19th WFOT Congress 2026

The 19th WFOT Congress 2026 Bangkok

The 19th WFOT Congress 2026 Bangkok is a major in-person global gathering for occupational therapy, running 9–12 February 2026 at BITEC (Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre) under the theme “Inspiring Change, Innovating Futures.” For Bangkok city visitors, it is the kind of week where professional learning and networking can be paired with some of the capital’s most rewarding neighborhoods, food culture, and riverside evenings.

19th WFOT Congress 2026 Bangkok: what it is

The WFOT Congress is the World Federation of Occupational Therapists’ international congress, bringing together occupational therapy professionals, educators, researchers, and students for a multi-day program of sessions and events. WFOT confirms the 19th edition takes place in Bangkok, Thailand from 9–12 February 2026, positioning the city as a hub for innovation and collaboration in occupational therapy during the congress week.

WFOT also confirms the congress theme as “Inspiring Change, Innovating Futures,” setting expectations for content focused on progress in practice, education, research, and broader systems change. While the program includes formal sessions and ceremonies, the overall draw is the chance to learn, share, and build connections across countries and settings, something a global congress does better than almost any smaller conference.

Confirmed dates, venue, and Bangkok city setting

WFOT confirms the congress dates as 9–12 February 2026 in Bangkok. The venue is confirmed as the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), a large-scale convention venue in the Bang Na district that is set up for high-capacity international events. The venue address is listed as 88 Bang Na-Trat Road, Bang Na, Bangkok 10260, Thailand, which helps with hotel planning and daily commuting.

Bangkok’s city appeal during a professional congress is its variety. You can spend the day in focused sessions and still end the evening somewhere completely different in feel, from a calm riverside dinner to an energetic night market. This contrast is one reason Bangkok remains such a compelling host city for international gatherings.

Programme highlights: what attendees can expect

WFOT Congress 2026 is confirmed as an in-person event, with organizers stating that a hybrid option is not viable and that plenary recordings will be made available after the event. The programme outline confirms an Education Day on Sunday 8 February 2026, followed by congress days running 9–12 February, giving attendees the option to arrive early for extra learning. The outline also lists common congress elements such as:

• Opening ceremony and keynote
• Concurrent sessions
• Symposia
• Poster viewing
• Scheduled breaks

Education Day and site visits

Education Day is explicitly referenced in the programme outline as Sunday 8 February 2026, and it is also listed as an optional add-on with its own cost in the registration information. Professional Site Visits are also referenced as additional activities with separate costs, which is a valuable option for attendees who want learning grounded in real-world settings.

Welcome Reception and Congress Party

The registration page states that in-person full registration includes access to the Welcome Reception on 9 February 2026, and it notes that Congress Party tickets are an additional purchase. This matters for planning because social events are often where networking becomes easier and more natural, especially for first-time attendees or solo travelers.

Registration fees and pricing (confirmed)

Registration pricing is published in USD and is structured by income category, membership status, and whether you attend the full congress or a single day. Early Bird rates were extended until 23 October 2025, with Standard rates applying from 24 October 2025, which means most attendees booking now should expect Standard pricing.

Here are confirmed examples from the fee table (USD):

• High Income, Full Congress: WFOT Member $1,165 (Standard); WFOT Non-Member $1,555 (Standard).
• Student, Full Congress: $560 (same for early bird and standard, as listed).
• Other Income, Full Congress: WFOT Member $560 (Standard); WFOT Non-Member $670 (Standard).
• High Income, Day Registration: WFOT Member $460; WFOT Non-Member $560; Student $215.
• Other Income, Day Registration: WFOT Member $225; WFOT Non-Member $335; Student $125.

Additional event costs are also listed, including Education Day, Professional Site Visits, Welcome Reception tickets for additional guests, and the Congress Party. As examples, Education Day is listed at $120 (High Income WFOT Member) and $65 (Other Income WFOT Member), and the Congress Party is listed at $75 for attendees, with guest options also shown.

Who should attend and why it matters in 2026

WFOT describes the congress as welcoming a diverse community of professionals, educators, researchers, and students from around the world. In practice, that mix creates a rare learning environment where clinical stories, research results, and education strategies collide in ways that spark new ideas and practical changes you can carry back to your community.

Because the congress theme focuses on inspiring change and innovating futures, it is well-suited to anyone interested in how occupational therapy can respond to modern pressures, from technology shifts to changing populations and service needs. Bangkok as host city also encourages broad participation from across Asia-Pacific and beyond, which can deepen cross-cultural exchange and expand your network across regions.

Bangkok city travel tips for congress week

BITEC is in the Bang Na area of Bangkok, so the smoothest experience often comes from choosing accommodation that makes your daily commute easy. If you want to mix congress days with Bangkok city exploration, consider building your evenings around a simple pattern: one local dinner near your hotel on busy days, and one planned cultural or food neighborhood night on lighter days. This approach keeps energy steady across four intensive congress days.

A few practical habits help a lot during big conferences:

• Plan outfits for strong air-conditioning inside large venues, plus lightweight comfort for outdoor Bangkok heat.
• Keep a small daily routine: breakfast, session blocks, hydration, a short evening walk, and an early night at least once mid-congress so you can stay sharp.
• Use social events like the Welcome Reception to meet people early, which makes the rest of the week feel more connected.

How to make the most of the programme

The programme outline shows multiple concurrent elements across the days, including symposia, concurrent sessions, keynote moments, and poster viewing. A smart way to approach a large programme is to choose one main learning thread for the week, such as mental health, pediatrics, neurorehabilitation, assistive technology, or community practice, then add a second thread that stretches your perspective.

Also consider building in at least one optional add-on such as Education Day or a Professional Site Visit if it fits your goals and schedule, since these tend to deliver deeper learning than standard sessions alone. Finally, keep time for informal conversations, because some of the most valuable “take-home ideas” from global congresses come from what colleagues share between sessions.

Verified Information at a glance

• Event name: 19th WFOT Congress 2026
• Event category: International occupational therapy congress (in-person professional conference)
• Dates: 9–12 February 2026
• Education Day: Sunday 8 February 2026
• Host city/country: Bangkok, Thailand
• Theme: Inspiring Change, Innovating Futures
• Venue: Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC)
• Venue address: 88 Bang Na-Trat Road, Bang Na, Bangkok 10260, Thailand
• Registration pricing (USD, confirmed examples): Standard High Income Full Congress WFOT Member $1,165; Standard High Income Full Congress Non-Member $1,555; Student Full Congress $560; Standard Other Income Full Congress WFOT Member $560; Standard Other Income Full Congress Non-Member $670
• Notes on format: In-person event; plenary recordings available after the event

If Bangkok city is already on your travel list, February is a wonderful time to go, and the 19th WFOT Congress gives you a rare chance to combine serious professional growth at BITEC with the energy of one of the world’s great cities, so consider making the trip, joining the conversations, and letting the week shape what you bring back to your practice and community.