Welcome to the official Website of the

2026 World Congress of Bioethics

JOHANNESBURG • SOUTH AFRICA

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The Congress Africa Hosting Committee and the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics, University of the Witwatersrand,
look forward to welcoming you to the 18th World Congress of Bioethics (WCB) to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, 8 to 10 July 2026.
The congress format will be hybrid allowing for either virtual or in-person attendance.

The Congress Hosting Committee consists of people from several African countries, and will gradually include representatives of even more. Since this is the first time the WCB will take place in Africa, we want you to experience the hospitality of the African continent, not just of a single country.  After all, Africa comprises nearly one fifth of the earth’s land surface, is home to over a billion people, living in 55 national states and speaking 3000 languages. Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa, with 5.5 million inhabitants. The city is also home to 6 million trees and has been called the largest human-made forest in the world. The city has always been known as a melting pot of cultures, religions and traditions.It is over a mile above sea level, and can get cold in July, but winter days are mostly dry and sunny.
—  We look forward to welcoming you to Jo’burg, a world-class African city  —

“The theme for the Congress is Comforting and Disturbing Bioethics: responding to invisibility, inequity, harm and injustice.”

As is customary, we will also be hosting the Feminist Approaches to Bioethics Congress that will precede the WCB

The Congress Africa Hosting Committee:

 Kevin Behrens — Ceasar Atuire —Dorcas Kamuya — Keymanthri Moodley — Mercury Shitindo — Paulina Tindana

IN ASSOCIATION WITH:

International Association of Bioethics


The International Association of Bioethics (IAB) facilitates contact, networking and exchange of ideas and resources amongst those working in bioethics and related fields in different parts of the world. With the World Congress of Bioethics the IAB organizes bi-annually the largest gathering of bioethics scholars and thought-leaders in the world.
http://iab-website.iab-secretariat.org/

International Network on Feminist Approaches to Bioethics



The International Network on Feminist Approaches to Bioethics (FAB) is a network of activists and scholars working in the field of feminist bioethics. www.fabnet.org