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World Congress of Anaesthesiologists

The World Congress of Anaesthesiologists (WCA) is the pre-eminent international congress for anaesthesiologists.

Bringing together anaesthesia and perioperative care providers from around the world, WCA provides an extraordinary opportunity for the promotion of science, education, training, networking and the exchange of experience across the spectrum of anaesthesiology.

With delegates from 130+ countries, WCA is unique in terms of global reach and diversity. It offers an outstanding scientific and social experience for all who attend.

Upcoming Congresses

19th WCA 2026 – Morocco, 15-19 April 2026

WCA2026 will be held in Marrakech in partnership with the Société Marocaine d’Anesthésie, d’Analgésie et de Réanimation (SMAAR). Find out more.

20th WCA – Vancouver, Canada, May 2028

WCA 2028 will be held in Vancouver in partnership with the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society.

Past Congresses

18th WCA 2024 – Singapore, 3-7 March 2024

WCA2024 is the 18th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists took place in Singapore from 3-7 March 2024. This was the first WCA to be held in-person since 2016,

Find out more at www.wca2024.org

WCA 2021, 1-5 September

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The 17th World Congress was to have been held in Prague, Czech Republic but due to Covid-19 restrictions became the first ever fully virtual World Congress. The Congress took place from 1 -5 September 2021 and attracted over 6,500 delegates. A round-up of the events of WCA2021 is available here.

Over 1,000 abstracts were published in Anesthesia & Analgesia and can be accessed at https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/toc/2021/09002

The 100 most popular sessions and seminars are available to watch again on the WFSA YouTube channel

16th WCA – Hong Kong 2016

The 16th World Congress was held in August-September 2016 in Hong Kong. The Society of Anaesthetists of Hong Kong (SAHK) co-hosted an incredible Congress at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in the heart of the vibrant island. Over 6,000 delegates from 134 countries attended. 1,054 abstracts were presented. 648 speaker sessions. 79 workshops. 54 problem based learning discussions. 116 companies exhibited.

The abstracts from the WCA 2016 can be found here

15th WCA – Buenos Aires 2012

The largest WCA ever in terms of attendance took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from the 25th to 20th March 2012. An astonishing 11,322 delegates took part including 8,893 medical professionals and 590 faculty. There were over 620 sessions on the programme, 771 digital posters were presented, 43 workshops were delivered and 94 companies and 23 societies exhibited.

The abstracts from the WCA 2012 can be downloaded here:

Part 1    Part 2

14th WCA – Cape Town 2008

Over 6,000 delegates registered from all 5 continents. There were 788 separate presentations, 12 workshops, 8 Industrial Symposium/workshops, 1019 posters were displayed and there were 130 exhibitors.

WCA Locations Since 1955

The World Congress rotates through different world regions and the below list shows the host cities and societies since the first congress in 1955.

World Congress Locations

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