Welcome to Antwerp!

The EAZA Animal Welfare Forum 2026 will be held in the conference venue A Room with a ZOO. One of the easiest venues to reach by train A Room with a ZOO is almost the continuation of the adjacent Belle Époque international station linking to the European rail network and establishing the classic style with its cathedral like halls. Hotels being within easy walking distance mean there is plenty of time to explore the somewhat unknown City of Antwerp.

The venue is the only convention centre in the world with a ZOO on site: a ZOO with its own award-winning science and research centre, and managed according to the highest standards of animal welfare of EAZA and WAZA, the international associations of zoos which was co-founded by the Antwerp ZOO.

Scientific research is in the DNA of the ZOO. Science is practiced and applied in the Antwerp ZOO, but also in research stations abroad, in the ZOO’s lab, under our supervision in universities and, above all, in the zoological research centre "the Centre for Research and Conservation" (Antwerp CRC). Since the official start in 2000 this research centre has grown into one of the most advanced zoological research centres worldwide.

The ZOO’s scientists and experts are leaders in their fields, which include genetics, animal behaviour, animal welfare, veterinary medicine and animal morphology. With this expertise we work together in research projects related to three main themes: animal welfare, nature conservation and basic zoology research.

Submission Guidelines

• Abstract length: maximum 300 words
• Please include title, author(s), affiliation(s), and preferred presentation format (oral, workshop, or poster)
• At least one author of accepted abstracts must register and attend the Forum to present
• We are planning to use contributions to the AWF26 for a special Animal Welfare issue of JZAR. Please indicate whether you want to publish your conference contribution as a peer-reviewed article in JZAR.

Please submit your abstract to Marina Salas (marina.salas@kmda.org) 

Presentation Formats

• Oral Presentations (15–20 min): research, case studies, or applied practice.
• Workshops (60–90 min): interactive sessions focused on skills, methods, or collaborative discussion.
• Posters: we particularly welcome posters highlighting applied projects and student work. 

Abstracts may address (but are not limited to) the following themes:

Animal-Centred Decision-Making

• Putting animals “on the board”: agency, choice, and control in practice

• Exploring newer approaches: genuine choice, degrees of freedom, assent vs. consent

• Practical applications of constructional exposure therapies and other training approaches that support animal agency

• Solutions and challenges in embedding animal perspectives in decision-making

AI, Technology & Welfare Monitoring

• Applications of AI and automated systems for behaviour and welfare monitoring

• Animal-computer interaction and species-specific technology use

• Opportunities and limitations: case studies, sustainability, and accessibility

Practical Application of Welfare Science/Assessments

• Translating research and assessments into daily care

• The “so what next?” challenge: using results for welfare improvements

• Lessons learned from zoo welfare audits and team approaches

Enclosure Design, Enrichment & Behavioural Needs

• Animal-centred design for habitats and enrichment

• Integrating behavioural needs into management practices

• Cross-disciplinary perspectives (designers, architects, etc.) 

Welfare Beyond Mammals: Fish, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles & Invertebrates

• Advances and examples of welfare improvements across taxa
• Case studies from underrepresented groups in welfare science

Conservation Welfare

• Integrating welfare and conservation goals in the zoo and in the field
• Real-world examples of “one welfare” approaches

Ethics

• Navigating ethical dilemmas in zoos
• Balancing individual welfare and population management
• Welfare implications of practices such as breed-and-cull

Cognitive and Affective States

• Latest research and its practical implications for welfare assessment

Other Topics

Any other innovative or relevant contributions to zoo and aquarium animal welfare