EHPS 2026

The 40th Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society brought together around 800 academics, researchers, students, and practitioners from 49 countries in Paphos, Cyprus, from 1 to 4 September 2026. Marking four decades of the European Health Psychology Society, the conference provided an international meeting point for researchers and professionals working across health psychology, behavioural science, digital health, patient care, health behaviour, and related fields.

Hosted by the Cyprus University of Technology and the European Health Psychology Society, the conference was held in a hybrid format, allowing participants to take part either in person or online. The official conference programme likewise provided online participation for oral sessions, while maintaining the in-person experience in Paphos.

The conference took place at the Coral Beach Hotel & Resort, a seaside resort overlooking the Mediterranean and offering extensive conference facilities and flexible spaces for academic and professional gatherings. Located close to Coral Bay and the wider coastline of Paphos, the venue provided a setting where intensive scientific discussions could sit alongside the more relaxed atmosphere of a Mediterranean September.

The event was led locally by Professor Andreas Kassianos, Chair of the Local Organizing Committee, whose work helped ensure the smooth operation of the conference. The Local Organizing Committee included Laura Panagi, Maria Karekla, Sotia Nestoros, Eleni Epiphaniou, Nuno Ferreira, and Theodora Fteropoulli. The Scientific Committee was chaired by Evangelos Karademas, with Maria Karekla, Angelos Kassianos, Gozde Ozakinci, Val Morrison, Laura Gördes, and Marie Murphy serving alongside him. The official conference materials confirm the committee structure and the roles of its members.

The conference opened with addresses from the Minister of Health of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Neophytos Charalambides, and Marios Charalambides, the country’s first Patient Ombudsman. Their participation provided an important connection between health psychology research, public health policy, and the experience and rights of patients.

For Professor Andreas Kassianos, the conference was an opportunity to celebrate both the development of the field and the community behind it.

“The 40th Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society was an important opportunity to bring together our community to exchange knowledge, challenge ideas, and strengthen the connections that allow Health Psychology to continue developing. We are grateful to everyone who travelled to Paphos or joined us online and contributed to the scientific and social life of the conference. Their participation made this 40th anniversary meeting a meaningful celebration of the field and its future.”

The academic programme reflected the breadth and changing nature of contemporary Health Psychology. With the conference theme centred on digital innovation and the growing role of technology and AI, discussions explored how new technologies can support health behaviour, improve healthcare delivery, understand patient experiences, and transform research practice. The programme combined keynote lectures, oral presentations, symposia, roundtables, spotlight talks, workshops, and poster presentations.

The academic programme began with three pre-conference workshops. “Behaviour Change Intervention Ontology in Action: Harnessing the Ontology for Better Evidence Synthesis of Interventions” was presented by Paulina Schenk, Carolina Silva, Maya Braun, and Micaela Santilli. “Digital Health Interventions in Health Psychology: From Design and Regulation to Real-World Delivery” was presented by Sophie Fawson, Rona Moss Morris, and Madison Milne Ives. Richard de Visser led “Mixed Methods in Health Psychology Research: What? Why? How?”, offering participants an opportunity to examine the role of mixed methods approaches in health psychology research.

A number of specialist workshops and expert meetings also formed part of the conference programme. The CREATE Interactive Workshop, “AI in Research: Utilizing LLMs in Evidence Synthesis”, was presented by Ian Kellar and João Craveiro. The SYNERGY Expert Meeting was presented by Joanna Semlyen, Leanne Tyson, and Zoe Vaill. CREATE also hosted a “Meet the Experts” session, providing opportunities for participants to engage directly with experienced researchers. EMPOWER 2026, titled “Doing Science Differently: Balancing Scientific Innovation, Community, and Self-care”, was presented by Leona Ryan and Gjalt Jorn Peters. The programme reflected the Society’s interest not only in new scientific methods and technologies, but also in the way research communities work and support their members.

Four keynote speakers were invited to showcase their work and offer perspectives on some of the most important questions facing Health Psychology today.

• Professor Jane Walsh presented “From Theory to Transformation: How Psychology Drives Digital Health Innovation”, examining the relationship between psychological theory and innovation in digital health.

