Dear Colleagues, Friends, and
Members of the ESTS Community,
It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of honor that I invite you to the 34th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons, to be held in the timeless city of Athens in 2026.
Athens, the cradle of democracy and philosophy, has long been a meeting place for inquiry, innovation, and dialogue. It was here that Socrates asked questions that shaped the foundations of reason, where Plato envisioned ideal forms, and where Aristotle explored the essence of nature and the human condition. This heritage is not a relic of the past—it lives on, and it resonates with the spirit of thoracic surgery today: a discipline that constantly questions, refines, and advances in pursuit of excellence.
In that tradition, our meeting will be a forum not only for the dissemination of the latest scientific knowledge – ranging from surgical techniques and oncologic strategies to novel technologies – but also for critical dialogue, mentorship, and collective reflection on where we are, and where we must go next.
To our trainees and emerging surgeons: like the students of the Athenian academies, come curious and open-minded. This is your space to question, learn, and grow.
To our experienced colleagues and mentors: your wisdom is the compass that helps the next generation navigate complexity with confidence. Share generously, guide patiently.
Beyond the lecture halls, Athens offers an atmosphere that is uniquely suited to learning and connection. As you walk its storied streets – from the steps of the Acropolis to the vibrant cafés of Plaka – you will feel the pulse of a city that knows how to mix contemplation with conviviality.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Program Committee, I welcome you to ESTS 2026 in Athens, where history meets science, and where thought, like surgery, is a craft we are honored to practice together.
Athens 2026: “Where Classics Meet Innovation”.
Warm regards,
Pierre-Emmanuel Falcoz
President of the ESTS
Dear Colleagues and members of the ESTS family,
It is my honor and privilege as the chair of the local organizing committee to address a warm invitation to attend the 34th ESTS Annual meeting to be held in Athens in June 2026. Athens is a metropolis of more than four million residents where classical antiquity and modernity coexist with harmony, a fact that is evident everywhere you are going to look in the city. Two thousand five hundred years of history exist in the historical city center which is considered be the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, structured education, art and science and the land where western civilization has his roots. The influence of the Athens-born classical antiquity on the western civilization is evident all over the world, as the apothegms chased in the ancient marbles thousands of years ago still affect and navigate modern education and way of life. The ESTS meeting in the historical city of Athens is a great opportunity to deeply understand and consequently adopt without any doubt that innovation, modernity and classic knowledge still exist and perfectly combine in the science and art of Thoracic Surgery.
Thoracic surgeons proved to be open minded by adopting in the beginning of the century all new challenges, establishing modern Thoracic Surgery as one of the more prestigious medical specialties. Modern Thoracic Surgery “sails” in the future in close collaboration with Oncology and Thoracic Medicine. The novelties and progresses in Oncology and Thoracic Medicine and, in addition, the screening programs for the early detection of lung cancer generate further needs for thoracic surgical procedures. Technology is an assistant in the continuous development of our Specialty which multiplies the positive results and opens new ways for further surgical innovation. The ESTS meeting in Athens can be an inspiration for all thoracic surgeons to have a look in the future, identify and adopt, without any discrimination, the new trends, keeping however in mind that classic knowledge and classic techniques are incorporated in any innovation. Furthermore, Athens seems to be an ideal place to inspirate new ideas for academic research and academic collaboration
ESTS 2026 meeting attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy the scientific sessions in a luxury venue, the Athens Concert Hall named “Megaron” which is located within the heart of the city. The historical center and the commercial center are found in walking distance from Megaron. The station of the Athens Metro “Megaron” is located just outside of the building and attendees can reach everywhere in the city center within few minutes using the Athens Metro.
ESTS, Where Classics Meet Innovation
Kind regards,
Christophoros Foroulis
Chair of the Local Organizing Committee