26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) Pre-Conference Sessions Open Sunday July 26, 2026 in Rio de Janeiro at Riocentro With PATH, WHO, Unitaid, and Partner Programming on 'Advancing HIV Prevention Science and Access'; Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir (Gilead's Yeztugo) Now Deployed in 10 Priority Sub-Saharan African Countries With Generic Versions From Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Hetero Labs, and Four Other Manufacturers Expected in 2027 at Approximately $40 Per Person Per Year Following Gates Foundation and Unitaid Partnership Announcements; Main Conference Opens Monday July 27 With UNAIDS 'United to End AIDS' Report Release and WHO Global Health Sector Strategies Mid-Term Assessment
The 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) pre-conference sessions open Sunday July 26, 2026 at Riocentro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with PATH, WHO, and Unitaid programming focused on 'Advancing HIV Prevention Science and Access' between 08:00-13:00 local time. Twice-yearly lenacapavir (Gilead's Yeztugo, FDA-approved June 2025) has been deployed in 10 priority sub-Saharan African countries including South Africa (Secunda, Mpumalanga launch by President Cyril Ramaphosa on June 5, 2026), Zambia, and Eswatini through PEPFAR and Global Fund investments. Generic versions from Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Hetero Labs, and four other manufacturers are expected in 2027 at approximately $40 per person per year following Gates Foundation and Unitaid partnership announcements in September 2025 (compared to the current US Yeztugo list price of approximately $28,218 per person per year). The main conference opens Monday July 27 with the UNAIDS 'United to End AIDS' report release providing 2025 HIV data 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). Up to 10,000 attendees are expected in person and virtually across the seven-day program running through Friday July 31. Conference theme: 'Rethink. Rebuild. Rise.'