Vancouver: The Experience
In May 2028, Vancouver becomes the meeting place for the global anaesthesiology community. Discover the city that will host the 20th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists, and begin planning your WCA2028 experience.
Why Vancouver?
More than simply the host city for WCA2028, Vancouver provides an inspiring setting where the global anaesthesiology community can connect, collaborate, and shape the future of the specialty.
Surrounded by mountains, forests, and the Pacific Ocean, it’s a city that combines world-class facilities with a genuine sense of place — built for serious science, and welcoming enough to make delegates feel at home.
We gratefully acknowledge the traditional, unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples, on whose lands WCA2028 will take place. As delegates from around the world gather in Vancouver for the 20th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists, we thank these Nations for welcoming our global community to their lands.
The Home of WCA2028
A short introduction to the Vancouver Convention Centre, and why it’s an outstanding venue for welcoming delegates from around the world.
The Vancouver Convention Centre sits directly on the downtown waterfront, with over 466,500 sq ft of flexible meeting, exhibition, ballroom, and plenary space — built to hold a congress of WCA2028’s scale without ever feeling stretched thin. It’s a short walk from the city’s hotel district, the Seawall, and Stanley Park, so delegates can move between sessions and the city itself with ease.
Vancouver Convention Centre (West)
1055 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC
V6C 0C3
Canada
Explore Vancouver
Nature
Mountains, forest and coastline within minutes of the Convention Centre — Vancouver’s natural beauty, right on the doorstep.
Waterfront
The iconic harbour and working waterfront, framing the city where WCA2028 delegates will gather and connect.
Culture
Diverse neighbourhoods and communities — a city where DEI as structural access and representation is already lived, day to day.
See Vancouver in Motion
A closer look at the city that will welcome the global anaesthesiology community in May 2028.
Every World Congress is shaped by its host city. Vancouver offers an exceptional backdrop for learning, collaboration and discovery — connecting delegates both inside and outside the Congress.
Sustainability
Vancouver’s meeting venues are recognised for genuine sustainability commitments, not decorative ones. The Convention Centre’s West building carries a six-acre living roof — the largest in Canada — supporting more than 400,000 indigenous plants and grasses. A blackwater treatment system cuts freshwater use by roughly 70%, more than 85% of waste is diverted from landfill, and a seawater-based heating and cooling system runs alongside a restored marine habitat built into the building’s own foundation.
The centre has held LEED® Platinum status since 2010 and been re-certified multiple times since — a maintained commitment, not a one-off award, and a fitting home for a congress built on responsible, global collaboration.
Delegate Perks
Registered WCA2028 delegates get exclusive access to the Destination Vancouver Perks Pass — discounts and offers across the city for the duration of the Congress.
Explore Delegate PerksPlan Your Visit
See You in Vancouver
WCA2028 carries forward WFSA’s core mission: advancing global health equity and patient safety in Anaesthesiology. Join the global anaesthesiology community in Vancouver.
Learn More About WCA2028