International Chemsex Conference: Optimising Support and Care for People Engaging in Chemsex

Join us from 3 to 5 March 2026 in Antwerp for a global, transdisciplinary conference dedicated to the complex and multifactorial phenomenon of chemsex. Buy your early bird ticket today!

3 - 5 March 2026

3 March 16:00 - 20:00
4 March 9:00 - 17:00
5 March 9:00 - 16:00

Campus Rochus, Sint-Rochusstraat 43, 2000 Antwerp

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About the event

We warmly invite you to the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp, Belgium, for a transdisciplinary conference dedicated to exploring the complex and multifaceted phenomenon of chemsex.

Building on the experience of previous international gatherings, this conference brings together a multidisciplinary group of experts to address the complex issues surrounding chemsex. Grounded in scientific evidence and focused on real-world impact, the event aims to strengthen care and support by promoting the practical implementation of research into everyday practice. Participants will engage in meaningful dialogue and knowledge exchange with people who engage in chemsex, community representatives, researchers, healthcare providers, therapists, social workers, and policymakers from around the world.

For whom?

We aim to bring together a large group of experienced experts who may share their experiences in supporting people who engage in chemsex, from a therapeutic, health-care facility or community-based, or peer support setting. The purpose is to facilitate, expand and improve the response to chemsex in all its complexity.

What can you expect?

Global insights from leading experts and first responders
Panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities
A focus on health, harm reduction, and human rights

Practical

Date: Tue 3 - Thu 5 March 2026
Location:
- ITM Campus Rochus
  Sint-Rochusstraat 43
  2000 Antwerp

Contact

✉ chemsexconference2026@itg.be

Tickets

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Registration and tickets

Early bird

Early bird - €170.00
Early bird NGO / Student / LMIC participant - €135.00

Buy your ticket before 15 December 2025 to benefit from the early bird rates.

Standard

Standard - €200.00
NGO / Student / LMIC participant - €160.00

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Sponsorship

Showcase your organisation's commitment

By supporting, your organisation demonstrates a strong dedication to tackling important health and social challenges. Beyond the core benefits of social responsibility and enhanced visibility, sponsorship provides:

Access to cutting-edge research and insights
Exclusive networking: engage directly with an international community of healthcare professionals, policymakers and researchers
Brand differentiaton: stand out as a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to addressing complex challenges

More info

Polyclinic of ITM

Optimising support and care for people engaging in chemsex

As a leading centre for HIV care, sexual health, and public health research, ITM is deeply engaged with the challenges that chemsex presents across these domains. Through our clinical practice and research, we have developed multidisciplinary expertise in infectious diseases, mental health, and harm reduction. Our work involves direct engagement with individuals who use chems in sexual contexts, always grounded in a strong commitment to inclusive, stigma-free care for key populations. We also advocate for and implement community-based approaches to HIV prevention and support.

Through ongoing collaborations with organisations, care providers, and institutions in Belgium and internationally, we recognise the value of shared knowledge and diverse perspectives. With this conference, we aim to bring together experts and practitioners to exchange experiences, insights, and strategies, and in doing so, strengthen our collective capacity to provide responsive, evidence-informed, and compassionate care for people who engage in chemsex.

Preliminary programme

This programme is preliminary and subject to change.

Tuesday 3 March

Timing	Activity
13:30-16:00	Registration
16:00-18:00	Opening session: local and regional chemsex response Chairs: Tom Platteau (ITM) and TBD General welcome Welcome to ITM Kink Responsibly: Collaboration between community and healthcare services Testimonial and trajectory of an ex-chemsex user HIV care and chemsex: Integrated and holistic approach Chemsex and drug use: An epidemiological context in Europe Community activity / entertainment
18:00	Reception

Wednesday 4 March

Timing	Activity
09:00-10:30	Plenary session 1: Defining and understanding chemsex Chairs: Marie-Angélique de Scheerder (UZ Gent) and Thijs Reyniers (ITM) Different perspectives on chemsex Chem in context: A modern look at changing drug trends Social, cultural and psychological drivers of chemsex: Findings from qualitative studies Epistemologies of chemsex
10:30-11:00	Coffee break
11:00-12:30	Plenary session 2: Prevention of (problematic) chemsex Chairs: Veerle Doossche (Sensoa) and Jasper Janssens (VAD) Which groups can we effectively reach with preventive efforts? What type of messages truly resonate - those discouraging use or those focused on harm reduction? How can these messages actually reach the people who need them?
12:30-13:30	Lunch
13:30-15:00	Plenary session 3: Integration of chemsex care Chairs: Thijs Reyniers (ITM) and Wim Vanden Berghe (ITM) Integration of chemsex care in STI/HIV clinics Digital care pathways: Budd, the development of a mobile phone intervention for chemsex Intersectionalities and vulnerabilities
15:00-15:30	Coffee break
15:30-17:00	Plenary session 4: Chemsex care and support from a healthcare perspective Chairs: Chantal den Daas (University of Aberdeen) and Henry de Vries (Amsterdam UMC) Overview of chemsex treatment from a healthcare perspective Chemsex - sexual and social connection: Sexualised drug use among gbMSM in the Netherlands When becomes drug use problematic? A qualitative and quantitative perspective Psychology and public health The role of social support and sexual functioning in chemsex Clinical psychology: Managing a pathway chemsex (including high-risk sexual behaviours) within a sexual health clinic
20:00	Conference dinner

Thursday 5 March

Timing	Activity
09:00-10:30	Plenary session 5: Chemsex, community and public health: Principles and practices Chairs: Ben Collins (ReShape) and Bart Anseeuw (chemsex therapist) Panel discussion, with specific coverage of: Trans experience of chemsex Managing chemsex use: How to self-control your use? Community training and activities Inpatient care and moral injury
10:30-11:00	Coffee break
11:00-12:30	Closing panel: Synthesis of conference findings and take-home messages Chairs: Tom Platteau (ITM) and TBD Panel discussion with participants representing the community, mental and sexual healthcare, and an overarching public health perspective
12:30-13:30	Lunch
14:00-16:00	Special social activity: something unique, festive, and not to be missed!

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