The Robert Koch Colloquium (RKC) is an annual interdisciplinary lecture series. It focuses each year on one contemporary and innovative public health topic, such as Burden of Disease (2019), Public Health Surveillance (2021), Climate Change and Public Health (2022), Social Inequities in Health (2023), Mobility and Public Health (2024) and Public Health Data (2025).

Each year, the Robert Koch Institute invites leading international experts to present and discuss their area of work at the Robert Koch Colloquium. This year’s colloquium topic was “Navigating Public Health in times of Global uncertainties”. Over two days, a series of interactive lectures addressed topics related to the impact of conflicts on Public Health systems, global sharing of health data in times of uncertainty, the current shifts in health governance at local, national and international level as well as the citizens’ trust in Public Health science. The lectures were  complemented by a panel discussion.

The Robert Koch Colloquium 2026 addressed an urgent challenge of today’s public health landscape: how to adapt to global uncertainties and political fragmentation. Armed conflicts, political and economic instability, climate-related pressures, and fluctuating public trust increasingly shape the contexts in which public health systems operate, challenging established modes-of-action and international cooperation. In response to these dynamics, the RKC 2026 brought together leading international experts to reflect on how public health can respond and evolve under conditions of crisis and transformation. Over two days, the programme examined public health action in times of crisis. We explored
1) the health impacts of armed conflict on population health including mental health and non-communicable diseases.
2) widening inequalities in times of global polycrisis.
3) the need for a resilient global health architecture during geopolitical shifts in power and interests. The colloquium also shed light on advancing health data justice and the development of resilient cross-border data-sharing frameworks that can withstand political and financial pressures. Particular attention was paid to the current challenge of building and sustaining trust in evidence-based public health science in times of widespread misinformation. The colloquium concluded with a panel discussion titled “Rethinking Global Public Health: From Crisis Response to Long-term Sustainability”, synthesizing key insights and outlining visions towards a more resilient and equitable public health future. By combining scientific perspectives with policy-oriented insights, the RKC 2026 aimed to foster interdisciplinary dialogue across sectors and governance levels.