We believe that a large variety of events at the Congress will offer each and everyone something interesting. Join us and see for yourself!
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About the Congress
Dear colleagues, welcome to Slovenia!
The European Veterinary Congress on Behavioural Medicine and Animal Welfare (EVCBMAW 2026) will take place on 1–2 October 2026 at Hotel Mons, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
This two-day international event brings together experts, researchers, clinicians, students, and policymakers interested in animal behaviour, veterinary behavioural medicine, animal welfare, ethics and law. Following the highly successful 2025 congress in Helsinki, the 2026 edition will gather a strong international audience from across Europe.
We are also delighted to invite industry partners to join EVCBMAW 2026 as sponsors. The congress is the leading European scientific meeting in its field, offering exceptional visibility and opportunities for collaboration with veterinarians, researchers, students, and key stakeholders in animal welfare and behavioural medicine.
The scientific programme will feature four plenary lectures covering Behaviour Medicine, Welfare, Ethics and Law, and Veterinary Forensics. Alongside plenary sessions, the congress will include a vibrant poster section and 54 short oral presentations selected from submitted abstracts, representing both major scientific tracks. Social events such as the Welcome Reception, Awards Ceremony and Gala Evening will offer additional opportunities for networking and collaboration.
Ožbalt Podpečan (Organizing Committee)
International Committee
Christine Halsberghe
European society of Veterinary Clinical Ethology
Ludovica is the vice-President of the ECAWBM. Her work focuses on veterinary behavioural medicine, Animal Assisted Intervention and the human–animal relationship, with extensive experience in clinical practice, education and postgraduate training. She is actively engaged in advancing behavioural medicine through teaching, interdisciplinary collaboration and professional development at both national and international level.
Ludovica Pierantoni
European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine
Peter is the President of the ECAWBM. He has a special interest in the role of regulation in safeguarding animal welfare, the assessment of animal wellbeing and improving animal welfare through training and education. Peter has developed career-long knowledge and expertise in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law, and is a passionate advocate of this veterinary speciality.
Peter Thornton
European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine
Karen is a European and RCVS specialist in animal welfare, ethics and law, and a lecturer at the Royal Veterinary College, London. Trained as a veterinarian in New Zealand, she has broad experience in clinical practice, shelter medicine and animal welfare. After a decade in practice, she pursued advanced studies in animal behaviour, psychology, and medical ethics and law, completing a PhD on animal empathy. She is a Diplomate of ECAWBM (AWSEL) and remains actively involved in the animal welfare sector through advisory and leadership roles.
Karen Hiestand
Animal Welfare: Science, Ethics, Law and Forensics Association
Ožbalt Podpečan
National Centre for Animal Welfare, Veterinary Faculty of University of Ljubljana
Local Organising Committee
Ožbalt Podpečan (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Alenka Dovč (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Urša Ravnik Verbič (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Darja Pavlin (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Petra Kramarič (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Marina Štukelj (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Eva Nadlučnik (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Jožica Ježek (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Luka Milčinski (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Scientific Committee
Ožbalt Podpečan (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Anouck Haverbeke (Ghent University)
Kevin Mc Peake (University of Edinburgh)
Silvana Diverio (University of Perugia)
Sylvia Masson (Clinique de la Tivolliere, France)
Alenka Dovč (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Urša Ravnik Verbič (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Darja Pavlin (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Petra Kramarič (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Marina Štukelj (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Eva Nadlučnik (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)
Jožica Ježek (University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty)