Beyond the Congress: Creating Lasting Impact with IAGG 2026

From 5 to 8 July 2026, the 23rd IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics brought the international ageing community together at RAI Amsterdam. Organised on behalf of IAGG by the Dutch Society for Gerontology, the Netherlands Clinical Geriatrics Society, and the Dutch Professional Organisation of Nurse Practitioners in Geriatrics and Gerontology, the congress focused on the theme Ageing Well in a Globalized World.

Addressing these developments requires more than expertise from a single discipline or country. Researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, NGO’s and other stakeholders need opportunities to exchange experiences and learn from one another. IAGG 2026 provided this international platform, connecting perspectives from the biological and health sciences with the social sciences, humanities, policy and professional practice.

Yet the value of such a world congress extends far beyond its scientific sessions and four congress days. Through dedicated opportunities for young investigators, greater visibility for poster research, a city-focused public impact programme and a strong emphasis on hospitality and engagement, IAGG 2026 aimed to create lasting value for the scientific community, the host city and the wider field of ageing.

Supporting the Next Generation

International congresses play an important role in supporting the next generation of researchers and professionals. At IAGG 2026, the Young Investigator Sessions and activities organised by the IAGG Council of Student Organizations gave students and early career researchers dedicated opportunities to present their work, exchange ideas and build international connections.

Engagement began before the congress with an online orientation and networking webinar, followed in Amsterdam by a pre-congress workshop on career pathways, research impact and shared challenges. During the congress, the 3 Minutes to Inspire showcase strengthened participants’ presentation and science communication skills, while an organized ‘Lunch with the Stars’ offered informal mentoring with senior researchers and keynote speakers. The Voices of the Future panel created space to discuss challenges such as rejection, mentorship, research identity and work-life balance.

For young investigators, participating in a world congress is about more than sharing research findings. It builds confidence, provides valuable feedback and opens the door to future collaborations. By actively involving emerging professionals, IAGG invested in the long-term development of the field: today’s young investigator may become a future keynote speaker, committee member, research partner or international ambassador. 

“It was very meaningful to see young researchers and postgraduate students given a strong place within IAGG. I met amazing people who shared their knowledge and ideas. Overall, I look back on a fantastic congress where people truly reconnected.”  - José Ricardo Jauregui, former IAGG president 

Giving poster research the attention it deserves 

Poster presentations are sometimes treated as an additional element within a busy scientific programme. At IAGG 2026, they were given a more prominent and independent position. 

Dedicated poster presentation times allowed presenters to be present at their posters, discuss their work and answer questions from interested participants. The posters were grouped by topic to bring researchers working on related themes together and encourage more focused interaction and discussion. 

This approach helped turn poster presentations into active moments of knowledge exchange. Instead of functioning primarily as a visual display, posters became starting points for conversations, professional connections and potential new research collaborations. 

Providing posters with their own space and time also makes scientific participation more inclusive. It allows a larger and more diverse group of researchers to contribute visibly to the congress and gives participants access to a broader range of studies and perspectives.

Connecting the congress with the city of Amsterdam

The value of an international congress does not have to remain inside the convention centre. In cooperation with Amsterdam & Partners and a broad network of healthcare, knowledge and community partners, IAGG 2026 developed the public impact programme Ageing Independently in Your Own Environment. 

Free and open to all Amsterdam residents, the programme connected science, technology, culture and community initiatives through four public activities in and around RAI Amsterdam. Each activity explored ageing from a different perspective, including social participation, healthcare innovation, healthy lifestyle choices, inclusion and awareness of the lived experience of older people. 

The Amsterdam City Reporters presented a film created by older residents themselves, showing how senior citizens contribute to neighbourhood life as volunteers, organisers and active community members. Their stories highlighted that ageing well is not only about care, but also about social connection, purpose and participation. 

At SmartHouse Amsterdam- ROC Amsterdam, visitors could experience how technology may support healthy and independent ageing. Interactive demonstrations included exergaming, movement technology, tools supporting communication and relaxation, and virtual reality. The central message was that innovation should not focus on technology alone, but on improving quality of life and strengthening human contact.

The Future Selfcare experiment invited visitors to meet their future selves and reflect on how today’s lifestyle choices may affect their health and wellbeing later in life. By making the experience of ageing more tangible, the activity aimed to encourage healthier decisions and greater empathy for older people.

