Join us on July 9th, 2026, at 1:00 pm (EDT) for the webinar Going Global for Local Impact: A Preview of ISPAH Congress 2026, organized by the International Society for Phsyical Activity and Health (ISPAH) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The webinar is free and open to all the public interested on the topic.
This webinar is part of the collaboration between PAHO and ISPAH, in preparation for the ISPAH Congress 2026, that PAHO will co-sponsor. The Congress will take place later this year in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, from 5-8 October.
The webinar will provide a preview of key Congress themes and speakers, including keynote speaker Professor Ulf Ekelund (Norwegian School of Sport Sciences), and will feature presentations and discussion with Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall (ISPAH President), Dr. Vanessa I. Garcia-Larsen (PAHO), Associate Professor Deborah Salvo (UT Austin), and Dr. Alejandra Jáuregui (INSP). Participants will also learn more about the Congress programme, registration opportunities, and the late-breaking abstract call, which is open from 22 June to 17 July 2026.
How to participate
- DATE: Thurdsday, July 9th, 2026
- TIME: 1:00 p.m. (Washington, DC time or EST) [Check at the end of the page the time in other cities]
- LANGUAGES: English,and Spanish, with simultaneous interpretation in those languages.
- REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yj_ZqmLPRVmxigC5VcAmcw#/registration
Context
The ISPAH Congress is the leading global forum for advancing physical activity and health. Every two years, it brings together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, advocates, and community leaders from around the world to exchange ideas, share evidence, build partnerships, and inspire action toward healthier and more equitable societies.
PAHO’s involvement reflects a shared commitment to advancing physical activity as a public health priority and addressing the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases across the Americas. Through this collaboration, we hope to create new opportunities for knowledge exchange, regional engagement, and meaningful dialogue on the policies, systems, programs, and environments that support active living.
The 2026 ISPAH Congress is particularly significant as it marks ISPAH’s first congress in a Spanish-speaking country. Under the theme, “Going Global for Local Impact: Towards a Comprehensive Equity Approach to Physical Activity and Health,” delegates will explore how global evidence, local knowledge, and cross-sector collaboration can work together to advance physical activity and health equity worldwide.
It will be hosted in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, in partnership with local the hosts: the Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (INSP), Mexico, and the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), USA. For more information about the ISPAH Congress 2026, including registration, scientific programming, and travel information, visit https://ispah.org/congress-2026/.
Time in other cities
- 10:00 a.m. – Los Angeles, Vancouver.
- 11:00 a.m. - Belmopan, Guatemala City, Managua, Mexico City, San Salvador, San José (Costa Rica), Tegucigalpa.
- 12:00 p.m. - Bogotá, Kingston, Lima, Panama City, Quito,
- 1:00 p.m. - Bridgetown, Caracas, Georgetown, Havana, La Paz, Nassau, Ottawa, Port-au-Prince, Port of Spain, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Saint George's, Saint John's (Antigua), Santiago, Washington D.C.
- 2:00 p.m. – Asunción, Buenos Aires, Brasilia, Montevideo, Paramaribo.
- 7:00 p.m. – Geneva, Madrid.
For other cities, check the local times in the following link.