29th Harm Reduction International Conference - HR27
When: 9–12 May 2027
Where: ICC Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
What is HR27?
The Harm Reduction International Conference is convened by Harm Reduction International in a different city every two years. Over four days of presentations, workshops, films, networking events and more, the conference provides a dynamic forum to share the latest research and discussions on best practice in drug use, harm reduction and human rights and attracts a diverse group of over 1,000 delegates and speakers including front-line health workers, academics, researchers, policy makers, politicians, UN representatives, people who use drugs, sex workers and people working in the criminal legal system.
Call for abstracts and registration
The call for abstracts is now open, and the 2027 conference theme is 'Radical Resistance'. Around 80% of the programme will be selected through the open call.
The deadline for submissions is 30 September 2026 at 23:59 UTC+1, and outcomes will be communicated in December 2026.
Scholarships are available exclusively to people with accepted abstracts, so applications are part of the abstract submission. They cover partial costs only and are generally intended for people from low and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly people who use drugs.
Registration is also open, with early bird rates available until 1 February 2027. There are reduced rates for delegates living or working in LMICs, full-time and unwaged students, and unwaged delegates, including people working voluntarily for drug user organisations and service providers.
For the first time, HR27 will not offer a live virtual conference option.
A selection of sessions will be recorded and made available after the event, but HRI has not yet confirmed how the recordings will be accessed or if there will be additional fees.
Why we gather
So why will 1,000 of us gather in Belfast in May 2027?
Our global gathering comes with a rich history. HRI conferences have helped to put harm reduction on the map and to coordinate advances, innovations, evidence, and advocacy in the fields of harm reduction and drug policy for more than three decades.
At HR27, we will spotlight how local leaders are rising, how regions are mobilising, and how our global movement is resisting in the face of existential threats to global health and human rights.
Our host city
Harm reduction is a movement rooted in dignity and rights, that has been shaped by radical resistance. Our host city knows this story well. In 2027, we meet in Belfast. The city's journey from decades of political conflict toward peace offers enduring lessons in social justice and self-determination.
The Harm Reduction International Conference 2027 (HR27) will be held in Belfast, Northern Ireland on 9-12 May 2027.
At Harm Reduction International, we seek host cities for our conference that mirror the spirit of our movement. For our next conference, we are heading to a city that understands what it means to survive, rebuild and imagine a different future. Belfast is a place shaped by resistance and resilience, where communities have worked across division to create new possibilities for peace, justice and self determination. Its history reminds us that even the most entrenched systems can be challenged and transformed through collective action.
HR27 will take place at ICC Belfast, an internationally recognised conference venue in the heart of the city. Located beside the waterfront and within walking distance of Belfast’s cultural and civic landmarks, ICC Belfast will provide a welcoming and accessible space for our global community to come together.
Join us in Belfast to meet this moment together and shape the future of our movement.