Top infectious diseases, sterilization & decontamination conferences in 2026

Top 10 Infectious Diseases, Sterilization & Decontamination Conferences To Attend in 2026

The infectious diseases, sterilization, and decontamination conference circuit in 2026 is the most active it has been since the pandemic. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is on track to cause 10 million deaths per year by 2050 (source). The EPA’s revised ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions standards are forcing sterile processing teams to re-evaluate their entire workflows.

Post-pandemic scrutiny of infection prevention and control (IPC) governance has intensified across health systems globally.

The number of events has grown alongside the urgency. This guide covers the key conferences to help professionals match their goals to the right events, from front-line NHS sterile services teams to pharma researchers and public health leaders.

Key Takeaways

• Antimicrobial resistance dominates 2026 programming. Multiple dedicated AMR conferences have launched or expanded this year, including the inaugural IMARI.
• Sterilization professionals face a specific regulatory moment. EPA EtO reconsideration and FDA compliance pressure are driving conference agendas at events like the Sterilization Summit USA.
• Hybrid formats are now standard. Most major conferences offer virtual attendance, widening access for international participants.
• Conference location shapes who you meet. US events concentrate pharma and regulatory contacts; UK and European events connect you with NHS leaders, MHRA stakeholders, and EU policy professionals.

How This List Was Compiled

To get the most out of this list, you must understand how it was prepared.

This list was built using the following criteria:

• Scientific standing: Does the event feature peer-reviewed content or speakers from credentialed institutions?
• Relevance to current challenges: Does it address AMR, sterilization regulation, decontamination technology, or HAI prevention?
• Audience representation: Does it bring together academics, clinicians, industry, and regulators?
• Geographic and role diversity: Does the list serve professionals across the US, UK, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, and across career stages?
• Actionability: Does the programming go beyond theory to offer practical guidance?

No conference paid for placement.

Also read: 10 Best Infectious Diseases, Sterilization & Decontamination Conferences In The UK In 2026

Here’s an overview of the top infectious diseases, sterilization & decontamination conferences:

10 Infectious Diseases, Sterilization & Decontamination Conferences to attend (2026)

Let’s kick off with the detailed reviews.

1. IDAMR 2026

When: June 25–26, 2026

Where: London, UK

What makes it essential: The 4th World Congress on Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance positions itself around the economic and clinical urgency of AMR. The infectious disease diagnostics market is projected to exceed $40 billion by 2028. Sessions cover next-generation antibiotics, diagnostics innovation, surveillance methodology, and antimicrobial stewardship program design.

Best for: ID physicians, pharma R&D teams, health economists, and researchers focused on antimicrobial resistance and diagnostics

Who attends: ID physicians, pharma and biotech researchers, health economists, microbiologists, and policymakers working across infectious disease science and commercial health strategy.

2. IDWeek 2026

When: October 21–24, 2026

Where: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C., USA (hybrid available)

What makes it essential: IDWeek is the joint annual meeting of IDSA, SHEA, HIVMA, and PIDS. It is the largest infectious diseases gathering of the year in the US. Sessions span antimicrobial resistance, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), HIV, emerging pathogens, and infection prevention and control.

Up to 12 AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits are available. General registration opens June 2, 2026. The conference also includes a dedicated IDBugCrawl program for medical students and residents, and a NextGen ID Lounge for early-career professionals.

Best for: Infectious disease physicians, hospital epidemiologists, ID pharmacists, microbiologists, and trainees

Who attends: Clinicians, researchers, public health professionals, trainees, and pharmacists working across the full spectrum of infectious diseases.

3. IMARI 2026

When: January 28–30, 2026 (completed; watch imari.org for next edition)

Where: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

What makes it essential: IMARI is a new conference launched jointly by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and IDSA. The inaugural edition took place in January 2026. Its focus is narrow and deliberate: antimicrobial resistance drug discovery, development, and the translational steps in between.

Sessions cover resistance mechanisms, AI-powered molecule design, public-private partnerships in AMR R&D, and regulatory pathways for new antimicrobials. The program is designed to attract early-career AMR researchers alongside established scientists and industry leaders.

