June 22-26, 2026
Panama Convention Center
Panama City, Panama
Media Contact
Email: sdesmon1@jhu.edu
WhatsApp: Join SBCC Summit Press/Media Group
Website: sbccsummit.org
About the SBCC Summit
🔗 Press release available here
The International Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Summit is the world’s largest gathering dedicated to the science and practice of social and behavior change. It brings together practitioners, researchers, policymakers, donors, communicators and community leaders from around the world to share evidence, exchange ideas and build partnerships that advance health, equity and social impact.
Held every few years in different regions, the Summit serves as a global platform for exploring how communication can address urgent global challenges including misinformation, climate change, gender equality, reproductive health, humanitarian response and community resilience.
The 2026 Summit in Panama marks the first time the event is being hosted in Latin America and the Caribbean region, bringing together more than 800 participants from over 125 countries under the theme The Power of Connection: Reimagining Knowledge, Action and Equity in a Changing SBCC Landscape. The Summit will also feature a special plenary conversation with acclaimed Panamanian singer, songwriter, actor and activist Rubén Blades, exploring the power of storytelling, culture and music to shape public understanding and inspire social change.
Featured Reporting Opportunities
Misinformation is evolving. So are the ways to build trust.
As artificial intelligence reshapes how people find and share information, researchers are facing a harder question than ever. It is not just what people believe. It is who they trust and why.
At the 2026 International Social and Behavior Change Communication Summit in Panama, that question will be everywhere. Across the Summit, experts will explore how communities are responding to misinformation, strengthening public trust and designing AI-enabled solutions that support health, climate resilience and informed decision-making.
Topics include:
- AI-powered health communication
- Vaccine confidence
- Digital trust and misinformation
- Youth-led misinformation resilience
- Climate misinformation
- Measuring trust in complex information environments
Interview Opportunities
- Debora B. Freitas López
- Researchers studying trust and misinformation
- AI and health communication experts
- Youth innovators and practitioners
🔗 This feature is already drafted and available for media use or adaptation here.
Indigenous Knowledge and the Future of Social Change: How Communities Are Redefining Evidence, Expertise and Leadership
Across global health and development, practitioners are increasingly recognizing that local knowledge, lived experience and community leadership are essential to lasting change.
At the Summit, Indigenous leaders, researchers and practitioners will examine how traditional knowledge systems are helping shape approaches to health, education, climate adaptation and social change.
Featured Voice
Omayra Casamá
An Indigenous educator, social worker and advocate from Panama whose work bridges cultural preservation, community leadership and public health communication.
Topics include:
- Indigenous leadership
- Community-generated evidence
- Participatory communication
- Decolonizing development
- Trust and local knowledge
Interview Opportunities
- Omayra Casamá
- Indigenous leaders and practitioners
- Community engagement experts
- Participatory research specialists
🔗 This feature is already drafted and available for media use or adaptation here.
Quick Facts
| Item | Details |
| Event | 2026 International SBCC Summit |
| Dates | June 22-26, 2026 |
| Venue | Panama Convention Center |
| Location | Panama City, Panama |
| Participants | 800+ |
| Countries Represented | 125+ |
| Theme | The Power of Connection: Reimagining Knowledge, Action and Equity in a Changing SBCC Landscape |
| First Summit in Latin America | Yes |
Why This Summit Matters
Around the world, some of society’s most urgent challenges are increasingly communication challenges.
Communities are navigating health misinformation, declining trust in institutions, climate disruption, emerging technologies and growing demands for locally led solutions.
The Summit brings together experts from around the world to explore how communication can help address these challenges and create lasting social change.
What’s New in 2026
- First Summit in Latin America
- Indigenous Knowledge Takes Center Stage
- AI, Trust and Human Connection
- Culture as a Catalyst for Change
A special plenary conversation featuring Panamanian artist and cultural figure Rubén Blades will explore storytelling, civic engagement, identity and social change.
Media Access and Global Viewing
- All plenary sessions will be live streamed
- Streams will be available in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese
- Interpretation will support multilingual access for global audiences and media
Featured Voices
Summit Leadership
- Debora B. Freitas López
- Babafunke Fagbemi
Featured Speakers
- Omayra Casamá
- Rubén Blades
- Global researchers
- Community leaders
- Health communication experts
- Climate communication practitioners
- AI and technology specialists
- Youth leaders
Major Interview Opportunities
Debora B. Freitas López
AI, trust, misinformation, behavior change and the future of the field
Babafunke Fagbemi
Global trends in communication for social change, equity, partnerships and systems change
Omayra Casamá
Indigenous leadership, community knowledge and culturally grounded communication
- Artificial intelligence and digital innovation
- Misinformation and trust
- Climate communication
- Family planning and reproductive health
- Maternal and child health
- Gender equality
- Youth engagement
- Community-led development
Full list of plenaries is available here.
Panama Spotlight
The 2026 Summit marks the first time the International SBCC Summit has been hosted in Latin America.
Panama provides a crossroads of cultures, ecosystems and global exchange.
Highlights include:
- Indigenous heritage and leadership
- Cultural diversity
- Tropical ecosystems
- Community innovation across Latin America
Media Resources
Available upon request:
- Press releases
- Speaker interviews
- High-resolution event photography
- Speaker headshots
- Summit logos and brand assets
- Reporting resources
- Daily media advisories
Media Logistics
Venue: Panama Convention Center
Interview Requests: Stephanie Desmon, sdesmon1@jhu.edu
WhatsApp: Join SBCC Summit Press/Media Group
Daily Media Advisories: Distributed electronically throughout the Summit. Subscribe to receive updates.
