20th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists (WCA 2028) — Vancouver
07 May 2028 – 10 May 2028 · Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, Canada · In-Person
The 20th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists (WCA 2028) convenes in Vancouver, Canada, 7–10 May 2028, hosted by the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) in partnership with the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society (CAS).
Since 1955, the WCA has been the preeminent global gathering for anaesthesiologists, perioperative specialists and pain physicians. Building on WCA 2026 in Marrakech — which welcomed 3,705 delegates from 132 countries, 1,375 abstracts and 307 faculty from 92 nations — the Vancouver edition is expected to bring together anaesthesiologists from 130+ countries against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and Coast Mountains.
Programme themes span the full breadth of modern anaesthesia: general, regional and neuraxial anaesthesia; obstetric, paediatric and cardiothoracic anaesthesia; critical care and resuscitation; pain medicine; patient safety and quality improvement; airway management; simulation and education; global health and workforce; blood management; and perioperative outcomes research. The scientific programme is being shaped by an international Scientific Programme Committee co-chaired by Prof. Tony Gin (Hong Kong SAR, China) and Dr. Hilary Grocott (Canada).
Congress format: keynote lectures, plenaries (including the Harold Griffith Lecture), symposia, refresher courses, hands-on workshops, PBLDs, e-posters and moderated oral abstracts, alongside a large industry exhibition. Abstract submission and registration will open on the official website; scholarships for early-career anaesthesiologists from lower-resource settings will be offered by WFSA.
Hosted at the Vancouver Convention Centre, WCA 2028 marks a vibrant new chapter for the congress and offers a uniquely immersive experience for the global anaesthesia community.
