The World Cancer Congress 2026 concluded on Saturday with calls for stronger global collaboration, increased investment in cancer infrastructure and broader access to care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where demand is rising and families face significant financial burdens.
More than 2,000 delegates from over 120 countries attended the three-day Congress, organized by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and hosted by the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society.
The closing session highlighted a central challenge: translating advances in cancer science into accessible and affordable care.
UICC President-elect Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu said cancer centers in low- and middle-income countries are facing increasing demand, with families often paying out of pocket for treatment.
“Investment in cancer infrastructure is not optional; it’s an urgent need,” she said, emphasizing the importance of keeping patients, survivors, clinicians and advocates at the center of cancer-control planning.
She also addressed food insecurity and the challenge of producing more food with limited resources, calling for stronger measures to protect food systems and public health, particularly in lower-income countries.
Collaboration at the center
UICC President Ulrika Årehed Kågström urged delegates to apply ideas and practical lessons from the Congress in their own countries and organizations.
Reflecting on a message she gave at the opening of the Congress to “be curious,” Årehed Kågström said the meeting brought together clinicians, researchers, advocates, survivors and policymakers, creating opportunities to exchange ideas that could be adapted to different health systems.
She acknowledged that cancer control is a complex challenge, covering prevention and early detection to treatment, supportive care and survivorship.
The 6 regional meetings held during the Congress also focused on how countries and organizations could advance the objectives of the UICC World Cancer Declaration.
The discussions broadly centered on 3 themes — collaboration, prevention and equity — including sharing expertise, strengthening prevention efforts and expanding access to services for underserved communities.
“No individual leader can address the global cancer challenge alone,” was a recurring message from the closing session, with speakers emphasizing collective action across countries and institutions.
Innovation but unequal access
The Congress showcased developments in precision oncology, artificial intelligence and cancer screening while highlighting the gap between scientific progress and access to care.
Elizabeth Mittendorf of the American Society of Clinical Oncology cited clinical trial evidence suggesting that targeting the RAS gene could substantially extend survival for some patients with pancreatic cancer compared with chemotherapy.
Artificial intelligence featured in discussions on cancer research, early detection, diagnosis and healthcare delivery.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer also presented evidence on lung cancer screening, highlighting findings that targeted low-dose CT screening among people at high risk can reduce lung cancer mortality and advanced-stage disease.
Breast and cervical cancer were also major areas of discussion, including early diagnosis, referral systems, patient navigation and efforts to maintain progress toward the World Health Organization’s cervical cancer elimination goals.
The closing discussions underscored that scientific advances require investment in health infrastructure and systems that can deliver them.
Cancer care amid conflict
The Congress also examined the impact of war on cancer services, with participants from Ukraine and Gaza describing disruptions to treatment and healthcare infrastructure.
They highlighted shortages of medicines and equipment, displacement and difficulties maintaining treatment over extended periods.
The sessions stressed that cancer care needs to be included in humanitarian preparedness and response because patients requiring surgery, radiotherapy or repeated treatment cannot simply postpone care until a crisis ends.
Prevention and commercial interests
Cancer prevention discussions also addressed the influence of tobacco, alcohol and ultra-processed food industries on public health policy.
Participants examined concerns about industry lobbying and discussed the need for greater transparency and safeguards against commercial interference in health policymaking.
They also discussed food insecurity and agricultural practices in relation to health and cancer prevention.
Patients and survivors
People affected by cancer played a prominent role throughout the Congress as speakers, advocates and participants in policy discussions.
Sessions examined how patient organizations and people with lived experience can contribute to national cancer-control planning and help ensure that policies reflect local needs.
Supportive care, palliative care and survivorship also received greater attention.
During the Congress, UICC and La Roche-Posay announced the “Mind the Gap” collaboration, which will examine disparities in supportive cancer care across health systems and identify barriers to making such care a core part of comprehensive cancer treatment.
Awards and the road ahead
The closing ceremony recognized organizations and individuals for contributions to cancer advocacy, research and action.
Children’s Cancer Center Lebanon, The Brunei Cancer Center and Engraced Life Foundation received the World Cancer Day 2026 Awards for their campaigns around World Cancer Day on February 4.
The Congress also recognized recipients of its Abstract Presentation and Paper Prizes, including Sarah McHutchison of the McCabe Center for Law & Cancer in Australia, Viktoriia Romaniuk of NGO Athena and Women Against Cancer in Ukraine, Cheryl Fung of the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society and Lu Chen of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital in China.
Outgoing President Ulrika Årehed Kågström thanked delegates, speakers, volunteers, partners and the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society for their contributions, saying she was leaving Hong Kong exhausted but inspired by the ideas and people she had met.
The next stages of UICC’s global engagement will include the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit in Kenya, while the next World Cancer Congress is planned for Geneva, Switzerland.
As the Hong Kong Congress closed, UICC leadership emphasized that progress in cancer control will depend not only on scientific innovation but also on sustained collaboration, stronger health systems, investment and access to care.
The challenge now is to turn the ideas exchanged in Hong Kong into action in countries and communities worldwide, participants noted.
