World Physiotherapy Congress 2027: focused symposium submission deadline April 8, 2026
- Mar 27
- 2 min read
Take part in one of the key sessions at congress - submit a focused symposium before the 8 April deadline.
Focused symposia include high profile speakers, draw large audiences, and aim to create insightful and engaging learning experiences that ultimately inform, inspire, involve and empower participants.
The call is open to any topic. However, the congress programme committee is particularly interested in seeing proposals that address the following cutting-edge topics:
how physiotherapy can address global health issues, such as the demands of an ageing population, promotion of physical activity, improvement of health literacy, practice in emergency and conflict settings, community-based rehabilitation; and priorities identified in the Rehabilitation 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals
professional challenges across all areas, such as diversity and inclusion, cultural sensitivity, quality assurance, knowledge translation, implicit bias, mental health and wellbeing, and ethics in publication
the role of innovative technology in physiotherapy practice, education and research such as big data management, artificial intelligence, robotics and virtual reality
new approaches to address policy and advocacy issues, such as health system funding, cost-effectiveness, workforce matters and the unique role of physiotherapy in addressing these challenges
Bursary programme: a bursary programme is available for focused symposia speakers who are members of a World Physiotherapy member organisation in a low or lower-middle income country/territory. Find out if you may be eligible
Selection principles
Submissions for focused symposia will be reviewed against the following principles.
Explore: the most recent ideas, evidence, methods and areas of controversy/contention in the literature related to outcomes for people and populations
Inspire: with a clear purpose and applicable outcomes for participants
Connect: participants by reflecting the diversity of the global profession and draw in audience from different fields with special attention to interactivity
Include: speakers with international experience and standing* in the topic area, representing a range of global, possibly service user perspectives and speakers from underrepresented groups
Impact: practice, education, research and/or policy by making clear the implications arising from the presentations including considerations on the international diversity of the profession
* Consideration will be given to symposia that support inclusion, as appropriate, of less experienced with established speakers.
Call for abstracts opens 11 June 2026
The call for abstracts for World Physiotherapy Congress 2027 opens on 11 June. The deadline for submissions will be 29 September 2026.
The World Physiotherapy congress offers a unique opportunity to present your work to a global audience - start planning now and take a look at the abstracts that were presented at the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025 in Tokyo.