Mountain Medicine Festival 2026
From UK mountain first aid to cutting edge high altitude research, join the BMC/BMMS/ISMM Mountain Medicine Festival on the 16 - 22 May 2026
The International Society of Mountain Medicine (ISMM) has invited the British Mountain Medicine Society (BMMS) to host their biannual International Congress in Hathersage. This unique event will bring together leading experts and enthusiasts in mountain medicine to exchange ideas in the inspiring setting of the Peak District National Park.
Bookings for the ISMM Congress will be available through the Congress website. Registration for the BMC / BMMS weekend will remain via the BMC website. Programme details and updates will be published throughout Autumn 2025.
The festival welcomes anyone with an interest in mountain activities – from sea cliff climbers to Himalayan mountaineers, mountain rescue personnel, doctors, nurses, paramedics, physiologists, and medical students. If you share a passion for the mountains and their challenges, this event is for you.
Programme Highlights
16–17 May (Sat - Sun): BMC/BMMS mountain medicine workshops, led by volunteer doctors, healthcare professionals, and mountain guides.
18–20 May (Mon - Wed): ISMM Congress – plenary sessions, practical workshops, and research poster presentations. A special focus on hypothermia and cold injuries will take place on 20 May.
21–22 May (Thu - Fri): Closed meetings of UIAA, ICAR medical commissions, and Diploma of Mountain Medicine educators, with many also contributing to the main programme.
A full calendar of social events will run alongside the academic programme, giving participants the chance to connect, relax, and enjoy Hathersage and the surrounding Peak District.
Practical Information
This will be an informal congress – expect soft shells, hoodies, and trainers rather than suits and ties. Accommodation will range from hotels and pubs to the YHA, climbing huts, and campsites. Venues across Hathersage and the Hope Valley, including the Memorial Hall and local churches, will be connected by minibuses, or you can bring your bike.
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