In January 2026, Paris became the stage for a major shift in the way brain health is addressed worldwide. Held as part of the 15th anniversary of the Paris Brain Institute, the World Brain Health Forum 2026 brought together 80 international speakers and more than 1,000 participants across three emblematic venues : the Paris Brain Institute, the UNESCO House and the French Academy of Sciences.
For the first time at this scale, scientists, political leaders, institutional stakeholders and economists came together to affirm a shared vision: brain health must now be considered a strategic global issue, shaping public policies, economic resilience and social cohesion.
Among the high-level speakers were:
- HE Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations,
- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization,
- Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO,
- Philippe Aghion, Nobel Prize in Economics 2025.
A new space for dialogue
Their contributions reflected the Forum’s ambition: to create a new space for dialogue between science and decision-making, and to anchor brain health within major international agendas.
Throughout the Forum, discussions moved beyond disciplinary boundaries to underline a common priority: the future of brain health depends on stronger international cooperation, open science and data sharing, and the full integration of countries from the Global South into global research dynamics. Brain health can no longer be addressed in silos; it requires coordinated, long-term and inclusive strategies.
I think we have created a collective engagement aiming to break down silos, to create unprecedented connections, interdisciplinary but also intersectoral, to jointly make a quantum leap to advance brain health
World Brain Health Forum: a foundation for the future
The conclusions of the World Brain Health Forum 2026 will serve as a foundation for future collaborations, policy recommendations and international research initiatives. The Forum marks the beginning of a long-term collective process aimed at structuring a global ecosystem for brain health.
The Paris Brain Institute is proud to have initiated and hosted this landmark event, alongside its partners the European alliance CureND and the International Alliance for Brain Health, and with the invaluable support of its patrons and sponsors: Richard Mille Fund, Fondation OCIRP, Klésia and InterContinental Le Grand.
By bringing together scientific excellence and global leadership, the World Brain Health Forum opens a new chapter for brain health, one rooted in cooperation, responsibility and shared commitment to the future.
