Scientific Programme
A multidisciplinary programme across surgical science, clinical practice, education and global surgery. The 2028 framework is being developed with the participating societies.
ISW 2028 website →Congress & Events
Cape Town.
The world meets here.
International Surgical Week ISW 2028 is the 52nd World Congress of the International Society of Surgery ISS/SIC, bringing the international surgical community together from 26-30 March 2028 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Next World Congress
26-30March 2028
Cape Town
South Africa
South Africa
International Surgical Week
One congress. Many surgical communities.
ISW brings together ISS/SIC, its Integrated Societies and the wider international surgical community for scientific exchange, education, named lectures, collaboration and professional connection.
Integrated Societies
The five Integrated Societies contribute specialist expertise and scientific content while remaining connected through one ISS/SIC congress platform.
Meet the societies →Named Lectures
Named lectures connect the history of ISS/SIC with current surgical leadership and scientific contribution, including the Martin Allgoewer Lecture.
Named lectures →Next Generation
Travel Scholars, trainees, students and early-career surgeons are part of the international community around ISW.
Explore opportunities →Partner networkInternational Surgical Week also works with participating, associated and guest societies.
Explore participating societies →Road to Cape Town
Building momentum between Congress years.
ISS/SIC is developing scientific and educational activity between major Congresses so the international community remains active throughout the cycle.
2026Planning underwayBy September 2026 the Council reported that planning for ISW 2028 was well advanced and the event website was live.
27 MAR 2027Virtual Surgical DayA virtual event is planned one year before ISW 2028 as part of the 2026-2028 Society cycle.
26-30 MAR 2028International Surgical Week - Cape TownThe global surgical community meets at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Future Congress cycle
Looking beyond 2028.
The future regional cycle has already been defined by Council. Host-city selection for ISW 2030 remains in progress, so no city is presented here as confirmed.
2030
Asia Pacific
Host selection is in progress. The September 2026 Council confirmed that a final selection had not yet been made.
Venue pending2032
Americas
The Council has defined the Americas as the region for the 2032 International Surgical Week cycle.
Future cycle2034
EMEA
The 2034 International Surgical Week cycle is planned for the EMEA region.
Future cycleCongress archive
More than a century of international meetings.
Past Congresses are part of the historical ISS/SIC record. During the migration we are preserving the existing Congress archive while we prepare a cleaner searchable archive for the new website.
ISW 2028
See you in Cape Town.
For programme announcements, registration, venue information and future Congress updates, use the official ISW 2028 website.