Dear ESTRO Community,

September marked a milestone for our field with the first-ever edition of World Radiotherapy Awareness Day (WRAD), celebrated under the inspiring theme “One Voice for Radiotherapy.” On 7 September, our community came together across continents to highlight the essential role of radiotherapy in cancer care. Seeing so many colleagues and institutions united in one voice was deeply moving. My heartfelt thanks go to all who contributed to making this global celebration a true success, and thank you to the WRAD team for making this happen: your engagement embodies the team spirit of radiation oncology.

Looking ahead, we are entering an exciting and defining period for our Society. The ESTRO community has been growing rapidly in recent years, recently passing more than 10,000 members. Huge thanks to all ESTRO members for your commitment to strengthening cancer care, radiation oncology, and our Society, and I warmly invite you to renew your 2026 membership!

With partnership being a focus of my presidency, the French Society of Oncological Radiotherapy (SFRO) and ESTRO have decided on a joint membership model, which will be a pilot for other national societies. As of 2026, all students in all disciplines who do not have an income during their education will have access to ESTRO without any membership fee, to increase the attractiveness of our discipline and Society for the next generation.

This trust of the European and global radiation oncology community is a motivation for ESTRO to further develop its democratic processes, reflecting our commitment to inclusiveness. For the first time, ESTRO has launched a Call for Expression of Interest and Availability for the position of President-Elect. In parallel, as part of our continuous efforts to strengthen ESTRO’s governance, the Board has also approved an update to the process for renewing the second mandate for Board members. From now on, this renewal will take place upon expression of interest and confirmation by the Board, rather than through a second election.

After the record-breaking ESTRO 2025 Annual Meeting in Vienna, with almost 8,000 participants, 3,500 submitted abstracts—more than twenty of which were randomised clinical trials—and engaging contributions from patients and neighbouring disciplines, we are working hard to ensure an even more exciting ESTRO 2026 in Stockholm, Sweden. The collaboration with The Lancet Oncology and the Green Journal will be continued; the dissemination of science before, during and after the meeting will be intensified; and an open call for the “ESTRO Band” will showcase all the “hidden” talents of our community.

Meanwhile, aiming to serve the wider radiation oncology field, we are working on developing a digital platform to become the ESTRO hub for exchange and content fruition. Now in its soft launch phase, it has already become an active space with regular Focus Group webinars. In the coming months leading up to ESTRO 2026, we will move toward a full launch—expanding its functionalities and visibility within our offering. The platform will further enhance the value of being an ESTRO member, connecting us more closely and making it easier than ever to learn, engage, and shape our collective future together.

Take a moment to explore our newsletter and find out about all the exciting activities and opportunities coming soon!

With gratitude and enthusiasm,

Matthias Guckenberger
ESTRO President