ESAIC selects Albania to host the inaugural CONNECT Congress in 2026

Brussels, Belgium – The European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (the ESAIC) is pleased to announce that Albania has been selected as the host country for the first edition of CONNECT, the ESAIC’s new collaborative congress model created to strengthen engagement with national societies across Europe.

CONNECT is a compact two-day scientific event that will bring high-quality perioperative and intensive care education directly to national audiences. The format is designed for countries where organising a full-sized Euroanaesthesia is not feasible. It offers a flexible and scalable model that maintains the ESAIC’s scientific standards while supporting local professional development and fostering closer collaboration.

The inaugural edition, CONNECT.Albania 2026, will take place in Tirana from 6–7 November 2026. Colleagues are invited to mark the dates.

The event will be organised by the Albanian Society of Anaesthesiologists and Intensivists (ASAI) and the programme will be developed in collaboration with ESAIC.

ASAI’s proposal was recognised for its strong alignment with the ESAIC’s vision for CONNECT, its commitment to advancing perioperative and intensive care practice in Albania, and its readiness to co-create a high-quality scientific programme.

In a joint statement, Prof. Michel Struys (Chair of the ESAIC Scientific Committee), Prof. Idit Matot (ESAIC President-Elect), and Prof. Fabio Guarracino (Incoming Chair of the ESAIC Scientific Committee) said:

“With the new CONNECT meeting, ESAIC aims to offer National Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Societies in countries unable to host a full-sized Euroanaesthesia annual congress the opportunity to organise a scientific event in partnership with ESAIC.

The CONNECT meeting is conceived as a two-day event focused on science, education, and networking, with an emphasis on accessibility for international participants and a limited number of parallel sessions.

It provides the hosting Society with the opportunity to organise a high-quality scientific program in which both local and international speakers can share their knowledge with the audience. At the same time, it offers ESAIC the chance to strengthen its collaboration with National Societies, connect with colleagues who may not yet be familiar with ESAIC, and promote its values of inclusion, education, and scientific engagement in countries where hosting Euroanaesthesia is not feasible for logistical reasons.”

“We are delighted to begin this new chapter in Albania,” said Prof. Idit Matot, ESAIC President-Elect. “CONNECT is an important step in expanding our reach and deepening our collaboration with national societies. ASAI has shown remarkable commitment, and we look forward to creating a meaningful and impactful event together.”

“This will be a historic moment for anaesthesiology and intensive care in Albania and in the region,” said Prof. Saimir Kuçi, President of ASAI. “CONNECT.Albania 2026 will bring the European scientific community to Tirana, expand high-quality training opportunities, and support the development of our speciality through a programme that responds directly to our needs. Our collaboration with the ESAIC will introduce new expertise in areas such as simulation-based education, patient safety, and sustainable perioperative care. CONNECT.Albania 2026 will strengthen professional exchange within Albania and with neighbouring countries, reflect the ESAIC’s trust in our community, and reinforce our shared commitment to improving clinical standards and patient outcomes.”

CONNECT.Albania 2026 will feature a compact two-day programme with scientific sessions, hands-on learning, and networking opportunities. The event will be accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) and will be delivered in English.

The ESAIC will continue launching annual calls for future host countries, expanding the CONNECT model across Europe.

More details on the programme, venue, and registration will be announced in the coming months.

About the ESAIC
The European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care promotes the highest standards of care, safety, education, and research in perioperative medicine, intensive care, and pain management across Europe.

CONNECT: the ESAIC’s new autumn meeting

The CONNECT meeting is intended to become the ESAIC’s annual autumn scientific event, rotating across different European countries. Each edition will take place from late October to early November, offering a regular opportunity for national societies to collaborate with ESAIC on education, science, and community engagement.

The first edition, CONNECT.Albania 2026 will be held in Tirana from 6–7 November 2026. Further information and updates will be available at:
connect.esaic.org

Press contact ESAIC
Mrs Arta LECI
Marketing and Communication Manager at ESAIC
communications@esaic.org

Press contact ASAI
Prof. SAIMIR KUCI
President of Albanian Society of Anesthesiologists & Intensivists ASAI
saimirkuci@gmail.com