HIV i-Base: CROI 2026: Introduction and main themes

HIV i-Base review

From 22–25 February 2026, CROI will be held in Denver, Colorado and also as a hybrid meeting for online delegates.

Maintaining both options is essential given the increasing concerns many people have about travelling to the US and the costs involved in attending international meetings. It is also linked to the Trump administration’s policies to cancel funding for many international health programmes and its increasingly anti-science agenda.

These policy changes are so dramatic that the CROI Foundation now proactively states the importance of scientific research and investment in public health. This statement also condemns censoring of science and the withdrawal of funding for research and for evidence-based prevention and treatment programmes.

Although approximately 3000 delegates are registered to attend in person, international community attendance is likely to now be lower than in recent years.

This is no reflection on the quality of the research that will be presented over the next week. CROI is still one of the most important meetings for researchers to showcase their work, and as with previous meetings, this year has an exciting and varied programme.

Read the full review here.