Best Infectious Diseases & Molecular Diagnostics Conferences In London In 2026
London sits at the centre of the UK’s infectious diseases and molecular diagnostics research ecosystem. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UKHSA, Imperial College London, and major NHS trusts including UCLH, King’s College Hospital, and Chelsea and Westminster collectively make the city one of the most active hubs for infectious disease research and clinical innovation in Europe. The result is a dense London conference calendar in 2026. Events range from single-day NHS practitioner meetings to two-day international congresses, covering everything from point-of-care molecular testing to antimicrobial resistance drug development. This guide maps the key London events, who each one serves, and what to expect from the programming. Key Takeaways
- London hosts a cluster of infectious diseases and molecular diagnostics events between April and June 2026, allowing professionals to attend multiple conferences without repeated travel.
- Society-run events (BSAC, HIS, BSMT) offer RCPath and CPD accreditation, making them practical professional development choices for NHS scientists and clinicians alongside scientific content.
- Antimicrobial resistance and molecular diagnostics are converging across London’s 2026 conference programming. NGS, whole genome sequencing, and AI-assisted diagnostic interpretation feature across multiple events.
- Several London conferences offer hybrid attendance, making them accessible to professionals outside the city without losing access to the speaker lineup and sessions.
The 10 best infectious diseases & molecular diagnostics conferences in London at a glance
| Conference | Dates | Location | Best For |
| BSAC Spring Conference 2026 | May 14–15, 2026 | QEII Centre, London (hybrid) | Infectious disease clinicians, AMR diagnostics, stewardship |
| BSMT 41st Annual Microbiology Conference | May 21, 2026 | RAF Museum, Hendon, London | NHS biomedical scientists, clinical microbiologists |
| HISCON 2026 | Jun 23–24, 2026 | Royal College of Physicians, London | IPC professionals, HAI researchers, clinical scientists |
| 18th Euro-Global Infectious Diseases Conference | Apr 16–17, 2026 | London | ID researchers, clinicians, public health professionals |
| 13th International Congress on Infectious Diseases | Apr 16–17, 2026 | London | ID researchers, pharma, early-career scientists |
| IDAMR 2026 | Jun 25–26, 2026 | London | ID physicians, AMR researchers, health economists |
| GIOH 2026 | Sep 21–23, 2026 | London (hybrid) | ID researchers, genomics, One Health, diagnostics |
| BSAC Infection 2026 | Dec 9–10, 2026 | London (hybrid) | Clinical microbiologists, infectious disease physicians |
| BSAC ARM Workshop 2026 | Nov 25–26, 2026 | Birmingham* | AMR mechanisms, resistance detection, laboratory science |
| Building Safer Hospitals 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | London | IPC, hospital design, built environment infection prevention |
How This List Was Compiled
- London location: Priority given to events held within Greater London, with one regional exception noted
- Relevance to molecular diagnostics and infectious diseases: Does the event cover PCR, NGS, whole genome sequencing, point-of-care testing, or pathogen identification?
- Organizational credibility: Events run by established professional societies (BSAC, HIS, BSMT) are weighted higher than commercially organized events
- Audience specificity: Does the event serve a clearly defined professional group rather than a generic catchall audience?
- CPD or RCPath accreditation: Noted where confirmed, as this is a practical decision factor for NHS professionals
No conference paid for placement. This list was created based on market research and events’ relevance in the London region.
