BIO-Europe expands into a biopharma strategy forum in 2026

Informa is reimagining BIO-Europe as more than a partnering conference, with a broader strategy agenda for biopharma leaders at the 2026 event in Cologne. The shift reflects rising pressure on the industry to coordinate across regulation, clinical development, manufacturing, policy and financing. Why it matters: - BIO-Europe is being positioned as a broader decision-making forum for the global biopharma industry, not just a place to strike deals. - The change targets leaders facing more complex choices across regulation, clinical development, manufacturing, policy and financing. - The expanded format is meant to support cross-functional strategy across the full biopharma value chain. What happened: - Informa unveiled a new vision for the 32nd BIO-Europe conference. - The event will take place Nov. 9-11, 2026, in Cologne, Germany. - The conference is being repositioned as a neutral forum where the biopharma C-suite helps shape industry strategy. - Informa Connect Senior Portfolio Director Claire Macht said BIO-Europe is evolving from Europe’s largest partnering conference into a place where senior decision-makers set the agenda for global biopharma. The details: - BIO-Europe 2026 will feature seven integrated theme tracks and high-level panel discussions. - The program will cover regulatory, clinical and manufacturing strategies. - Existing formats such as Dealmaking, Therapeutic Insights and Ecosystem Innovation will continue. - The expanded agenda is intended to bring together decision-makers across the global life sciences ecosystem. - The conference already draws more than 6,000 senior executives each year. - Attendees include biotech and pharma executives, investors and strategic partners from Europe, North America and Asia. - The event has long centered on business development and deal-oriented networking. - Additional information on the conference, attendance options and company presentation applications is available here . - Jeremy Levin, executive chairman of Ovid Therapeutics, said the broader program supports the kind of discussion the industry needs in an era when biotechnology carries economic, public health and geopolitical weight. - Dr. Hubert Birner, managing partner at TVM Capital Life Sciences, said the program reinforces BIO-Europe’s role as a central meeting place for leaders across the biotech ecosystem. Between the lines: - The shift signals that biopharma companies want more than partnering meetings; they want a venue for strategic alignment on industry-wide pressures. - BIO-Europe is leaning into its scale and international mix to compete as a policy-and-strategy convening point, not only a transaction venue. - The timing reflects a market where execution risk is rising across regulation, funding and operations. What’s next: - BIO-Europe 2026 will debut the expanded format in Cologne in November. - Companies can apply for presentation slots as the conference builds out the new agenda. - Informa is expected to use the 2026 event to prove whether the broader strategy model can attract the same senior audience as the traditional partnering format.