The outdoor exhibition Oudroze shared the stories of older LGBTQI+ people who contributed to greater freedom, visibility and emancipation. It created space for reflection on identity, ageing and social change, while encouraging dialogue between generations.

By opening part of the congress to the city, specialist knowledge was brought closer to the people whose lives are directly affected by the issues under discussion. At the same time, international participants were introduced to local initiatives and Dutch approaches to ageing, care and independent living. This created a valuable two-way exchange: the congress shared knowledge with Amsterdam, while the city offered practical experiences, perspectives and examples to the international community.

Creating visibility and shared memories

 Not every form of impact needs to be academic. A successful congress should also create a sense of belonging and a shared international identity.

The IAGG photo wall and the large IAGG letters offered participants an accessible way to capture their congress experience. These photographs helped create a visible community around the congress and gave participants content they could share within their own professional and within social networks.

Such visual moments may appear informal, but they contribute to the wider reach of a congress. Every photograph shared online can introduce the congress and its community to new audiences. It strengthens recognition of the congress and association brand and helps participants feel connected to the international network behind it.

These shared memories can remain valuable long after the final session has ended.

Using volunteers to strengthen hospitality 

With participants arriving from many different countries, good hospitality is essential. Volunteers supported IAGG 2026 by welcoming participants, providing directions and helping them navigate the venue and programme.

Their contribution added an important personal dimension to a large international congress. Clear information and a friendly welcome can significantly influence how participants experience both the congress and the host destination.

Volunteering also creates spin-off for the volunteers themselves. Students and young professionals gain first-hand experience of an international scientific congress, meet experts from across the world and become more closely connected to the field of gerontology and geriatrics.

In this way, a volunteer programme does more than provide operational support: it creates local involvement, professional development and new ambassadors for the congress and its subject area.

Creating Connections beyond the Scientific Programme 

IAGG 2026 also included a varied social programme designed to encourage informal networking and strengthen relationships across the international community. Following the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, participants were welcomed at the Opening Reception, offering an accessible first opportunity to meet colleagues from around the world.

The Presidential Dinner brought together key VIPs, invited guests and committee members in a more intimate setting, while Tuesday’s exclusive Congress Night Out at the Kanarie Club Amsterdam gave participants the chance to connect in a relaxed and lively atmosphere.

These social moments complemented the scientific programme by creating space for new conversations, stronger professional relationships and a shared congress experience.

Turning participant feedback into long-term value 

The impact of IAGG 2026 does not end when participants leave Amsterdam. The post-congress evaluation therefore looked beyond satisfaction with the congress itself and explored how participants would like to remain involved in the IAGG community over the coming years.

Delegates were invited to indicate whether they would be interested in taking an active role, for example by joining a future task force, participating in or initiating a Special Interest Group, or contributing their expertise as a speaker, mentor, advisor or panel member. They could also share the topics and professional areas in which they would like to contribute and give permission to be contacted about future opportunities.

This feedback is particularly valuable as the Netherlands takes responsibility for the international IAGG secretariat for the next four years. It provides a practical basis for connecting members, developing new initiatives and maintaining an active international network between world congresses.

Maintaining the international community 

One of the greatest challenges after a large international congress is retaining the energy that was created during the event.

Congress content can continue to generate value through recordings, summaries, interviews, online sessions and follow-up communications. Poster research and presentations can remain accessible digitally, while networks established during the Young Investigator Sessions can be supported through future online meetings or community initiatives. Online participants already had access to poster presentations, poster pitches and selected programme content, offering a foundation for continued digital knowledge sharing.

The new secretariat period provides an opportunity to maintain a consistent relationship with the international community. Rather than communicating mainly around the next world congress, IAGG can remain visible through regular knowledge sharing, regional updates, member stories, international initiatives and opportunities for involvement.

From a four-day event to four years of impact

IAGG 2026 brought the international gerontology and geriatrics community together in Amsterdam. Its longer-term value, however, will be determined by what happens next.

The Young Investigator Sessions can lead to new careers and collaborations. Poster discussions can develop into international research partnerships. The public impact programme can strengthen connections between science, policy and society. Volunteers can become future professionals and ambassadors. Participant feedback can help guide IAGG’s work throughout the next four years.

A world congress is therefore not only the culmination of years of preparation. It can also be the starting point for a new period of international engagement.

By deliberately capturing insights, maintaining relationships and continuing to share knowledge, the momentum of IAGG 2026 can be transformed into lasting impact for the global community.