Best infectious diseases & molecular diagnostics conferences in London (2026)
1. BSAC Spring Conference 2026
May 14–15, 2026 | QEII Centre, Westminster, London (hybrid) The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) Spring Conference 2026 runs under the theme “Advancing Infection Management: From Global Challenges to Clinical Innovation.” Sessions cover antimicrobial diagnostics, urinary tract sepsis, HAP/VAP, and carbapenem-sparing treatment strategies. Programming is built to bridge bench science and clinical practice. Sessions are designed to deliver evidence-based learning that applies directly to antimicrobial stewardship decisions. The hybrid format opens access to NHS professionals who cannot travel to London. Best for: Infectious disease physicians, clinical microbiologists, infection pharmacists, GP researchers, and public health professionals.2. BSMT 41st Annual Microbiology Conference
May 21, 2026 | Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon, London The British Society for Microbial Technology (BSMT) runs this single-day conference for bench microbiologists. Sessions focus on the current state of molecular diagnostics, new clinical microbiology lab technologies, and the practical tension between culture-based methods and rapid molecular testing. The 2026 programme includes a session on “Current state and the potential future for diagnostic microbiology” from Dr Sarah Pitt (University of Brighton), alongside talks on domestically acquired infections and AMR surveillance. The conference is registered with the RCPath; CPD certificates are available on request. Early bird registration is £75 (before April 20, 2026). Best for: Senior biomedical scientists, clinical scientists, medical microbiologists, and NHS laboratory professionals running diagnostic microbiology services day-to-day.3. HISCON 2026 — HIS Annual Conference
June 23–24, 2026 | Royal College of Physicians, London HISCON is the annual conference of the Healthcare Infection Society (HIS), a registered UK charity and one of the most credentialed bodies in hospital infection research. Confirmed speakers include Jincy Jerry (Director of IPC, NHS Ayrshire and Arran), Prof Michael Klompas (Harvard Medical School), Dr Gemma Winzor (Editor-in-Chief, Infection Prevention in Practice), and Dr Martyn Wilkinson (Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Hospital Infection). The 2026 programme features oral presentations, a larger poster exhibition, and an expanded exhibition of the latest innovations in infection prevention products and technologies. CPD credits are approved by the RCPath. Best for: IPC professionals, clinical microbiologists, infectious disease specialists, HAI researchers, infection nurses, and NHS clinical scientists across acute and community settings.4. 18th Euro-Global Infectious Diseases Conference
April 16–17, 2026 | London This two-day conference covers the full spectrum of infectious diseases, with dedicated sessions on molecular tools and diagnostics. Sessions address PCR and next-generation sequencing for pathogen detection, AI-assisted diagnostic interpretation, and point-of-care diagnostics in resource-limited settings. Programming includes oral and poster presentations, panel discussions, and industry-led workshops. Accepted abstracts are published in Conference Series journals. Best for: ID researchers, clinicians, microbiologists, epidemiologists, public health professionals, and pharmaceutical industry representatives.5. 13th International Congress on Infectious Diseases
April 16–17, 2026 | London This congress runs under the theme “Infectious Diseases in a Changing World: Challenges, Progress, and Future Directions.” Sessions cover antimicrobial resistance, emerging and re-emerging pathogens, molecular diagnostics, vaccines, and public health strategy. With projected attendance of 300–500 delegates from 40+ countries, this event offers networking across pharma, biotech, diagnostics companies, and academic institutions. Best for: Microbiologists, virologists, infectious disease specialists, epidemiologists, public health authorities, and pharmaceutical and diagnostics industry professionals.6. IDAMR 2026 — 4th World Congress on Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance
June 25–26, 2026 | London IDAMR 2026 focuses on the economic and clinical urgency of antimicrobial resistance. Sessions cover next-generation antibiotics, diagnostics innovation, AI-driven surveillance, and antimicrobial stewardship program design. The infectious disease diagnostics market is projected to exceed $40 billion by 2028, and the congress positions itself around evidence-based solutions that bridge research, clinical practice, and commercial strategy. Best for: ID physicians, pharma and biotech researchers, health economists, microbiologists, regulatory professionals, and policymakers.7. GIOH 2026 — Global Infectious Diseases & One Health Conference
September 21–23, 2026 | London (hybrid) GIOH 2026 runs under the theme “From Breakthroughs to Preparedness: The Next Era of Infectious Diseases.” The CPD-accredited conference covers molecular biology, genomics, digital biosurveillance, AI-driven disease prediction, and outbreak preparedness. Sessions address human, animal, and environmental health in an integrated framework. The hybrid format enables international participation alongside the London in-person programme. Best for: ID researchers, clinical scientists, veterinarians, public health officials, data scientists, and policymakers working across human, animal, and environmental health.8. BSAC Infection 2026
December 9–10, 2026 | London (hybrid) BSAC’s winter conference brings together the lab and the clinic. Previous editions have featured sessions on molecular diagnostics for virology, AMR surveillance, clinical-pathological case studies, and next-generation sequencing applied to diagnostic microbiology. The conference has historically attracted speakers from UKHSA, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, UCLH, and NHS Greater Glasgow. RCPath CPD accreditation confirmed for previous editions; 2026 details to follow. Best for: Consultant microbiologists, infectious disease clinicians, infection pharmacists, and trainees from across the UK and internationally.9. BSAC ARM Workshop 2026
November 25–26, 2026 | Birmingham BSAC’s Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms (ARM) Workshop is a focused two-day in-person event for scientists who want deep technical discussion on resistance mechanisms, molecular surveillance approaches, and novel resistance detection methods. Early bird registration closes June 19, 2026. Best for: Microbiologists, laboratory scientists, AMR researchers, and pharmaceutical scientists working on resistance detection and characterization.10. Building Safer Hospitals 2026
November 9, 2026 | London Building Safer Hospitals is a one-day conference run by the Healthcare Infection Society’s Built Environment Infection Prevention Initiative (BEIPI). It brings together built environment professionals and healthcare teams to address how hospital design, ventilation, water systems, and environmental controls reduce infection risk. It is the only London conference dedicated specifically to the physical infrastructure of infection prevention. Best for: IPC professionals, NHS estates leads, hospital designers and architects, clinical scientists, and infection control specialists working at the intersection of healthcare design and infectious disease prevention.“April to June is the busiest window. Five London conferences land between April 16 and June 26, 2026. Professionals based in or near London can cover a significant portion of the year’s most relevant content without repeated travel.”
