The 124th DOG Congress took place from 24–27 September 2026 at the Estrel Congress Center in Berlin under the theme “Ophthalmology without Borders”, bringing together 4,657 participants for cutting-edge science, practical education, and international dialogue.
Highlights of the DOG 2026
- International Keynote Lectures: Prof. Anat Loewenstein (Tel Aviv) highlighted home OCT monitoring for neovascular AMD, Prof. Yannick Le Mer (Paris) presented results with the PRIMA retinal implant and Prof. Heinrich Heimann (Liverpool) outlined digital ophthalmology workflows already routine in the UK.
- Albrecht von Graefe Medal: The DOG’s highest honor, awarded every 10 years, went to Prof. Alan C. Bird (London) for extraordinary contributions to ophthalmology.
- International focus sessions: The congress introduced “Focus Sessions” co-curated with European subspecialty societies, plus live English translation in seven major auditoria to broaden access.
- Award ceremonies at the DOG Forum: Held in the DOG Forum in Hall 1, the award ceremonies were a highlight for many. Attendees celebrated winners of the poster prizes, as well as recipients of the ‘Dr. Rolf Grewe Best Abstract Award’ and the ‘DOG pura Award,’ which honours innovative ideas promoting sustainability in ophthalmology.
Awards and community
The social program also attracted considerable interest: with 138 runners, the EyeRun organized by the Stiftung Auge recorded more participants than ever before. The charity concert “DOG in Concert” took place for the first time at the Mendelssohn Remise in Berlin.
Overall, DOG 2026 offered an extensive scientific programme featuring 1,371 presentations, along with numerous symposia, courses, workshops, and international sessions. DOG 2026 also marked the end of the presidency of Professor Lars-Olof Hattenbach. Professor Anja Eckstein assumed office as the new President.
On-Demand Access: Congress attendees can access a wide range of content via the DOG on Demand streaming platform until March 2026.
Explore this year’s award winners gallery
