Every two years, the ESC begins an exciting journey that will result in the election of a new Board. As a learned society, the democratic election process is integral to the ESC’s success. It ensures the expertise, passion and perspectives of eligible candidates from any of its 58 member National Cardiac Societies drive the ESC forward and keep it focused on what’s important for all of our members.

Following ESC Board approval, ESC Nominating Committee Chair Prof. Franz Weidinger announced the timelines for the ESC 2026 Elections during the Ordinary General Assembly on 1 September 2025. The call for candidates opens on Monday, 10 November 2025 and will close on Wednesday, 10 December 2025.

The election process concerns positions on the 2026-2028 ESC Board and Nominating Committee, 2026-2030 Audit Committee.

Elected board positions

• 1 position as President Elect
• 1 position as Secretary/Treasurer
• 3 positions as Vice Presidents
• 6 positions as Councillors

Other positions

• 12 positions as Nominating Committee members:
  • 6 to represent the National Cardiac Societies
  • 6 to represent the ESC Associations, Councils and Working Groups
• 1 position as Audit Committee member, representing the National Cardiac Societies.

Process and eligibility criteria

All relevant information (including supporting documents for the candidates) will be made available on 10 November 2025. No application or documents will be accepted before this date.

Election Timeline

• Monday, 10 November 2025
  Call for candidates opening
  
  
• Wednesday, 10 December 2025
  Deadline to submit applications
  
  
• Friday, 16 January 2026
  Candidates for the President-Elect position interview (ESC Brussels office) 
  
  
• Friday, 23 January 2026
  Publication of 1^st slate of candidates
  First call to Constituent Bodies for the names of voting delegates
  
  
• Friday, 20 February 2026
  End of the 4-week period for alternative proposals
  
  
• Monday, 23 February 2026
  Publication, final slate of candidates 
  
  
• Thursday, 5 and Friday, 6 March 2026
  Spring Summit Presentations 
  
  
• Sunday, 3 May 2026
  End of campaigning 
  
  
• From Monday, 4 May to Monday, 1 June 2026
  Online voting* (for appointed voting delegates only) 
  
  
• Wednesday, 3 June 2026
  Results announced on the ESC website 
  
  
• Monday, 31 August 2026
  ESC General Assembly 
  
  

*In case of inconclusive results, a second round will be organised before the 2026 Annual General Assembly. Further information will be circulated to voting delegates and ESC Constituent Bodies only in the case of inconclusive results of the ESC elections.