Best for: AMR researchers, antimicrobial drug developers, clinical microbiologists, and health policy professionals

Who attends: Bench scientists, clinical microbiologists, pharma R&D teams, government agencies, and policymakers working on the AMR pipeline.

4. Sterilization Summit USA 2026

When: TBC 2026

Where: USA

What makes it essential: The Sterilization Summit USA focuses on the practical and regulatory pressures reshaping hospital sterilization services. The EPA’s 2024 tightening of ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions standards and its 2026 proposed reconsideration are driving much of the agenda. Smaller device manufacturers face real supply chain disruption if EtO facilities exit the market.

Sessions compare sterilization modalities, cover AI-driven cycle monitoring, address FDA compliance documentation, and examine alternatives to EtO including hydrogen peroxide vapor and UV-C approaches.

Best for: Sterile processing teams, hospital supply chain leads, medical device manufacturers, and regulatory affairs professionals

Who attends: Sterile processing department managers, infection prevention leads, medical device manufacturers, and regulatory affairs teams navigating EtO-related compliance changes.

5. ISAAR 2026

When: June 12–14, 2026

Where: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong

What makes it essential: ISAAR is organized biennially by the Asia Pacific Foundation for Infectious Diseases (APFID), co-organized with the Hong Kong Society for Infectious Diseases and the Hong Kong Society for Microbiology and Infection. The theme for 2026 is antimicrobial resistance as a cross-border challenge.

The program draws on co-chairs from the Mayo Clinic and Samsung Medical Centre, alongside regional clinical and academic networks. For professionals working with Asian trial infrastructure or tracking how AMR stewardship is evolving outside Western healthcare systems, this is the most authoritative Asia-Pacific event of 2026.

Best for: Infectious disease clinicians, microbiologists, and public health researchers in or connected to the Asia-Pacific region

Who attends: Microbiologists, ID clinicians, pharma scientists, public health researchers, and policymakers across the Asia-Pacific region.

6. DAS 2026

When: April 29, 2026

Where: National Conference Centre, Solihull, UK

What makes it essential: DAS (Decontamination and Sterilisation Conference) is the UK’s primary event for sterile services and decontamination professionals. Programming is practice-oriented: endoscope reprocessing risks, biofilm challenges, sustainable decontamination methods, and the case for migrating from disinfection to sterilization of flexible endoscopes.

The conference exhibition includes live technology demonstrations. Sessions are designed for both frontline staff and national leaders. Attendance is drawn from NHS trusts, independent providers, and equipment suppliers across the UK and beyond.

Best for: NHS sterile services teams, decontamination leads, clinical scientists, and infection control nurses

Who attends: Sterile services managers, decontamination leads, infection prevention nurses, theatre nurses, and clinical scientists working in NHS and private healthcare.

7. IPC 2026

When: TBC 2026

Where: UK

What makes it essential: IPC 2026 brings together NHS leaders, frontline IPC practitioners, and clinical scientists. The 2026 edition sits at a significant policy moment: the UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry Module 3 report on the pandemic’s impact on healthcare systems is expected to shape several sessions, alongside the 20th anniversary of the Stoke Mandeville C. difficile report.

Sessions address HAI surveillance, point-of-care diagnostics for antimicrobial stewardship, decontamination innovations, and governance lessons from health inquiries.

Best for: IPC nurses, NHS clinical scientists, hospital epidemiologists, and infection prevention professionals at all levels

Who attends: IPC nurses and leads, NHS clinical directors, infection control teams, and healthcare scientists working across acute and community care settings.

8. IP2026

When: September 28–29, 2026

Where: Royal Armouries, Leeds, UK

What makes it essential: IP2026 is the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) Annual Conference. The conference theme for 2026 is “Technical and Digital Innovations: Diagnostics, AI and the Future of IPC.” Sessions cover rapid diagnostics, digital surveillance, robotics, AI in infection prevention, and behavioural factors in compliance.