• Professor Gertraud (Turu) Stadler presented “Understanding Heterogeneity in Health Psychology”, highlighting the importance of recognising differences between people and populations when developing health research and interventions.

• Professor Alex Gillespie presented “Using AI to Analyze Patient Voice and Hospital Listening: Insights into Patient Safety”, exploring the potential of artificial intelligence to help researchers and healthcare organisations understand patient experiences.

• Dr Nicos Middleton presented “Digital Innovations and Behavioural Insights for (Dis)Respectful Maternity Care in Cyprus: From Co-creation to Reflections for Systemic Change”, bringing together digital innovation, behavioural insights, maternity care, and the realities of healthcare systems in Cyprus.

More than 195 poster presentations were displayed during the coffee breaks, creating informal spaces for researchers, students, and practitioners to exchange ideas and discuss emerging findings. Recognition of achievement was another important part of the conference. Dominika Kwasnicka and Benjamin Gardner received the Fellow of the European Health Psychology Society distinction, recognising their contribution to the field and the Society. Thomas Gultzow, Theresa Pauly, and Daniella Watson received the Stan Maes Early Career Award, recognising the work and potential of researchers at an early stage of their careers.

Beyond the academic programme, the conference created plenty of opportunities for participants to meet old friends, establish new connections, and experience some of what makes Paphos such a distinctive destination for an international gathering. The welcome reception took place on the Bougainvillea Terrace of the Coral Beach Hotel & Resort, where participants enjoyed canapés and local drinks while looking out over the Mediterranean Sea. In early September, Paphos offered the warm light, sea views, and relaxed atmosphere that made it possible to move naturally from conference conversations to informal gatherings.

Coral Bay’s sandy beach and clear Mediterranean waters provided an inviting setting for relaxation and beach activities, allowing participants to experience the area outside the conference rooms.

Participants also had the opportunity to explore the cultural heritage of Paphos with a visit to the Paphos Archaeological Museum. The museum provided a window into the long history of the region, with collections covering the prehistoric period through later stages of Cypriot history and displaying archaeological finds that reflect the island’s changing cultures and connections across the Mediterranean.

The conference dinner brought everyone together once again, this time at a seaside restaurant. Traditional Cypriot food, drinks, music, and the unmistakable enthusiasm of conference delegates turned the evening into one of the social highlights of the week. And because apparently several days of discussing health behaviour still leave academics with plenty of energy, participants also took to the dance floor.

The evening ended with a performance by the infamous Revise and Resubmit band, whose classic songs were greeted by a warm and enthusiastic audience. The band has become one of those memorable features of the EHPS community, proving once again that academic conferences occasionally benefit from something that cannot be found in a programme abstract: a band.

The organisers would like to extend their sincere thanks to all participants, speakers, chairs, workshop leaders, volunteers, committee members, and contributors who helped make the 40th Annual Conference possible. Their time, ideas, conversations, and enthusiasm created the community atmosphere that made the anniversary meeting special.

Special thanks go to the conference volunteers Despina Stylianou, Melina Haridimou, Rosine Moustapha, Annie Kyprianou, Antrea Ioannidou, Valentina Themistokleous, Aphrodite Ntemou, Andreas Koulermou, Miltos Zacharopoulos, and Despoina Melanthiou for their valuable support throughout the event.

The conference was also supported by EasyConferences through its Online Registration System, Abstract Submission Platform, Conference Coordination Services, and Conference Application. 

The Cyprus University of Technology is a public university in Cyprus with a strong focus on research, innovation, education, and engagement with society. Its participation as host institution brought the conference close to the Cypriot academic and health research community.

The European Health Psychology Society is an international scientific organisation dedicated to promoting research, education, and professional development in Health Psychology. Through its annual conference and wider activities, the Society provides a platform for researchers and practitioners to exchange knowledge and develop the field across Europe and internationally.

Next Location

The next chapter will take the EHPS community to Bern, Switzerland, where the next annual conference will continue the Society’s tradition of bringing together researchers, practitioners, students, and professionals to explore the changing landscape of Health Psychology. The organisers look forward to welcoming the Health Psychology community to Bern for the next chapter of the European Health Psychology Society’s annual conference series.