With the 36th International Epilepsy Congress (IEC) approaching in Lisbon at the end of August, excitement is building across the IBE community. Co-organised by the IBE and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), the Congress brings together the worlds of science, advocacy, and lived experience.
IEC2025 is a key opportunity to amplify the voices of people with epilepsy, highlight IBE’s mission, and ensure the community perspective is heard and valued.
Hashtags & Handles
- Official Hashtag: #IEC2025
- Supporting: #EpilepsyNeeds
Social Media
- Instagram: international_bureau_epilepsy
- Twitter/X: @IBESocialMedia
- LinkedIn: international-bureau-for-epilepsy
- Facebook: internationalBureauForEpilepsy
Events and Activities for the IBE Community
IBE and ILAE will also be hosting a joint hub in Foyer C of the Congress venue. We invite you to visit us there, take a photo at our Selfie Wall, and explore our display of pillars presenting key takeaways from the Global Epilepsy Needs Study (GENS). You’ll also find our Wishing Wall in the foyer — share your own wish for fulfilling the unmet needs of people with epilepsy.
Priority Sessions
As IBE we have advocated for the inclusion of people with lived experience across the congress programme, as well as sessions that capture what matters most to our community. We encourage all chapter representatives and community members to attend these key sessions, which reflect the issues that matter most to our global epilepsy community.
Click HERE to view the list of priority sessions, which we will continue to update before and during the congress.
Celebrating Social Impact
The Social Accomplishment Award is jointly presented by IBE and the ILAE every two years. It honours an individual whose advocacy, awareness campaigns, educational work, or community initiatives have made a significant difference to the social well-being and quality of life of people with epilepsy. This year’s award goes to Gardiner Lapham, a leading advocate for epilepsy research and SUDEP awareness. She serves as a BAND Foundation Trustee, and co-produced The Curse of Stigma documentary, advancing global understanding and action on epilepsy.
Recognising Global Leadership
The Ambassadors for Epilepsy award recognises exceptional international contributions to epilepsy awareness, care, and understanding. Selected by the joint IBE–ILAE Executive Committee, Ambassadors come from a wide range of countries and backgrounds but share a deep commitment to making life better for people with epilepsy.
Among this year’s recipients is Fides Uiso, a mother of a child with severe epilepsy and founder of the Tanzania Epilepsy Organization and Nina Mago (Uganda), founder of the Purple Bench Initiative and a passionate youth leader raising awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting mental health in diverse settings.
Connect with IBE at IEC2025
Throughout the Congress, you can:
- Visit our joint IBE–ILAE hub in Foyer C
- Share your wish on the Wishing Wall
- Take a photo at our Selfie Wall
- Attend IBE-led sessions and discussions
We’ll be posting daily updates from Lisbon, so even if you’re not attending in person, you can still follow along and feel part of the experience. We look forward to meeting you in Lisbon soon!
