August 14, 2026 — If you’re a healthcare facility manager or hospital planning executive who has considered attending the Healthcare Design (HCD) Conference + Expo, take my advice that this is the year to go. The conference has dedicated facility management (FM) tracks, but in addition there is a co-located event, the IFHE World Congress, that brings together stakeholders from across healthcare facility design, construction, engineering, operations and real estate management to New Orleans, October 17-20, to collaborate on solutions and other shared challenges.
The membership of the International Federation of Healthcare Engineering (IFHE), organizer of the IFHE World Congress, spans more than 35 countries, creating the potential for discussions spanning diverse perspectives at this U.S. event. The IFHE World Congress is hosted by the Association of Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP), the U.S. representative to IFHE, in partnership with Emerald, events and content parent company of Healthcare Design (HCD) Conference + Expo. FMLink is a partner with IFHE, raising awareness of its Congress programming in these articles:
- Oct. 17-20: IFHE World Congress session informs healthcare capital investment strategies
- Healthcare pros share secrets of fostering trust within your project team at IFHE World Congress Oct. 17-20
- Future-proof strategies for medical campus construction featured at IFHE World Congress
- Unlocking hospital efficiency with AI-enabled solutions: It’s a hot button at the upcoming IFHE World Congress
- IFHE World Congress presenters share international approaches to healthcare security
- Rethinking best practices: IFHE World Congress Oct. 17-20 connects healthcare facilities decision-makers worldwide
The conference focuses on how the design and operations of responsibly built hospital and clinic environments directly impact the safety, operation, clinical outcomes, and financial success of healthcare facilities now and into the future. It convenes thousands of professionals from across the nation who are involved in the design, construction, and management of healthcare facilities to learn and help shape the future of healthcare design.
The IFHE 29th World Congress and HCD Conference + Expo share a single venue for the first time, creating a unified platform where the professionals who design and build healthcare environments work alongside those who run and operate them. All registration pass types include IFHE sessions. Access to the full HCD conference program — 110+ sessions — requires the IFHE + HCD Full Conference Pass. From October 17 to 20, 2026, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans will host the conference.
Education programming
The conference boasts more than 100 educational sessions that provide the latest research, trends and strategies in the healthcare design industry. Attendees can earn AIA, IDCEC, EDAC and nursing LUs to meet continuing education goals. Learn about conference sessions here, then use the drop-down menu under Itinerary to view all the tracks, which include: Advancements in Evidence-Based Design Research, Behavioral Health Practices, Technology & Innovation, and Clinical Perspectives, among others.
Learn more about Show Features ranging from networking lounges to a $10,000 cash giveaway. HCD 2026 is the ultimate networking, education, and product-sourcing event for medical environments. Attendees can expect expert insights on the latest trends, best practices, and leading-edge approaches in the planning, design, construction, and ongoing operation of healthcare spaces. The conference will provide comprehensive, carefully planned content, inspirational keynotes, panel discussions, facility tours, networking, and an exciting exhibit hall where attendees can view the newest innovations in healthcare design products.
The Nightingale Awards for exhibitors and networking
Presented by Healthcare Design magazine in partnership with the HCD Conference + Expo, the Nightingale Awards recognize contributions to the healthcare built environment through product design and innovation that contribute to healing. A jury of healthcare design professionals and facility managers will review entries digitally prior to visiting the exhibitors’ booths (before the expo hall opens to attendees) to examine the products in person and ask questions of the manufacturers. If you are a facility planner or designer who may want to be a juror, email: NightingaleAwards@gmail.com
The annual competition is named for Florence Nightingale, a tireless advocate for the improvement of care and conditions in military and civilian hospitals in the 1800s. The deadline for Regular Entries is Aug. 31 ($695 entry fee); the Late Entry deadline is Sept. 28 ($795 entry fee). Find the rules and entry form for the 2026 Nightingale Awards Competition here.
The HCD exhibit hall features hundreds of providers giving demonstrations and showcasing the newest innovative healthcare design products and services that support the design of hospital and clinic environments. Networking opportunities will lead to new connections, including with industry leaders from around the country.
Learn more about the Healthcare Design (HCD) Conference + Expo and the International Federation of Healthcare Engineering (IFHE) World Congress and the 2026 Nightingale Awards Competition, and join us in New Orleans in October.
