Dear Colleagues and Friends,
It is our great pleasure to warmly welcome you to MYK 2026 in Graz, the joint anniversary meeting of the Deutschsprachige Mykologische Gesellschaft (DMykG) and the Österreichische Gesellschaft für Medizinische Mykologie (ÖGMM). This 60th MYK marks a special milestone in the close collaboration of our two societies and in the development of medical mycology in the German-speaking countries.
The major challenges in our field—rising numbers of invasive fungal infections, the emergence of new pathogens, and the relentless spread of antifungal resistance—demand coordinated, cross-border and interdisciplinary responses. Our societies aim to create a shared platform where clinicians, microbiologists, infectious disease specialists, pharmacists, epidemiologists, basic scientists, and public health professionals can come together to discuss new findings, align strategies and build durable networks that extend well beyond this meeting.
The scientific program of MYK 2026 in Graz will span the full breadth of contemporary medical mycology: from invasive mould and yeast infections in hematology, oncology, intensive care and transplantation, to innovations in diagnostics, antifungal pharmacotherapy and stewardship, and the design and interpretation of clinical trials. Emphasis will be placed on antifungal resistance, including molecular epidemiology, surveillance initiatives, One Health and the complex interplay between environmental antifungal use and clinical resistance. At the same time, the congress will highlight emerging fungal pathogens, global epidemiological trends and preparedness for future fungal threats, reflecting the growing recognition of fungal diseases as a key component of global health and planetary health.
We are delighted that MYK 2026 is hosted under the local leadership of -Assoz.-Prof. Priv.-Doz. Dr. Martin Hönigl and Priv.Doz. Dr. Dr. Jürgen Prattes, whose team in Graz has long been recognized for its contributions to clinical mycology and invasive fungal infections. Together with the scientific committees of DMykG and ÖGMM, they are assembling a program that combines cutting-edge basic and translational research with immediately applicable clinical content. State-of-the-art lectures, focused symposia, case-based sessions and abstract-driven oral and poster presentations will ensure that the meeting captures both the breadth and the depth of current mycological research and practice.
A particular focus of MYK 2026 will be on supporting and empowering the next generation of mycologists and infectious disease specialists. We see this as a natural extension of existing training and capacity-building initiatives in our societies and as an essential investment in the future of our field.
Graz itself provides an ideal environment for this joint meeting: a dynamic university city with strong expertise in infectious diseases and clinical microbiology, and a compact setting that encourages both intense scientific exchange and informal encounters.
On behalf of both societies, we warmly invite you to the MYK 2026.
Oliver Kurzai (President DMKYG) & Michaela Lackner (President ÖGMM)