ESC Congress: celebrating cardiovascular innovation, global collaborations, and patient-centered care

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress is recognized globally as the most important scientific and clinical practice-focused meeting for cardiovascular professionals, bringing together more than 30 000 participants, including cardiologists, nurses, allied professionals, and researchers, from over 150 countries every year. Since its first meeting in 1952, the ESC Congress has transformed from a primarily European event into the most influential cardiovascular congress worldwide, significantly shaping clinical practice and research globally. As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the ESC in 2025, we proudly reaffirm our mission: to reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease through collaborative research, education, and the creation of clinical guidelines.1,2 Officially established in 1950 by 14 national societies, ESC hosted its inaugural congress in London 2 years later. Initially occurring every 4 years, the ESC Congress shifted to an annual format in 1988, under the visionary leadership of Paul Hugenholtz,3 following the great success of the 1984 Düsseldorf meeting. Over the decades, ESC has expanded its impact through dedicated working groups that address diverse areas such as congenital heart disease, heart failure, and cardio-oncology. Additionally, ESC has enriched global cardiovascular knowledge through its widely respected journals, registries, and comprehensive guidelines, establishing strategic partnerships with leading global organizations such as the World Heart Federation, American College of Cardiology, and American Heart Association. Today, ESC proudly represents 58 national cardiac societies and 49 affiliated societies, with a global membership exceeding 100 000 professionals. Celebrating our 75th anniversary signifies not only our historical legacy but also the ongoing transformation and advancement within cardiovascular medicine.1 From our early days, over the decades continuing as a volunteer-based organisation, ESC has grown into an influential authority on guideline development, policy advocacy, and global cardiovascular data initiatives such as the ‘ESC Atlas’ mapping the European landscape of cardiovascular disease.4 What sets the ESC Congress apart is our unique emphasis on interdisciplinary integration, distinct from the specialized focus of ESC Associations and Council meetings. At our flagship Congress, the overarching goal is fostering collaborative engagement across all cardiovascular disciplines, uniting our community in pursuit of better patient care. By reconnecting with the fundamental ethos of medicine, placing the patient at the center,5 we underscore our shared commitment to improving patient outcomes through collective, integrated care. ESC Congress 2025, held jointly with the World Congress of Cardiology, will take place at IFEMA Madrid from August 29 to September 1, under the inspiring theme ‘Cardiology Beyond Borders’, underscoring the spotlight theme of the congress of ‘Global Health’ (Figure 1). To address this, this year’s programme thoughtfully addresses the complex relationships between cardiovascular diseases and broader public health challenges such as obesity, environmental impacts, and health disparities prevalent in low- and middle-income regions.6 ESC leadership strongly advocates addressing emerging cardiovascular risks, including pollution, climate change, noise, and socioeconomic inequalities, aligning our goals closely with European Union health priorities.7 Global Health as a spotlight of ESC Congress 2025, bringing global reach and local relevance to the forefront of cardiology. A key highlight of the 2025 Congress will be our renowned Hot Lines and Late-Breaking Science sessions, featuring especially 10 exciting Hotline sessions presenting around 40 pivotal trials poised to significantly reshape clinical practice. Notable among these are trials such as REBOOT-CNIC, BETAMI, and DANBLOCK, which question longstanding clinical norms, including the need for prolonged beta-blocker therapy post-myocardial infarction in patients with preserved heart function, potentially leading to more personalized, cost-effective care.8 Other impactful trials, including NEO-MINDSET, TARGET FIRST, DUAL-ACS, and ALONE-AF, aim to refine treatment strategies by evaluating antiplatelet and anticoagulant medication withdrawal in acute coronary syndromes or in atrial fibrillation. Additionally, the groundbreaking PARACHUTE-HF trial will evaluate sacubitril/valsartan vs. enalapril for chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy, addressing a major yet neglected global health issue.9 Heart failure management will be enriched by trials such as DAPA ACT HF-TIMI 68, VICTOR, and VICTORIA, clarifying the roles of innovative therapies like SGLT2 inhibitors and vericiguat.9 Furthermore, revolutionary trials ODYSSEY-HCM and MAPLE-HCM introduce oral myosin inhibitors mavacamten and aficamten as potential non-invasive treatments for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.9 Hypertension management will also see advancements through trials like BaxHTN and KARDIA-3, exploring new aldosterone synthase inhibitors and biannual siRNA therapies10 respectively. The congress will debut five new ESC guidelines,11 focusing on critical areas such as cardiovascular disease during pregnancy, myocarditis and pericarditis, valvular heart disease (in collaboration with EACTS), updated dyslipidemia guidelines, and the emerging intersection of cardiovascular disease and mental health. Complementing these will be interactive sessions like ‘Ask the Task Force’ and ‘Guidelines in Practice,’ enhancing practical application and patient-focused care. Innovative thematic tracks will highlight the forefront of cardiovascular science, notably the New Horizons in Cardiology Track, exploring cutting-edge therapies such as gene-editing and mRNA technology.12,13 A key new initiative, the Cardiovascular Discovery Pole, aims to accelerate understanding of ongoing breakthroughs in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration among clinicians, researchers, industry experts, and policymakers.10 Additionally, the Digital Cardiology & AI Track will showcase practical applications of digital innovations, while the Cardiometabolic Track addresses the interconnected challenges of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia and ageing.12,13 The Clinical Evidence Track ensures seamless integration of guidelines and clinical trials into everyday healthcare practice. The Global Stage at ESC Congress 2025 exemplifies the Society’s global partnership and reach. National Cardiac Societies actively participate in and shape Congress activities, and the Global Stage aims to give them the spotlight. Through dedicated joint sessions alongside national societies, this platform highlights regional achievements, promotes exchange of innovative cardiovascular practices, and underscores the collective strength of global cardiology. Emerging leaders and known experts leverage this venue to discuss solutions adapted to diverse healthcare systems, reinforcing ESC’s global mission. Recognizing the tremendous value of professional networking, ESC Congress 2025 introduces Fireside Chats, a fresh initiative inspired by the success of ESC TV and the Global Stage. These intimate sessions, set in a casual, podcast-style format within the Lounge and Exchange area, will encourage personal storytelling and thoughtful discussions on topics beyond traditional clinical boundaries, such as ethics, patient advocacy, and healthcare innovation. Patient engagement is at the heart of ESC Congress 2025, featuring dedicated sessions that highlight patient perspectives, diverse experiences, and vital insights into clinical practice. By amplifying patient voices, we aim to foster greater empathy, enhance decision-making, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.8 ESC is also deeply committed to our young cardiovascular community, recognizing these talented professionals as the future of cardiology. Our Young Community Track includes sessions and clinical cases crafted by emerging leaders, showcasing and exemplifying key problem we are facing in everyday practice through the lens of guidelines and or recent discoveries. Actively involving young professionals in guidelines and trials fosters leadership, scientific curiosity, and ensures continuous progress within cardiovascular medicine. As we reflect on 75 impactful years, the Madrid Congress marks both a historic milestone and an exciting new beginning. The convergence of pioneering science,1 therapies and transformative technologies like artificial intelligence and gene-editing promises extraordinary progress in cardiology and medicine at large.14,15 We eagerly anticipate witnessing how these innovations will transform cardiovascular care in the coming years. ESC Congress 2025 is thus more than a celebration; it is a visionary gateway toward a future of scientific excellence, global collaboration, compassionate care, and relentless innovation aimed at significantly reducing cardiovascular disease worldwide.