26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) Main Conference Opens Monday July 27, 2026 at Riocentro in Rio de Janeiro Brazil (Opening Ceremony 15:00-16:30 Local Time in the Global Village) With Release of the UNAIDS 'United to End AIDS' 2025 Data Report Documenting the Severity of 2025 HIV Funding Cuts and the WHO's First Global Mid-Term Assessment of Progress Under the Global Health Sector Strategies on HIV Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Marking the Halfway Point to the 2030 Targets — Peptide-Adjacent HIV Modality Content This Week Includes Gilead Sciences Lenacapavir PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2 Long-Term Extension Data and Gilead-Merck Islatravir/Lenacapavir Phase 3 ISLEND-1 and ISLEND-2 Late-Breaker Wednesday July 29
The 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) main conference opened Monday July 27, 2026 at Riocentro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The opening ceremony ran 15:00-16:30 local time in the Global Village. UNAIDS released its 'United to End AIDS' 2025 data report on the opening day, documenting the severity of 2025 HIV funding cuts and their impact on HIV prevention, community services, key populations, and the sustainability of the global AIDS response. The WHO launched its first global mid-term assessment of progress under the Global Health Sector Strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections, marking the halfway point to the 2030 targets and providing a comprehensive overview of where the world stands on the SDG 3.3 targets. Peptide-adjacent HIV modality content this week includes Gilead Sciences's twice-yearly lenacapavir (first-in-class HIV capsid inhibitor) PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2 long-term extension data and the Gilead-Merck once-weekly oral islatravir/lenacapavir Phase 3 ISLEND-1 and ISLEND-2 detailed data late-breaker scheduled for Wednesday July 29. Merck plans separate presentations across daily, weekly, and monthly HIV treatment and prevention pipeline including alimatravir (MK-8527), the investigational once-monthly oral HIV prevention pill licensed July 24 to Aspen Pharmacare and six other generic manufacturers for 129 low- and middle-income countries.