.png)
Workshop in English for advanced participants:
Next stop? #Ljubljana2026
Bookmark: 17-19 June 2026!
Venue: Grand Hotel Union Eurostars, visit website
Meet our hosts and local organisers from the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Division of Paediatrics:
- Jana Kodrič, clinical psychologist,
- Stasa Stropnik, clinical psychologist
- Jasna Orazem Mrak, paediatrician, child neurologist
This page is being continuously updated, keep checking!
VENUE
🛏️ 🏨 Preferential reservation rates have been made available for conference attendees at both the venue hotel (GHUE) and its adjacent sibling, the Eurostars uHotel; scroll to reach the Accommodation section for details.
A historic hotel with an Art Nouveau soul
The Grand Hotel Union Eurostars, built in 1905, is an emblematic establishment that forms part of the living history of the city of Ljubljana and the Slovenia. It is an imposing and beautiful building, an example of the Vienna Secession style, part of the Art Nouveau movement, which has hosted various personalities from the world of politics, film, music, and royalty over the years.
Grand Hotel Union Eurostars boasts Ljubljana’s largest conference centre, with 3,000m² of multifunctional spaces for hosting all kinds of events, from gala dinners to business lunches. Each year, the hotel organises some 800 events in its function rooms, including the Union Hall, a former ballroom that’s a true Art Nouveau masterpiece and can accommodate up to 700 people.
The hotel offers its guests elegant facilities decorated with care and attention to detail, such as its spacious rooms, where guests can rest comfortably and worry-free, or its extensive gastronomic offer thanks to the Kavarna Union café, where you can savour the best Slovenian dishes accompanied by delicious local wines.
GHUE has a complete wellness area with fitness centre, where guests can keep up with their exercise routines during their stay. There is also a spectacular indoor pool with views of Ljubljana Castle. This area is located in the penthouse of the adjacent Eurostars uHotel, which is just next door.
⚠️ All hours are displayed in Central European Summer Time!
Programme
(preliminary programme, subject to change)
Workshops: Behavioural therapy for tic disorders
09:00-12:00
Workshop in English for participants with basic training
14:00-15:00
Time TBA
Annual meeting of Tics and Tourette Across the Globe (TTAG)
Patient associations and advocacy groups
18:00-19:00 (onwards!)
Opening ceremony
Speaker:
I. Keynote (title TBA)
Lecture (45') followed by discussion (15')
Moderated by: TBA
II. Professor Mary Robertson Award; winner & oral presentation
Mary Robertson travel grant winners
III. Cocktail time; getting together again!
07:00
Morning run tradition continues; pack your running shoes!
More info by our Chief Track & Field Officer: Nanette Mol Debes
Details TBA
09:00-09:15
Welcome address by TTAG (Tics and Tourette Across the Globe)
09:15-10:30
Symposium session on OCD
I. Neuroplasticity in OCD: lifespan changes and treatment targets
Speaker:
Odile van den Heuvel
II. Advanced treatment strategies for OCD
Speaker:
Philippe Domenech
III. TBA-Focus on clinical aspects
Speaker:
Osman Malik
10.15-10:30
Q&A-discussion
10:30-11:00
Coffee break
12:30-13:30
Lunch break
13:30-14:00
General Assembly
Board elections | 2026-2029 term
(eVoting available for members not attending in person)
14:45-15:15
Coffee break
16:00-17:30
Oral presentations of submitted abstracts, session I
From 20:00
optional event
Social event-dinner TBA
09:15-10:30
Pathophysiology session
I. Animal models of Tourette syndrome
Speaker:
Marco Bortolato
II. Biomarker of tic prognosis
Speaker:
Yulia Wrobe
III. Pathophysiological insights from the EMTICS study
Speaker:
Andrea Dietrich
10.30-10:45
Q&A-discussion
Moderated by:
TBA
10:45-11:15
Coffee break
11:15-12:45
Oral presentations of submitted abstracts, session II
12:45-13:45
Lunch break
13:45-14:15
Controversy session, followed by a live poll
"Is coprolalia a tic or functional?"
Speakers:
Kirsten Müller-Vahl
Arguing "No, it is not a tic"
vs
Elia Abi-Jaoude
Arguing "Yes, it is a tic"
Moderated by: TBA
15:00-15:30
Coffee break
16:30-17:00
Closing ceremony
Best poster & best oral presentation awards
New ESSTS Board announcement
ESSTS Conference 2027 announcement
SUBMISSIONS
Basic and clinical scientists, clinicians, PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, residents, fellows and other professionals from around the world working in all areas associated with Tourette Syndrome, tic and related disorders, are invited to submit abstracts to be presented as posters* or oral presentations, as well as abstracts with a clinical case video (reserved for the clinical rounds session).
