The GIMM Festival is an annual event in Lisbon, Portugal that embodies the spirit of exploration and innovation at the heart of the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM). Bridging science and society, the festival creates a dynamic platform for dialogue, discovery, and engagement. Each year, it focuses on a transformative theme that reflects pressing global challenges, aligning with GIMM’s purpose of advancing science to improve lives. For 2026, the theme will be Microbes.

More than another meeting amongst researchers – of which there are many throughout the year – the GIMM Festival is intended as a space for collective reflection on a scientific area with deep societal implications.

Our central goal is to identify the most critical unanswered questions – those that can guide discovery, collaboration, and real-world impact in the years to come.

For this, we bring together the most influential minds in fundamental and applied biomedical sciences, as well as thought leaders from diverse complementary fields such as the social sciences, the arts, engineering and public health.

Over the course of three days, we explore the critical questions of the future – two days targeting scientists, leading to one final day for the general public.

By shifting its focus annually, the GIMM Festival ensures a continued connection to the evolving frontiers of knowledge, fostering public awareness and inspiring action. From immersive experiences to thought-provoking discussions, it is a celebration of curiosity and a catalyst for change.

Find out more about our previous editions here.