What the London 2026 calendar tells us
- April to June is the busiest window. Five London conferences land between April 16 and June 26, 2026. Professionals based in or near London can cover a significant portion of the year’s most relevant content without repeated travel.
- Molecular diagnostics is everywhere. From bench-level BSMT sessions on next-generation PCR and digital platforms to GIOH’s genomic surveillance sessions and BSAC’s clinical molecular diagnostics tracks, the overlap is consistent and deep.
- AMR science and clinical practice are converging. BSAC’s two London conferences, IDAMR, and HISCON all address the practical challenge of translating AMR research into stewardship decisions, prescribing changes, and laboratory workflows.
- The built environment is entering the IPC conversation. Building Safer Hospitals 2026 represents a relatively new strand in London’s infection prevention calendar, connecting NHS estates teams with IPC professionals on hospital design and environmental controls.
Planning your London 2026 conference calendar
London’s infectious diseases and molecular diagnostics events in 2026 cover bench scientists, IPC nurses, clinical microbiologists, AMR researchers, and hospital estates professionals across a calendar that spans April through December. For laboratory professionals, BSMT (May 21) and BSAC Infection 2026 (December) offer the most credentialed NHS-specific molecular diagnostics content of the year, both in London with RCPath CPD available. For IPC clinicians, HISCON 2026 (June) and Building Safer Hospitals (November) give you two distinct lenses: clinical practice and physical environment. For AMR researchers and ID physicians, BSAC Spring (May), IDAMR (June), and BSAC ARM Workshop (November) form a coherent three-event arc across the year. Check each conference’s official website for registration deadlines, abstract submission windows, and CPD accreditation details. FAQs
1. Which London conferences in 2026 specifically cover molecular diagnostics techniques including PCR, NGS, and whole genome sequencing? BSMT (May 21, Hendon), BSAC Infection 2026 (Dec 9–10), and GIOH 2026 (Sep 21–23) all include dedicated sessions on molecular diagnostics technology, NGS applications, and AI-assisted diagnostic interpretation. 2. Which London infectious diseases conferences in 2026 carry RCPath CPD accreditation? BSMT (May 21) is RCPath registered with CPD certificates available on request. HISCON 2026 (Jun 23–24, RCP London) is RCPath CPD-approved. BSAC Infection 2026 has historically carried RCPath CPD credits; confirm 2026 details directly with BSAC. 3. Are there London events specifically focused on antimicrobial resistance science and drug development in 2026? IDAMR 2026 (Jun 25–26) and the BSAC Spring Conference (May 14–15) both focus directly on antimicrobial resistance science, next-generation antibiotics, and stewardship strategy. The BSAC ARM Workshop (Nov 25–26, Birmingham) covers resistance mechanisms at the deepest technical level. 4. Which London conferences are suitable for early-career researchers or professionals attending on limited budgets? BSMT (single-day, from £75 early bird; £35 for students) is the most cost-accessible London option. The 18th Euro-Global ID Conference and 13th International Congress (both April 16–17) offer poster presentation opportunities that suit early-career researchers. 5. How do the April London conferences differ from the mid-year and end-of-year events? The April conferences (Euro-Global ID and 13th International Congress) are broader international events covering the full infectious diseases landscape. The mid-year events (BSAC Spring, HISCON, IDAMR) are more society-led and clinically specific. The year-end conferences (BSAC Infection 2026, Building Safer Hospitals) serve as consolidation points, synthesizing the year’s advances into practical clinical and operational guidance.