DATE
Thursday 3 December 2026
LOCATION
Brussels, Belgium (exact location TBC soon)
FORMAT
Plenaries, two tracks and working sessions
WHY ISM MATTERS
A working meeting for the people shaping professional standards
A qualification earned in one European country should be understood and valued in another. ISM2026 brings together the organisations that employ, educate and represent exercise professionals to strengthen career pathways, professional recognition and quality across Europe.
Understand workforce needs
Hear directly from employers about recruitment, skills gaps and how client and health needs are changing.
See standards in practice
Explore how FITcert® and EREPS support quality, safety, professional recognition and workforce mobility.
Align education with the health shift
Consider how training programmes, professional roles and career pathways can respond to prevention and Exercise for Health.
Shape what comes next
Contribute to EuropeActive’s work on education, professional standards, registration and workforce development.
THE PROGRAMME
One meeting, two focused tracks
Joint plenaries connect the wider workforce agenda. Parallel sessions then give operators, national associations, educators and standards specialists space to work through the issues most relevant to them.
Operators and Workforce Development
For operators, employers and national associations, focusing on workforce readiness, recruitment, EREPS, FITcert® and collaboration across the sector.
Education and Professional Standards
For education providers, national associations and standards specialists, focusing on accreditation, EREPS, evolving professional roles and standards for Exercise for Health.
Both tracks come together for joint sessions on exercise prescription and building a workforce for prevention.
CONFIRMED CONTRIBUTORS
Cross-sector expertise at the same table
Contributors represent medicine, research, education, standards, national associations and the fitness and physical activity sector.
FEATURED PERSPECTIVES
From exercise on prescription to building a workforce for prevention
Prof. Paolo Caserotti
University of Southern Denmark
Dr Harris Lygidakis
CEO, World Organization of Family Doctors
Prof. Anna Szumilewicz
Deputy Chair, Professional Standards Committee
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Practical information
Networking dinner
Wednesday 2 December. Places can be reserved during registration.
Registration fees
Members and accredited providers €285. Non-members €385. VAT excluded.
Accommodation
Discounted Brussels accommodation is available for EuropeActive members.
Language and venue
English. The Brussels venue will be shared with registered participants.
ISM2026
Help shape the workforce behind Europe’s health
Join the employers, educators, national associations and standards specialists setting the direction for professional development across Europe.
