WPA Congresses

Home / Meetings

WPA World Congress of Psychiatry

Established in Paris in 1950, the WPA World Congress of Psychiatry (WCP) is the association's flagship event.  Taking place annually, with the general assembly and associated elections being held every triennium, the congress rotates between three parts of the world - Asia/Oceania, the Americas, and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

​

WPA partners with its member societies to host the event, taking into account security, safety, resources, accessibility, facilities, and finances when selecting the host city and country.  

Previous Events 

19th World Congress of Psychiatry

21-24 August 2019 || Lisbon, Portugal

Theme: Psychiatry and Mental Health - Global Inspirations, Locally Relevant Action

​

18th World Congress of Psychiatry

27-30 September || Mexico City, Mexico

Theme: Psychiatry - Standing Firm for Mental Health

Regional Congresses

Regional Congresses provide an opportunity for those parts of the world not hosting that year's World Congress to host a meeting in their region.  Accordingly, no more than two regional congresses take place in any one year.  Typically, regional congresses focus on issues most relevant to the host region, sometimes also drilling down to areas of interest specific to the host country.

Thematic Congresses

Thematic Congresses are focused on one or more topics of interest. Their purpose is to address special subjects that WPA wishes to pursue - such as a topical issue or coverage of a specific region. They take place in parts of the world with a timing and format that does not compete with any of the other organised WPA activities. Thematic Congresses may be organised one or more times a year worldwide. 

Previous Events

WPA Thematic Congress

Dementia: Psychiatric and Neurological Challenges and Perspectives

Ohrid, Republic of North Macedonia 

15-18 May 2019

​

In partnership with WPA Member Society:

Macedonian Psychiatric Association