New heart failure guidelines, practice-changing Hot Line data, artificial intelligence and new evidence in atrial fibrillation and cardiac amyloidosis are among the highlights to look out for on the opening day of ESC Congress 2026.
ESC Congress 2026 gets underway today in Munich, Germany, with a packed first-day programme spanning new ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines, late-breaking clinical trials and emerging technologies in cardiovascular care.
With 12 Hot Line sessions scheduled across the Congress, alongside new guidelines, debates and specialist sessions, the first morning’s ESC TV briefing offered a preview of some of the science set to shape Day 1.
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New ESC heart failure guidelines
One of the biggest events of the opening day will be the presentation of the 2026 ESC Guidelines for the management of heart failure.
Speaking ahead of their presentation, task force coordinator Dr Daniela Tomasoni highlighted the rapidly changing evidence base that made an update necessary, including evolving definitions of heart failure and questions around how patients should be categorized and treated according to ejection fraction.
A major theme is expected to be moving towards a more individualized approach to heart failure management. The guidelines consider the broad spectrum of underlying etiologies and comorbidities seen in clinical practice, with greater emphasis on phenotyping patients and identifying opportunities for precision medicine. Cardiac amyloidosis was highlighted as one area in which earlier recognition has become particularly important as the evidence base and treatment options continue to expand.
Prevention and earlier identification of patients progressing towards advanced heart failure are also expected to feature prominently, with late referral to specialist heart failure centres remaining an important clinical challenge.
Alongside presentation of the guidelines, delegates will have an opportunity to put questions directly to members of the task force during an Ask the Task Force session.
Hot Line data could address an anticoagulation evidence gap
Among the first Hot Line studies to watch is SINGLE AF, examining anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) at intermediate risk of stroke.
Principal investigator Professor Boyoung Joung explained that the trial compares direct oral anticoagulant therapy with no anticoagulation in this patient population. While current recommendations support consideration of anticoagulation, the underlying evidence has largely come from observational studies rather than randomized controlled trials. SINGLE AF is intended to address that gap directly.
The clinical question is particularly important because the potential benefit of preventing stroke must be balanced against the risk of bleeding. In patients whose baseline stroke risk is lower, that balance may be less clear, meaning the results could help inform future decisions around which patients should receive anticoagulation.
The full findings are scheduled to be presented during Hot Line 1 today.
AI takes centre stage
Artificial intelligence is the spotlight theme for ESC Congress 2026 and is set to run throughout the scientific programme.
Among today’s sessions is a look at how digital twins, artificial intelligence and robotics could guide cardiovascular interventions, while further discussions on the Digital Stage will explore the growing role of AI across cardiology.
With AI increasingly moving from research into clinical workflows, the sessions should offer a clearer picture of where the technology may have the greatest practical impact and what its growing use could mean for cardiovascular practice.
New data in cardiac amyloidosis
Cardiac amyloidosis will also feature among today’s anticipated clinical trial presentations, adding to a rapidly developing evidence base in a condition that has attracted increasing attention in recent years.
During the morning briefing, Dr Tomasoni highlighted a forthcoming trial presentation in patients with cardiac amyloidosis as another study to watch. The discussion also underlined the wider importance of recognizing cardiac amyloidosis earlier, as missed diagnosis may increasingly mean a missed opportunity to offer disease-modifying treatment.
Follow ESC Congress 2026 with touchCARDIO
From new recommendations in heart failure to randomized evidence that could refine anticoagulation decisions in AF, Day 1 already promises a number of findings with the potential to influence clinical practice.
The touchCARDIO team is onsite in Munich throughout the opening days of ESC Congress 2026, speaking with leading experts and bringing you the latest data, expert perspectives and key clinical takeaways from across the meeting.
Cite: ESC Congress 2026 Day 1: What’s in store? touchCARDIO. August 28 2026.
Disclosure: This content has been developed independently by Touch Medical Media for touchCARDIO, utilizing AI as an editorial tool (Claude (Sonnet 5) [Large language model] https://claude.ai). No funding was received in the publication of this article.
Editor: Nicola Cartridge, Director of Content
