Transforming Together! A Connected, Equitable and Sustainable Age Friendly World for all generations

(Donostia / San Sebastián, Spain, 16–18 June 2026)


Program overview & daily schedules

Day 0: Pre-Congress (Monday 15th) | Technical meetings (by invitation only)

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Registration

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Parallel sessions:

  • Shaping the Global Age-Friendly Research Network (Concept note).
  • Financing the Age-friendly Ecosystem for Now and for the Future - Meeting with AFCC Funders and Donors (private funders).
  • Introduction to AFCC – focus on cities and communities (Greater Manchester Combined Authority).
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Coffee Break

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Parallel sessions:

  • Mega-map on Interventions and Programs for Age-Friendly Environments.
  • The role of GNAFCC in the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) review.
  • Approach to evaluating and monitoring the Villes Amies des Aînés (VADA) programme: the example of the label « Ami des Aînés®» by the Réseau Francophone des Villes Amies des Aînés (RFVAA).
  • Workshop led by the AF Basque Country Team: How to promote citizen involvement in the age-friendliness project?
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Lunch Break

Herrixka globala

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Parallel sessions:

  • Integrating Care for Older People through Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Workshop: Translating continuum of integrated care into AFCC Action. Registration form available here.
  • Forum of Mayors: Municipal leadership in the face of the challenge of ageing.
  • Citizens' Summit.
  • GNAFCC Affiliates meeting (Part 1) - Supporting AFCC: Insights from the GNAFCC Affiliates research project.
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Parallel sessions:

  • Strengthening the links between Human Rights, Equity and Age-Friendly Environments (Concept note). Registration form available here.
  • The age-friendly journey of the Nordic region: Progress and future directions.
  • Meeting multilateral agencies and development banks.
  • EuroCities meeting.
  • Co-Creating AFCC Frameworks in Low-Resource Contexts Across South Asia and the Middle East.
  • GNAFCC Affiliates meeting (Part 2) - Advancing on the mission of the GNAFCC through knowledge exchange.

Day 1: Honoring the Past (Tuesday 16th) | Theme: Recognition, Celebration, Lessons Learned

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Registration

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Plenary 1 – High Level Opening Ceremony & Global Reflections (ambassadors and newcomers)

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Coffee Break

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Parallel Breakout Sessions (Examples, research and balance urban and rural perspectives)

  • Housing: Ms. Emer Coveney, National Programme Manager, AFI Shared Services.
  • Social participation: Mr. Jaco Hoffman, Professor of Socio-Gerontology, North-West University, South Africa.
  • Civic Participation and Employment: Ms. Natalie Turner, Deputy Director for Localities, Centre for ageing better, UK.
  • Outdoor Spaces and Buildings: Ms. Emi Kiyota, Associate Professor, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore:
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Lunch Break

Global village

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Parallel Breakout Sessions

  • Community Support and Health Services: Ms. Yuka Sumi (WHO).
  • Respect and Social Inclusion: Ms. Aparna Shankar, Professor of Psychology, FLAME University, India.
  • Transport: Ms. Olga Sarmiento, Professor of Public Health, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia.
  • Communication and Information: Ms. Moon Choi, Endowed Chair Professor of Aging and Technology Policy, KAIST Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy, South Korea.
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Coffee Break

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Plenary 2 – Celebrating Legacy & Lessons Learned. Moderator: Ms. Suzanne Garon, Emeritus Professor of Social Work, University of Sherbrooke, Canada.

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Cultural programme – Adinberri Saioa

Day 2: Embracing the Present, Preparing for the Future (Wednesday 17th) | Theme: Inclusion, Exchange, Collaboration and Emerging Perspectives

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Registration

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Plenary 3 – Welcoming Newcomers & Expanding the Network. Moderator: Mr. Agustín Martínez Molina, Head of Research, Imserso, Spain.

