WA to host 2026 World Congress on Rheumatic Heart Disease

Perth will welcome the world’s leading experts in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) when it hosts the second World Heart Federation World Congress on RHD in November 2026.

The event, announced by the Geneva-based World Heart Federation, will bring together researchers, health professionals, patients, advocates, and health leaders from around the globe to share practical solutions and strategies to help end RHD.

The congress will be held at the Pan Pacific Perth from 12 to 14 November 2026 and is hosted by the Heart Foundation, with support from the Western Australian Government, the Leducq Foundation, the American Heart Association, the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand, Business Events Perth, and Business Events Australia.

The announcement follows the recent launch of the Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund Spotlight Program, which is dedicated this year to RHD. Through this program, $25 million will be invested over the next five years to support research, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of RHD, uniting researchers, health professionals, and communities across Western Australia.

RHD is a preventable condition that continues to have a significant impact on many Western Australians, particularly in Aboriginal communities. While RHD and its precursor, acute rheumatic fever (ARF), have been largely eliminated in most urban populations, they remain a major health issue for Aboriginal children and young people, as well as vulnerable communities across the Pacific and globally. Worldwide, RHD affects 55 million people and claims more than 300,000 lives each year.

In Australia, more than 11,000 people are currently living with ARF and RHD, with more than 90 per cent of ARF diagnoses among Aboriginal Australians, most aged between 5 and 14 years. The Department of Health is also developing a strategic framework for hospitals and health services to address RHD in Western Australia.

Applications are now open for the FHRI Fund Spotlight Program – RHD.

Researchers, clinicians, and organisations with innovative ideas to improve the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of RHD are encouraged to apply. This is a unique opportunity to access significant funding and contribute to lasting change in Western Australia and beyond.

For more information and to apply, visit the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund - Spotlight 2025-26 Rheumatic Heart Disease.