/en/topics/age-friendly-cities-and-communities