Heart Failure 2025 Congress: a recent remarkable success in heart failure

The Heart Failure 2025 Congress held from May 17–20 at the recently renovated Sava Centar in Belgrade, Serbia marked a significant event in the global cardiology community. This congress, the world’s largest scientific gathering in heart failure, was organized by the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and served as a comprehensive platform for presenting innovation and supporting scientific exchanges, professional development, education, and networking. This year’s congress was attended, both onsite and online, by an international audience of 5433 participants and featured 265 distinguished faculty members from across the globe. The programme included 83 scientific sessions and 62 Late-Breaking Science presentations, highlighting the latest advancements in heart failure research, diagnosis, and treatment. Topics ranged from innovative therapies and interventional techniques to cutting-edge imaging and new approaches to patient monitoring and improving clinical outcomes. The congress offered a valuable opportunity for the researchers to present their work through 1181 moderated, oral poster sessions and 184 clinical case presentations. The programme included 16 joint sessions with other ESC associations and international cardiology and heart failure societies, providing valuable opportunities for scientific collaboration and exchange. There were also 19 satellite symposia and 44 tutorials. A notable novelty was the introduction of an ‘Immersive Room’ where video presentations were projected across all the walls, enhancing the learning experience for imaging and interventional sessions. One of the highlights of the congress was the inaugural session which began with a short video presentation on Belgrade, followed by welcome addresses from HFA President Marco Metra, HFA President-Elect Wilfried Mullens, and Congress Co-Chairs Petar Seferović and Arsen Ristić. The inaugural session also celebrated this year’s laureates: Prof. Lynne Stevenson, recipient of the Eugene Braunwald Award, and Prof. Dirk van Veldhuisen, who was honoured with the Philip Poole-Wilson Award. Interestingly, this is the second time Belgrade had the opportunity to host the Heart Failure Congress. The first event in 2012, with ∼4500 participants, was the first HFA Congress organized in Central/Eastern Europe. It marked an important step in helping to integrate regional heart failure societies into broader European and global networks. The Heart Failure 2025 Congress was held at the newly renovated Sava Centar, a global, state-of-the-art venue that still manages to preserve its architectural heritage. This reflects the ever-evolving effort of the HFA/ESC for further development and progress. The Heart Failure 2025 Congress provided a comprehensive platform for the dissemination of scientific knowledge, exchanges of clinical experience, and advancement of professional development. The educational and scientific significance of the congress was underscored by four days of rich programmes designed to address the full spectrum of heart failure, including the latest developments in basic science encompassing acute, chronic, and advanced heart failure, innovative therapies, and management of specific aetiologies. Through a variety of formats, the congress provided participants with the latest evidence-based strategies for management of heart failure across diverse patient populations. Insights were provided into global heart failure epidemiology with summaries of current data from observational studies and registries dealing with implementation of contemporary heart failure medical and device therapies across the globe. This information will serve to shape future strategies for enhancing the global reach and management of heart failure and to provide tailored therapeutic options and advances in precision medicine. Significant attention was also given to the role of modern technologies and the ever-evolving capacities of machine learning and artificial intelligence to support scientific research, risk stratification, and clinical decisions in the care of patients with heart failure. The congress provided an opportunity to discuss pivotal studies and to foster interdisciplinary exchanges with increasing attention given to the intersection of heart failure with metabolic, renal, and other comorbidities. The presence of ESC President Thomas Lüscher and ESC President-Elect Ceclia Linde was essential in shaping the scientific merit and educational impact of the congress. Recognizing the importance of nurturing the next generation of HF specialists, the Heart Failure 2025 Congress dedicated a specific track for the HFA Young Community. This initiative included career guidance from leading experts, mentorship opportunities, and opportunities for young professionals to present their research. Additionally, numerous travel grants were awarded to young abstract presenters, emphasizing the commitment to supporting emerging talent in the field. The 2025 Heart Failure Congress also stressed the vital role of nurses and allied professionals in delivering high-quality, patient-centred heart failure care. Through a dedicated track of educational sessions and joint discussions, the congress provided valuable opportunities for these professionals to enhance their knowledge and professional skills through topics on patient education, female cardiovascular health, as well as specific requirements of heart failure care for vulnerable patient populations. Beyond its scientific programme, the 2025 Heart Failure Congress facilitated many networking opportunities and social gatherings. A special Host Gala Dinner was organized in a famous traditional restaurant boasting the long-standing Serbian tradition of warm hospitality, an excellent menu, and exceptional entertainment. The event was enthusiastically received by guests. With the support and endorsement of the Heart Failure Society of Serbia, it is important to note that the congress attracted 738 registered participants from Serbia and many others from the Central/Eastern Europe and Asia (Figure 1). Photos: © 2025 European Society of Cardiology P.M.S., Chair ESC Task Force for Eastern Countries, declares lecture honoraria from Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Astra-Zeneca, Pfizer, and Bayer; travel grants from Boehringer Ingelheim and Academic Advisory Round Table for Boehringer Ingelheim. M.M., HFA of the ESC President, declares consulting fees from Astra-Zeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, NovoNordisk, and Roche Diagnostics and speakers honoraria from Boehringer Ingelheim; W.M., HFA of the ESC President-Elect, has nothing to declare.

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