Avac Event

Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2026)

The annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) took place February 22–25, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.

Check out AVAC’s Highlights from the Meeting

AVAC Infographics

AVAC’s visuals for presentations and discussions were seen across the conference. Access them here in an easy-to-use slide format.

Community Breakfast Clubs

Each day during CROI, AVAC, EATG, Fiocruz, TAG, and other partners hosted virtual webinars called Community Breakfast Clubs featuring researchers and advocates breaking down important prevention, treatment and cure science presented at CROI and the implications for the field.

Avac Event

IAS 2027, the 14th IAS Conference on HIV Science

IAS 2027, the 14th IAS Conference on HIV Science, will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, and virtually from 11 to 15 July 2027. Around 5,000 people from more than 130 countries are expected to attend.

The IAS Conference on HIV Science is the world’s most influential meeting on HIV research and its applications. Through its open and inclusive programme, the meeting sets the gold standard of HIV science, featuring latest HIV research and innovations that move science into policy and practice.

Avac Event

AIDS 2026, the 26th International AIDS Conference

AIDS 2026, the 26th International AIDS Conference, took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and virtually from the 26-31 July 2026. Under the theme Rethink. Rebuild. Rise. it took place at a defining moment for the global HIV response. Alongside the latest research, discussions focused on scaling up long-acting HIV prevention, strengthening health systems, advancing country ownership, and ensuring the future of HIV prevention remains rooted in innovation, implementation and sustained investment.

AVAC’s resources, events and insights from the conference are below.


Check out AVAC’s Highlights from the Meeting


Looking for key takeaways from the conference?

Watch here for highlights of the meeting from AVAC’s executive director, Mitchell Warren.


AVAC Session Roadmaps

AI and HIV Session Roadmap

See the AI & HIV Session Roadmap, featuring key conference sessions on artificial intelligence in HIV prevention, care, research and global health.

HIV Prevention Session Roadmap

See AVAC’s curated roadmap of HIV prevention sessions and key presentations to watch throughout AIDS 2026.

HIV Cure and Prevention Research Networking Zone

AVAC’s HIV Cure and Prevention Research Networking Zone was a place where delegates, researchers, advocates and community members could come together for interactive discussions, expert-led sessions and networking on HIV cure and prevention research, implementation and advocacy. See the schedule.


Resources

AVAC’s latest infographics on the research and development pipeline, prevention options, and the impact of US funding cuts can be accessed here.


Resource Hubs

Lenacapavir for PrEP

The introduction of injectable lenacapavir for HIV PrEP (LEN) is underway–in some places. While the field is moving faster than it did during the first decade of oral PrEP or the rollout of injectable cabotegravir, ensuring LEN—and future prevention options—reach everyone who needs them will require even greater speed, scale and equity. This resource hub contains all the tools, resources and insights on the latest with LEN rollout.

MK-8527

Expanding prevention choice means investing in a diverse pipeline of HIV prevention options. MK-8527 is an investigational antiretroviral (ARV) once-monthly oral PrEP pill currently in Phase III clinical trials. If proven safe and effective, it could offer another important PrEP option. This resource hub provides advocates with an overview of the MK-8527, the science behind it and the latest on its clinical development.

People’s Research Agenda

The People’s Research Agenda (PRA) sets out a people-centered framework for equitable and accelerated R&D and product introduction. This resource hub offers an online, interactive dashboard for tracking, translating, and advocating for HIV prevention research and development (R&D). It also shows where investments align—or fail to align—with community-defined priorities, and spotlights critical gaps in the pipeline of prevention options needed to meet the diverse realities of all populations.


Pre-conferences, Satellites, Sessions and Workshops Featuring AVAC and Partners

Sunday, 26 July

  • Pre-conference: Advancing HIV prevention science and access
    08:00 – 19:00
    Hosted by the International AIDS Society, this pre-conference features six sessions showcasing the latest advances in HIV prevention science and access—including the Global Forecast of Long-Acting PrEP Need for Key Populations (2025–2030), developed jointly by GBGMC and AVAC. AVAC board, staff and partners will also explore the science behind next-generation HIV vaccine candidates and how to translate.

Monday, 27 July

Tuesday, 28 July

  • Symposium: bNAbs for cure: Hope or hype?
    10:30-11:30
    AVAC Board Member Marina Caskey will present in this symposium exploring the promise—and limitations—of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) for HIV cure.

Wednesday, 29 July

Thursday, 30 July

  • Workshop: Skills Lab: Community-led monitoring
    12:00 – 13:30
    Facilitated by the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC), NACOSA, the Network of Journalists Living with HIV (JONEHA) and community monitoring experts, including AVAC Senior Advisor Maureen Luba, this interactive workshop will strengthen practical skills in community-led monitoring (CLM).
  • Symposium: From community to innovation to scale
    16:30 – 17:30
    AVAC’s Grace Kumwenda will join community leaders, researchers, clinicians, policymakers and funders to discuss the partnerships, inclusive research and implementation strategies needed to accelerate innovation and ensure equitable access from the outset.
  • Satellite: From choice to impact: Long-acting and multipurpose HIV prevention technologies
    18:00 – 19:30
    Hosted by IPM South Africa, AVAC and Access Bridge’s Kate Segal and Ascend Futures Foundation’s Chilufya Kasanda will join researchers, advocates, implementers and policymakers to examine the latest scientific advances, implementation strategies and pathways to equitable access for long-acting options and MPTs.

