Letter of Invitation
Dear ECCO IBD Community,
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO), it is my great pleasure to invite you to the 22nd ECCO Congress, taking place on March 3–6, 2027 at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Following the remarkable success of ECCO’26 Congress, which welcomed 7,388 participants from 99 countries, ECCO’27 continues to strengthen global collaboration in advancing excellence in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care, research, and education across borders, bringing together the global IBD community to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and shape the future of patient care.
In line with the ECCO REACH strategy, this year’s focus theme, “Causes of IBD” (reflecting the letter ‘C’ in REACH), brings together state-of-the-art science and technology to deepen understanding of the underlying causes of IBD and ultimately enhance patient care.
The Congress will officially commence on Thursday March 4, at 12:15 with the ECCO Faculty on stage as usual, but then we will this time launch the Scientific Programme with the prestigious ECCO Lecture. Prof. Miles Parkes will deliver the lecture entitled “Pinpointing genetic, immunological and microbial contributors for IBD,” setting the scene for the Congress theme of “Causes of IBD” within the ECCO REACH strategy.
In other developments to the Scientific Programme 2027, there is an increased number of Digital Oral Presentations (DOPs) and an expanded plenary session until Saturday afternoon on March 6, 2026. The popular Guided Poster Tours will move from Friday to Saturday, providing an exceptional opportunity to explore cutting-edge research, guiding delegates through more than 1,400 abstracts and enabling direct interaction with authors in an expert-led setting. The Scientific Programme will be live streamed via our Congress platform and available on-demand.
The ECCO’27 Educational Programme takes place, as usual, prior to the official opening of the Congress. It features 15 high-quality courses, offering interactive sessions, panel discussions, multidisciplinary exchanges, ultrasound demonstrations, hands-on training, and much more. Programme highlights include the IBD Intensive Course, the S-ECCO IBD Masterclass, the ECCO Postgraduate Course in IBD, the ECCO Basic Imaging Workshop, and the School for Clinical Trialists, plus the first edition of the ResCom Workshop, with a focus on clinical scenarios and best practice. The N-ECCO School is now open to all nurse members, and no longer limited to invited participants. I am also pleased to announce the new Global Forum, which evolved from the ECCO-AOCC Forum and will take place on an annual basis with a full-day programme on Wednesday. Organised by the recently launched ECCO Global Taskforce initiative, the Global Forum showcases top abstracts sourced from around the world, bringing the latest global developments in IBD research, education, and clinical care to the ECCO Family.
Alongside the scientific and educational activities, delegates can once again enjoy a vibrant industry exhibition showcasing the latest innovations, as well as valuable networking opportunities, including the N-ECCO Network Meeting and the IFFCA Conference. The ECCO Interaction: Hearts & Minds will return on Friday evening at the Øksnehallen, offering a unique and informal setting for connection and exchange.
I warmly invite you to join us in Copenhagen for what promises to be an inspiring and rewarding Congress.
We look forward to welcoming you to Copenhagen for the ECCO’27 Congress.
