What a wonderful week at the 2026 International Social and Behavior Change Communication Summit!
Thank you for being part of the 2026 SBCC Summit.
Over five days in Panama, you brought this community to life. You shared your research, your lived experiences, your questions, and your ideas. You challenged assumptions, sparked new conversations, and built connections that will continue long after the final session.
Together, you explored the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of social and behavior change communication, from trust and storytelling to funding, artificial intelligence, and implementation science. Along the way, you reminded us that the strength of this field lies not only in evidence and innovation, but in relationships, collaboration, and a willingness to learn from one another.
As you head home, we hope you leave with new partnerships, fresh inspiration, and renewed energy for the work ahead. Thank you for making this Summit a truly global gathering and for helping shape what comes next for the field.
What Everyone Was Talking About
One of the most energizing moments of the SBCC Summit was our Insights Session, where the insights team reflected back the patterns that emerged across conversations throughout the week. These weren’t conclusions. They were invitations for the community to validate, challenge, and build upon together.
Four insights stood out:
🤝 Trust communities to know what works for them. Lasting change begins by recognizing that the people closest to the challenges are also closest to the solutions. Trust isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s the foundation for meaningful partnership.
🌱 Disruption creates opportunities for renewal. Rather than simply rebuilding, participants called for reconnecting across disciplines, embracing different ways of knowing, and generously sharing the wisdom already present within the field.
🌍 Relationships and context matter. Sustainable social and behavior change depends on understanding people within their families, communities, and cultures. Solutions are strongest when they are grounded in local realities and shaped with those they serve.
🎙️ Authentic stories drive authentic change. Stories don’t need to be perfect. They need to be real. By listening to local and Indigenous communicators and elevating lived experiences, storytelling becomes a catalyst for connection, trust, and action.
These insights are not the final word. They’re a reflection of what this community heard together – and a starting point for the work ahead. We will continue to collect and shape these insights in the coming weeks, so feel free to keep sharing.
A Joyful Farewell
As the Summit drew to a close, organizers reflected on one of the week’s most important lessons.
“It’s been trust, not just networking. It’s been listening,” said Ana Carrapichano, Founder & CEO at Mediology, who co-lead the event’s International Steering Committee. “It’s hard to listen, but we’ve allowed one another to speak and to listen.”
The final moments belonged to Panama. An Afro Panamanian dance group brought the room to its feet, closing the Summit with a joyful celebration of culture, rhythm, and connection before participants headed home inspired for the work ahead.