The IPS has operated since 1970 and now represents over 2,000 healthcare professionals. Abstract submissions cover quality improvement, research, and real-world practice across acute, community, and specialist care.

Best for: IPC practitioners, microbiologists, epidemiologists, behavioural scientists, and health system leaders

Who attends: IPC practitioners, microbiologists, epidemiologists, nurses, public health professionals, and health system leaders from across the UK and internationally.

9. DECON UK 2026

When: April 24, 2026

Where: Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, UK

What makes it essential: DECON UK 2026 is a one-day conference jointly run by Wolverhampton NHS Trust, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust. The focus is practical decontamination education: endoscopy, procurement, waste management, and sustainability in sterile services.

It suits professionals who want applied, NHS-specific guidance in a compact format, without the scale of larger national events.

Best for: Sterile services managers, decontamination leads, endoscopy teams, and procurement professionals

Who attends: Sterile services managers, decontamination leads, theatre nurses, endoscopy staff, IPC teams, and procurement and waste management professionals.

10. Infection 2026

When: June 25–27, 2026

Where: Barcelona, Spain (hybrid available)

What makes it essential: Infection 2026 is the 10th edition of the World Congress on Infectious Diseases, running under the theme “New Frontiers in Infectious Diseases: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Control.” The program spans bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections, with tracks on emerging pathogens, infection control, and therapeutic advances.

The hybrid format enables virtual participation for international attendees who are unable to travel to Barcelona. Programming includes keynote sessions, oral and poster presentations, and interactive workshops.

Best for: Infectious disease specialists, epidemiologists, immunologists, and public health researchers seeking a broad international program

Who attends: ID specialists, epidemiologists, immunologists, public health researchers, and clinicians across all career stages.

What Most of These Conferences Have in Common

A few topics appear consistently across 2026 conference agendas:

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the dominant theme

Nearly every conference on this list has dedicated sessions on resistance mechanisms, stewardship programs, and the pipeline for new antimicrobial treatments.

Post-pandemic IPC accountability is shaping UK events in particular

The COVID-19 Public Inquiry and the anniversary of C. difficile are prompting structured reflection on governance and practice.

Sustainability in sterile services is a growing trend

Events like DAS 2026 and DECON UK address how NHS teams can reduce environmental impact without compromising decontamination standards.

AI and digital tools are featured across clinical and sterilization conferences alike

From AI-driven sterilization cycle monitoring to digital surveillance in infection prevention, technology is reshaping every corner of the field.

FAQs

Which conferences are most relevant for professionals who generate real-world evidence for infectious disease programs?

RWE Connect Summit (Boston, Oct 14–15) is built specifically for RWE and HEOR professionals, translating infectious disease and outcomes data into regulatory and market access decisions.

Where can sterile processing professionals find guidance on ethylene oxide alternatives and FDA compliance in 2026?

The Sterilization Summit USA covers EtO regulatory changes, alternative sterilization modalities, and FDA compliance strategy. DAS 2026 and DECON UK address similar challenges within the NHS context.

Which 2026 conference focuses on antimicrobial resistance in the Asia-Pacific region?

ISAAR 2026 (Hong Kong, Jun 12–14) is the primary Asia-Pacific forum on antimicrobial resistance, organized biennially by the Asia Pacific Foundation for Infectious Diseases alongside regional microbiology and ID societies.

Are there UK-specific infection prevention conferences that address NHS governance and pandemic lessons?

IPC 2026 and IP2026 (Leeds, Sep 28–29) both focus on NHS infection prevention practice. IPC 2026 directly addresses the UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry Module 3 findings and the Stoke Mandeville report anniversary.

How do these sterilization and decontamination conferences differ from broader infectious disease events?

Sterilization and decontamination conferences focus on equipment, processes, regulatory compliance, and operational challenges for sterile services teams. Broader infectious diseases conferences focus on clinical management, AMR, epidemiology, and treatment. The two audiences overlap in infection prevention and control but have distinct programming priorities.