The Silver Zone: A Networking Zone for Older People Living with HIV at AIDS 2026

EATG is pleased to co-organise the Silver Zone, a dedicated networking and dialogue space in the Global Village that celebrates the experiences, leadership and resilience of older people living with HIV. This is a partnership between five organisations spanning four countries: Ribbon – A Center of Excellence (USA), Realize (Canada), the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) (Germany/Belgium), RNP+ Brasil (Brazil), and Coletivo Loka de Efavirenz (Brazil).

Booth 142, Global Village, Pavilion 2, Riocentro
July 27–30 2026

10:30 – 18:00 daily [15:30 – 23:00 CET]

Don’t miss these sessions featuring EATG members and partners

• An exclusive preview of the first stories from the Legacy Chest, developed through the Long-Term Survivors of HIV project. Be among the first to experience this unique collection preserving the voices, memories and lived experiences of long-term and lifetime HIV survivors.

Wednesday 29 July – 11:00–12:00

Opening the Legacy Chest

Join the storytellers for the soft launch of the Legacy Chest, a living archive of stories, reflections, and testimonies from long-term and lifetime survivors of HIV.

45 mins

• Persistent Serophobia in Healthcare – exploring how HIV-related stigma continues to affect healthcare experiences and what can be done to address it. Presented by EATG member, Yagos Koliopanos.

Tuesday 28 July  – 16:00–17:00

Interactive Discussion: Persistent Serophobia in Healthcare – From Lived Experience to Better Care

An interactive discussion bringing together communities and healthcare stakeholders to explore persistent HIV-related discrimination in healthcare and identify practical actions for more equitable care across the life course.

Presenter: Yagos Koliopanos – Observatoire du sida et des sexualités (Belgium) · English · 45 mins

• Empowering People Living with HIV to Prepare for Better Care (CheckUp+) – showcasing a community-led initiative supporting people living with HIV to become more informed, engaged and confident partners in their healthcare. Presented by EATG member, Axel Vanderperre.

Wednesday 29 July – 12:30–13:00

Empowering People Living with HIV to Prepare for Better Care

An innovative patient empowerment initiative developed by UTOPIA_bxl and with EATG partnership to strengthen consultation, preparation, shared decision-making and person-centered care.

Presenter: Axel Vanderperre – European AIDS Treatment Group, UTOPIA_bxl · English · 30 mins

• Aging with HIV in an Unequal World: From Resource Abundance to Global Justice – A panel with the participation of EATG member, Bogdan-Adrian Trandafir.

Thursday 30 July – 13:00–14:00

Aging with HIV in an Unequal World: From Resource Abundance to Global Justice

Despite major advances in HIV care, many older adults still face unequal access to essential services. This presentation calls on the global HIV community to advance equitable policies, strengthen coordinated systems, and ensure that everyone aging with HIV has access to the care, dignity, health, and community they deserve.

Moderators: Dan Murphy – Gilead Sciences, Bogdan-Adrian Trandafir – National Union of Organizations of People Affected by HIV/AIDS (UNOPA) (Romania), Hatem Laroussi – Laval University Faculty of Nursing (Canada), Marcelo Goncalves Ribeiro – RNP MINAS (Brazil), Vanessa Johnson – Ribbon – A Center of Excellence (USA) · English · 60 mins *(Each panelist will have a 15 min. discussion panel.)

Check out the programme of the Silver Zone 2026

Announcement by Ribbon – A Center for Excellence 

We are proud to announce the return of The Silver Zone to the IAS Global Village at AIDS2026 — a dedicated space created for older people living with HIV to connect, be celebrated, and be heard.

Whether you’re living with HIV, ageing with HIV, or supporting someone who is, The Silver Zone welcomes you. This space is also built for the caregivers, family members, and advocates who walk alongside our community — offering resources, conversation, and connection for everyone invested in what it means to age well with HIV.

Where to Find Us
The Silver Zone — Booth 142, Global Village, Pavilion 2, Riocentro
July 27–30, 2026 · 10:30 AM–6:00 PM daily (closed Friday, July 31)

Want to plan your visit? The complete Silver Zone conference agenda is now available to download, featuring the full four-day schedule, session descriptions, presenter details, and partner information. Click the link above to download.

Scan the QR code for instant access to the full Silver Zone conference agenda.

Follow, Post, and Share With Us
This year, we’re bringing The Silver Zone directly to you — no matter where you are. Follow our brand-new Facebook and YouTube pages for real-time updates, session highlights, and stories from the Global Village floor throughout the conference. Click the links below to follow along.

If you’re joining us in Rio de Janeiro, we want to see it through your eyes. Post your photos, reflections, and conference moments using our official hashtags — #SilverZoneAIDS2026, #RethinkRebuildRise — and help us amplify a truly global, transformative HIV response.

And if you can’t be there in person, our social channels are your front-row seat: follow along for daily session recaps, community voices, and proceedings straight from the conference floor.

This is a Global Village partnership between five organizations spanning four countries — Ribbon – A Center of Excellence, Realize, the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG), RNP+ Brasil, and Coletivo Loka de Efavirenz — united in support of people ageing with HIV, everywhere.

This effort is supported by Gilead Sciences. The content is solely the responsibility of the organizers, and Gilead Sciences was not involved in its development.

Follow. Share. Show up. The Silver Zone is for all of us.

Follow The Silver Zone – IAS Global Village Facebook Page 

Subscribe to the Silver Zone at the Global Village – IAS 2026 YouTube page

#SilverZoneAIDS2026