Melbourne will host the 24th World Congress of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (WCBIP 2026) from 3 to 6 December 2026. Co-hosted by the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) and the World Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (WABIP), this is the first time this world-leading congress will be held in Oceania, marking a milestone for respiratory medicine and interventional pulmonology in the region.
WCBIP 2026, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, will bring together clinicians, researchers, nurses, allied health professionals and other experts in bronchology and interventional pulmonology from Australia, New Zealand, the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.
The scientific program features leading international experts, with more than 40 already confirmed, plenary sessions and invited symposia covering the latest advances in diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy.
Hands-on pre-congress workshops taking place on Thursday, 3 December, will offer delegates practical, skills-based learning opportunities led by interventional pulmonology experts.
Selected workshops will include dedicated nurse stations, providing an excellent opportunity for nurses to upskill in advanced bronchoscopy and pleural procedures, supporting safe and efficient workflows and patient care.
The congress is led by Congress Co-Presidents Professor Dan Steinfort, Associate Professor Arash Badiei, and Professor Rajesh Thomas, with the Scientific Committee Co-Chairs Professor Phan Nguyen and Dr Elaine Yap, supported by experienced executive and scientific committees.
"Bringing WCBIP to Melbourne is hugely exciting for us. Interventional pulmonology has grown enormously as a specialty over the past two decades, and there is a real depth of expertise now in Australia and New Zealand and across the Asia-Pacific region," said Professor Dan Steinfort.
"Australia has been at the forefront of many advances in this field. Hosting this congress here gives our clinicians and researchers a chance to continue to lead global conversations and learn from the world's best."
The congress theme, 'Celebrating 130 Years of Bronchoscopy', highlights over a century of progress in this field, which has transformed how clinicians see, diagnose, and treat airway and lung diseases.
Bronchoscopy was first performed in 1897 by German laryngologist Gustav Killian. Since then, it has evolved from a diagnostic procedure into a sophisticated platform for minimally invasive intervention, with applications spanning endobronchial ultrasound, navigational bronchoscopy, bronchoscopic lung volume reduction and interventional procedures for early-stage lung cancer.
WCBIP 2026 will offer a dedicated forum to look at the progress of the field and its future direction, at a time when technological advances, evolving clinical guidelines and growing global cancer screening programs are reshaping the role of interventional pulmonology in patient care.
Workshop registrations are now open, with places limited. For full details, visit: https://wcbip2026.com/workshops/
Early-bird registration ends on 24 September 2026. For all registration details, visit the conference website: https://wcbip2026.com/registration/
About us:
About TSANZ
The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) is the peak professional body representing more than 1,800 respiratory health professionals across medicine, science, nursing, allied health, and research. TSANZ provides evidence-based advice, delivers professional training, and supports research to improve outcomes in lung health across Australia and New Zealand.
About WABIP
The World Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (WABIP) is a non-profit organisation officially registered in Tokyo, Japan, and consists of over 12,500 medical professionals representing more than 65 regional and national societies.
The mission of this international organisation is to connect a growing network of specialised medical doctors, healthcare professionals, and industry/technology experts devoted to the art and science of airway, lung, and oesophageal diseases. WABIP promotes the highest standards in bronchoscopic practice, research and education globally.
