Global Forum on Nicotine 2026: Why this is a must-attend event for anyone shaping the future of public health
Registration is now open for the 13th annual Global Forum on Nicotine 2026 (GFN26), taking place from Wednesday 3 to Friday 5 June at the Warsaw Presidential Hotel in Warsaw.
Under the theme “Prohibition and Public Health”, this year’s forum will unpack one of the most pressing and complex contradictions in global health policy today: the growing disconnect between scientific evidence and regulatory decision-making.
A defining conversation in global health
Despite causing millions of deaths annually, combustible cigarettes remain widely and legally available across the globe. At the same time, significantly lower-risk nicotine alternatives — including vapes, nicotine pouches, heated tobacco products, and Swedish-style snus — are facing increasing restrictions or outright bans in many countries.
Scientific consensus continues to show that nicotine itself is not the primary cause of smoking-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular illness, and respiratory conditions. These harms are driven by the toxic byproducts of combustion. Safer nicotine products, which deliver nicotine without burning tobacco, dramatically reduce exposure to these harmful substances.
GFN26 will explore why, in the face of this evidence, prohibitionist policies are gaining traction — and what this means for the future of public health.
Regulation, not prohibition
At the heart of the forum is a critical question: how can policymakers balance the need to prevent youth uptake with the urgent opportunity to reduce harm among the one billion adults who smoke?
In countries such as Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Japan, where safer nicotine products are accessible and affordable, smoking rates have declined significantly faster. These real-world examples provide compelling evidence for harm reduction as a viable public health strategy.
Yet, restrictive policies — often endorsed by global institutions like the World Health Organization — continue to prioritise prohibition, raising concerns about unintended consequences.
GFN26 will examine how such approaches may:
- Entrench cigarette use rather than reduce it
- Fuel illicit nicotine and tobacco markets
- Undermine progress in reducing smoking-related disease
Why GFN matters more than ever
What makes GFN one of the most important events to add to your calendar is its role as a truly inclusive, evidence-led platform.
Established in 2014, GFN is the only global conference dedicated exclusively to tobacco harm reduction. It brings together a uniquely diverse group of voices — from scientists and policymakers to consumers and industry stakeholders — many of whom are often excluded from mainstream policy discussions.
This diversity is not incidental; it is essential.
By creating space for open, and sometimes uncomfortable, dialogue, GFN enables:
- Evidence-based debate free from institutional silos
- Real-world perspectives from consumers who have switched from smoking
- Cross-sector collaboration to develop practical, scalable solutions
In a landscape where harm reduction is often mischaracterised or politicised, GFN provides a rare opportunity to engage directly with the science, the policy, and the people at the centre of the issue.
What to expect at GFN26
The 2026 programme will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, alongside the return of the popular Science Lab.
Key themes include:
- The health, ethical, and societal implications of prohibition
- The economic impact of restrictive policies
- The unintended consequences of prohibition, including illicit trade and organised crime
Jessica Harding, Conference Director of GFN26, highlights the urgency of the conversation:
“Prohibition is increasing at a time when innovation offers unprecedented opportunities to accelerate the end of smoking. Nicotine consumers are paying the price. When cigarettes remain widely available and safer alternatives are restricted, we must ask: who is truly being protected?”
A global, accessible platform
GFN26 is designed to be accessible and participatory. The event will take place in a hybrid format, with selected sessions streamed live and translated into Spanish and Russian, expanding its global reach.
Additional features include:
- GFN•TV, offering live commentary and insights
- GFN Fives, short-form video contributions from global participants
- The Science Lab, showcasing emerging research
With affordable pricing and discounted accommodation available for early bookings, the forum is open to anyone invested in the future of nicotine and public health policy.
Why you should attend
At a time when global health policy is at a crossroads, GFN26 offers more than just a conference — it is a critical platform for shaping the future.
If you are serious about understanding the intersection of science, regulation, and public health — and about contributing to meaningful, evidence-based change — this is one event you cannot afford to miss.
