CI ADVOCACY IN ACTION 2026: 22 & 23 OCTOBER 2026
Warning: Emails have been received by some deaf and hard-of-hearing organisations offering them the possibility of buying our delegate list. This is a scam and do not open. Your data and information is secure; as far as we can establish, they are using a website search to secure addresses.
OUR THIRD CIICA CONFERENCE!
Where Science Meets Experience | Advocating for Sustainable, Lifelong CI services globally
When: Thursday 22nd October from 09:00 to 17:00 and Friday 23rd October from 09:00 to 17:00. Free evening reception, Wednesday 21 October.
Where: Maison des Associations Internationales 40 Rue Washington, Brussels, 1050.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN! CLICK HERE TO GET EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT
Early Bird Ticket Price: 285 euros, plus booking fee (price available until 31st July 2026)
If you are a CI user, you may be eligible for a 50% discount on the ticket price. Please email us at info@ciicanet.org and we will send you a discount code to apply at the checkout (early bird ticket quantities are limited to 30 and available until 31st July 2026).
Please note: our Wednesday evening welcome reception is free, but the networking dinner is to be paid. Information available when you scroll down, under “Add-Ons”.
OUTLINE PROGRAMME AVAILABLE HERE
Come and join us to add your voice to the network and help us to move CI Advocacy forward across the globe!
“Very unique and inspirational, thank you for making it happen” Delegate
Building on the impact of our first two global conferences in Brussels, our third inspiring conference ‘CI Advocacy in Action 2026’ will bring together the network of CI users, families, professionals, academics, industry and policy makers and funders from across the globe together to share our advocacy goals. See the excitement of 2025’s conference here!
“The topics so well created, the speakers who were so well chosen, each of them spoke from their heart and the lived experience and vast knowledge” CI user Delegate
As Astrid Van Wieringen, President of the International Society of Audiology says CIICA: Where Science Meets Experience! Progress is made where scientific knowledge and lived experience work side by side.
With increasing global funding and resources for Ear and Hearing Care, in 2026 we will be exploring:
- How do we ensure that those who could benefit from CI can gain access, and those who have CI have the lifelong sustainable services required?
- How do we influence the key stakeholders?
- Could services be delivered differently?
- How can service providers and users and families work together to ensure the services are effective and efficient?
- What about equity for those in low and middle income countries?
- How are services delivered to those who are older?
These and other issues will be addressed in a lively and vibrant two days, in this unique inclusive conference learning from each other and building collaboration across the globe. Many collaborations have been established at our first two conferences – Making a difference across the globe.
Attending the CIICA conference in 2025 was a highlight of my year. The two days were filled with inspirational talks and ideas, fascinating conversations in the breaks and a clear focus on CI users and their families. CI users and family members lectured alongside health professionals and industry, all sharing brilliant ideas and experiences from different countries across this network. I can’t wait for the next CIICA conference in October in Belgium: see you there! Prof Cathy Birman, Australia.
Without awareness, there is no information, no demand, no services. (Carolina Der, WHO, speaker).
Tobias Fischer, CI user and President EURO-CIU advocates for shared advocacy: The CIICA Conference will deliver valuable outcomes that strengthen our collaboration and shared advocacy.
THIS YEAR!
We are delighted to welcome back Rob Beenders, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Social Fraud & Equal Opportunities in Belgium, himself a CI user, to open this year’s CI Advocacy In Action Conference in Brussels, to ensure that we make our voices heard.
As Rob Beenders, reminds us: Access to CI shouldn’t depend on your age or how well you navigate the system. Get CI advocacy on the agenda – politicians aren’t waiting for you.
Rob (pictured) was with us at last year’s CI Advocacy In Action conference.
We are also delighted to welcome Andrej Kral as a guest speaker at CI Advocacy in Action 2026: his title will be “Time is Running…”
To be able to advocate we need to be up to date with the science and no body better that Andrej to share with us the latest research on how hearing is crucial early in life. He is delighted to be joining us this year in Brussels, and join our discussions and collaborations.
Andrej is Chair & Professor of Auditory Neuroscience, Hanover Medical School, Professor of Systems Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney.
CI in Low and Middle Income Countries will be a big topic – this great group will be talking about the reality of experience for them in such countries: how can access to CI services be provided? See the parents’ project which developed from last year’s conference at https://ciicanet.org/resources/new-resource-development-parents-voices-in-lmic/5/
REGISTRATION IS OPEN! CLICK HERE TO GET EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT
Early Bird Ticket Price: 285 euros, plus booking fee (price available until 31st July 2026).
Full price ticket: 365 euros, plus booking fee (price applies from 1st August)
If you are a CI user, you may be eligible for a 50% discount on the ticket price. Please email us at info@ciicanet.org and we will send you a discount code to apply at the checkout (early bird ticket quantities are limited to 30 and available until 31st July 2026).
OUTLINE PROGRAMME AVAILABLE HERE!
The venue is fully accessible and the conference will have captioning in English, French, Spanish, German and Dutch, with other languages on request.
There are number of sponsorship packages are also available. Email to info@ciicanet.org to see how you can showcase your advocacy activities and resources at this event.
JOIN US FOR A FREE EVENING RECEPTION ON WEDNESDAY 21ST OCTOBER
We will be hosting a complimentary welcome reception on the Wednesday evening from 6.30 – 7.30pm at Maison des Associations Internationales (spaces are limited so please book early if you would like to attend).
Please note our Wednesday evening welcome reception is free and available on the booking page when you scroll down to “Add-Ons”.
JOIN US FOR OUR NETWORKING DINNER ON THURSDAY 22ND OCTOBER
CIICA will be hosting an informal evening meal on the Thursday evening at Cocina Chatelain restaurant, just a five minute walk from the main hotels.
This networking dinner will be casual and sociable, allowing you to circulate with your peers from the conference, whilst enjoying a delicious Italian selection of antipasti, pasta dishes and dessert, with wine/beer/soft drinks included.
To reserve your place for dinner, please add the ‘Evening Dinner (Day 1)’ ticket when registering for the conference. You will be asked about any allergies and dietary requirements upon registration.
Please note that in order to provide quality food and service, tickets are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
We hope you will join us at Cocina Chatelain, Rue Washington 149, 1050 Ixelles!
Please note our Thursday evening networking dinner is paid for and available on the booking page when you scroll down to “Add-Ons”.
HOW TO GET TO MAI, BRUSSELS
We would really appreciate it if you could make your travel arrangements to be present for the whole conference and contribute to as much of the conference as possible!
Travel information: Brussels is well served by air and train and road – go to the Visit Brussels website for further information.
MAI is 10 mins by taxi from the Central Station and Brussels is well served by UBER.
For travel around Brussels go to the ‘Getting Around’ section of the Visit Brussels website.
Nearby car parking:
Bepark: Avenue Louise, 196
Bepark: Place Châtelain
Bepark: Avenue Louise, 225
Bepark: Avenue Louise, 350
Bepark: Rue de Tenbosch, 18
Brussels is a great international city, and where CIICA has its legal home at MAI. Come for the conference, learn a lot, share a lot then enjoy a weekend in Brussels!
WHERE TO STAY IN BRUSSELS
Hotel Information: please book soon as October is a busy time of year in Belgium and busy! There are a number of hotels nearby and BnB and apartments available.
Download list of local hotel options here: HOTEL SUGGESTIONS
With thanks to our sponsors so far!
The CIICA TEAM look forward to welcoming you to the CI ADVOCACY CONFERENCE IN OCTOBER 2026!