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Coffee Break

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Parallel Breakout Sessions on Emerging Topics:

  • Connecting Generations, Technology and Care: Bridging gaps between generations, digital divides and primary and secondary care/formal and informal care. Focusing on social connections. Moderator: Kazuki Yamada, Technical Officer – WHO.
  • Connecting Generations, Technology and Care: Bridging gaps between generations, digital divides and primary and secondary care/formal and informal care. Focusing on intergenerational connections/solidarity. Moderator: Mellany Murgor, WHO Youth Council Steering Committee.
  • Equitable communities: Ensuring that no one is left behind. Focusing on ageism. Moderators: Margaret Gillis, President International Longevity Centre, Canada, and Michael Kanyingi Kimuhu, CEO/Founder MICOP Kenya.
  • Equitable communities: Ensuring that no one is left behind. Focusing on Convention on the rights of older persons. Moderator: Rhian Bowen-Davies, Older People`s Commissioner for Wales.
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Lunch Break

Global village

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Parallel Breakout Sessions on Emerging Topics:

  • Connecting Generations, Technology and Care: Bridging gaps between generations, digital divides and primary and secondary care/formal and informal care. Focusing on caring communities - Ageing in place. Moderator: Erkuden Aldaz, Director of the Matia Institute, Spain 
  • Connecting Generations, Technology and Care: Bridging gaps between generations, digital divides and primary and secondary care/formal and informal care. Focusing on Technology and age-friendly development. Moderator: Joost van Hoof, Professor of urban ageing, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands.
  • Building more sustainable Age Friendly Communities. Focusing on climate change and resilience. Moderator: Gonzalo Lacurcia, UN-Habitat, Spain office.
  • Building more sustainable Age Friendly Communities. Focusing on the sustainability of age-friendly initiatives. Moderator: Kathleen Brasher, La Trobe University, Australia.
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Coffee Break

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Plenary 4 – Strengthening Peer Support & Collaboration. Moderator: Mr. Alexandre Da Silva, National Secretary for the Rights of Older Persons, Brazil.

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Cultural programme – Coral Hariak kantuz

8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

San Telmo Museoa (social event cocktail) – meeting new and old friends.

San Telmo Museum

Day 3: Shaping the Future (Thursday 18th) | Theme: Vision, Innovation, Sustainability

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Registration

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Plenary 5 – Commitments & Breakthroughs. Moderator: Dr. Thiago Herick de Sá, Coordinator, WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities.

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Coffee Break

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Conversations about the future of Age Friendly cities and communities

Discussion groups:

  1. Facilitator: Patricia Morsch. Rapporteur: Flor Murillo. (Spanish/Portugese).
  2. Facilitator: Mellany Murgor. Rapporteur: Ina Voelcker.
  3. Facilitator: Pierre Olivier Lefebvre. Rapporteur: TBC. (French).
  4. Facilitator: Michael Kimuhu. Rapporteur: Joshua Byenkya.
  5. Facilitator: Yudi Pamela Suero Samboy. Rapporteur: Fatima Salomoni.
  6. Facilitator: Tamer Mohamed Shousha. Rapporteur: Nur Hasanah Ahmad Akhir.
  7. Facilitator: TBC. Rapporteur: Lisa Christina Warth.
  8. Facilitator: TBC. Rapporteur: TBC.
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Lunch Break

Global village

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Plenary 6 – Vision – Looking ahead

Moderators:  

  • Ms. Cristine Young, Chairperson LGProfessionals Western Australia Network Age-friendly Communities, Australia.
  • Mr. Paul Mc Garry, Head of Greater Manchester Ageing Hub, United Kingdom. 
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Closing Ceremony

Day 4: Age-friendliness in Action (Friday 19th)

Visits to friendliness experiences.

Planned destinations:

  • Amurrio
  • Azkoitia
  • Barakaldo
  • Bilbao
  • Vitoria-Gasteiz

Starting and finishing point: Kursaal Conference Centre (San Sebastián).
Transport: free buses will be available for travel between locations.

Kursaal Conference Centre (San Sebastián)