Friday, July 31


HIV Cure Research at AIDS 2026

Explore HIV cure research sessions at AIDS 2026 with Treatment Action Group (TAG)’s curated list of conference sessions and events.


Avac Event

The Dual Prevention Pill Introduction Plan

Both a Question and an Answer to Integration

Introducing the Dual Prevention Pill (DPP) will require integration of contraception and PrEP in guidelines, health systems, delivery approaches, and demand creation. Join us to discuss how programs should think about rolling out novel prevention products like the DPP in the current landscape, learning from projects across sub-Saharan Africa.

Moderator

  • Isolde Birdthistle, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Speakers

  • Dr. Lori Miller, IPPF
  • Nelia Banda, CHAI
  • Rhoda Msiska, Copper Rose Zambia

PDF version of flyer also available.

Avac Event

The Fight for Health Justice in an Age of Retreat

Avac Event

International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP 2025)

Since its inaugural convening in Kampala, Uganda in 2009, the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) has grown into more than just a conference. It has become a global community, a dynamic movement, and a trusted digital platform advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all.

ICFP brings together researchers, governments, advocates, health equity champions, and local communities to celebrate progress, pledge new commitments, and chart the way forward. Rooted in collaboration, inclusivity, innovation, and scientific integrity, it serves as a strategic inflection point for advancing universal access to family planning and reproductive health.

The ICFP 2025 theme“Equity Through Action: Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All,” reflects the urgency of addressing systemic inequities through innovative solutions and concrete commitments. Participants will have access to a wide range of sessions—from plenaries, panel discussions, and debates to workshops, side events, and networking opportunities—all designed to spark dialogue, strengthen partnerships, and inspire action.

Avac Event

South African AIDS Conference (SAAIDS)

The 12th SAAIDS Conference 2025, under the theme: Unite for Change – Empower Communities and Redefine Priorities for HIV/AIDS will be held in Johannesburg 8-11 September.

Resources

If you’re attending, don’t miss a keynote plenary where AVAC’s Mitchell Warren will share perspectives on the future of HIV prevention, and an important satellite on Wednesday, Bridging the Gap and Identifying Opportunities: Innovative Strategies to Accelerate HIV Prevention, Treatment, and Care for Key and Vulnerable Populations in South Africa.  

Avac Event

Re-Imagining Prevention: Ensuring sustainable PrEP access in an evolving funding context

If you are attending the International AIDS Society Conference (IAS), be sure to join AVAC and the Ministry of Health, Zambia for this vital conversation.

Avac Event

IAS 2025, the 13th IAS Conference on HIV Science

↪ Click for IAS 2025 resources and for our updates from the conference

The IAS 2025 conference in Kigali will go down as a critical turning point in the history of the HIV response. Every session, every meeting, every presentation played out against an existential threat: will the world find the courage and political will to end the HIV epidemic, with tremendous advances in technology underway, or will the momentum seen through 2024 collapse as evidence-based interventions fall way to ideology?

Leaders across the field are persevering to push forward the science, policies, programs and partnerships that are essential to achieve impact; and they are calling for solidarity. Advocates are leading the way, cutting a path and demanding equity, human rights and community leadership. WACI Health’s Rosemary Mburu captured this call to action at the opening session, saying “Community action is not the soft side of science — it’s what gives science its soul, its reach, and its relevance.” 

See AVAC’s resources tracking the impacts and consequences of actions to dismantle foreign aid.

New research on the HIV prevention pipeline is expected to be shared alongside evidence on how the dismantling of foreign aid and the retreat from US commitments to science and global health are impacting lives and livelihoods. Every aspect of the HIV response is under attack — from basic research and clinical development to policy, programs, and global access to life-saving treatment and prevention.

See AVAC’s new report, which lays out what’s needed at this critical time to get HIV prevention into the hands of those that need it most, and join us Monday, July 14 for a satellite session, Re-imagining prevention: Ensuring sustainable PrEP access in an evolving funding context.


IAS 2025 Resources

Use AVAC’s Roadmap to find sessions where prevention and the larger issues of global health equity and sustainability are in the spotlight. You can download it as a sortable spreadsheet or PDF

AVAC Updates from the Conference

AVAC Conference Presentations

Satellites, Sessions and Panels featuring AVAC and Partners 

(All times listed are local in Kigali, Rwanda. See the time zone converter here.) 

Sunday, July 13

Monday, July 14

Tuesday, July 15

Wednesday, July 16

Thursday, July 17

Avac Event

World Health Assembly-A new era of HIV prevention; Accelerating access to long-acting prevention options through sustainable prevention systems and financing

This High-Level Dialogue organized by the Global HIV Prevention Coalition and co-hosted by UNAIDS in collaboration with UNFPA, WHO and UNDP, the Federal Republic of Brazil and Kingdom of the Netherlands aims to galvanize political leadership, financing, and coordinated action to drive a transformational HIV prevention push. The meeting will serve as a platform for Ministers of Health, global health partners, pharmaceutical companies, and civil society to explore opportunities to expand access to new long-acting prevention technologies as a powerful addition to existing effective options.

Join Mitchell Warren as he chairs the discussion alongside UNAIDS leadership, representatives of UN partners and global health stakeholders.