This year, both posters and oral presentations will be made available to the audience in digital format only.
The authors may submit their abstracts by 1 September 2021. They will be notified by 5 September 2021 regarding the format of their presentation, e-poster (+ optional audio file) or oral presentation-, and will have to send their material by 15 September 2021.
💡 2 important dates to bookmark:
Submission deadline: Sunday, 29 March 2026 (midnight 🦉 PDT)
Authors get notified on assigned format by Wednesday, 8 April, 2026 (midnight 🦉 CEST)
⚠️ Registration before submission:
If you plan to submit an abstract you, –or at least one person from your group–, will need to register for the conference before the submission deadline.
In the rare event of unsuccessful submissions, authors may request a full registration refund until 2 weeks after the early bird deadline (Sunday, 5 April 2026).
INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS
Please, select a topic from the list below. The abstract text should not exceed 2,500-3,000 characters.
The final assignment, (poster or oral presentation), will be made by the scientific review committee and all authors will be notified by email by Wednesday, 8 April 2026 (midnight CEST).
All abstracts will be published in the ESSTS Conference proceedings as an Abstract Book, –distributed to all attendees– and upon completion of the meeting, on the ESSTS website in a digital form.
Authors may opt in the submission form below to have their abstract published on F1000 Research.
The final assignment, (poster or oral presentation), will be made by the scientific review committee and all authors will be notified by email by Wednesday, 8 April 2026 (midnight CEST).
All abstracts will be published in the ESSTS Conference proceedings as an Abstract Book, –distributed to all attendees– and upon completion of the meeting, on the ESSTS website in a digital form.
Authors may opt in the submission form below to have their abstract published on F1000 Research.
Junior investigators who submit innovative work also have the opportunity to be considered for the Professor Mary Robertson Award for Research Contribution in conjunction with Tourettes Action UK.
Abstracts may be submitted in the following fields of study:
- Genetics and aetiology of Tourette syndrome and related disorders
- Neurophysiology and neuroimaging
- Clinical aspects including comorbidities
- Treatment
- Functional tic-like movements
- Other
- Neurophysiology and neuroimaging
- Clinical aspects including comorbidities
- Treatment
- Functional tic-like movements
- Other
To prepare your abstract, follow the instructions on the template below.
Submissions open soon!
INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS
There will be the usual interactive video & clinical round session on the second day of the conference (18 June).
It will offer us the opportunity to discuss collegially several challenging, uncommon and overall didactic clinical cases coming from all over our respective centres in Europe and beyond. You are invited to contribute to this session by submitting an abstract with a clinical case of tic (or hyperkinetic) movement disorder along with a video that you wish to present and discuss with colleagues.
It will offer us the opportunity to discuss collegially several challenging, uncommon and overall didactic clinical cases coming from all over our respective centres in Europe and beyond. You are invited to contribute to this session by submitting an abstract with a clinical case of tic (or hyperkinetic) movement disorder along with a video that you wish to present and discuss with colleagues.
I. We are seeking well-described cases, which pose diagnostic or management questions or present challenges with a key learning point. We will allocate 10 minutes for the presentation of each chosen case, which will be followed by 5 minutes of discussion with the co-chairs/audience.
II. Please submit your anonymised case(s) by clicking the button below (they will be reviewed by session chair, Dr Tammy Hedderly), in the format of either a short abstract in a Word document (max. 400 words), or ideally as a PowerPoint presentation with a maximum of 5 slides. Irrespective of the selected format, a video must be included in your submission.
Your abstract should summarise the clinical history, physical examination, investigation and management to date and conclude with questions or learning points. To allow for the preparation of a successful session, we may ask you to discuss the video of the patient in advance.
If you are not asked to present, please bring your case to the conference, as there will be other opportunities to show cases and to discuss them with colleagues.
If you are not asked to present, please bring your case to the conference, as there will be other opportunities to show cases and to discuss them with colleagues.
A question?
contact Dr HedderlySubmissions open soon!
Submission deadline: Sunday, 29 March 2026 (midnight 🦉 PDT)
Eligibility
All junior researchers, excluding research heads, senior/career level clinicians and previous winners of the award.
The Professor Mary Robertson Award for Research Contribution will be presented on behalf of Tourettes Action UK at the opening ceremony of the conference in Athens, on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. The award will be made in honour of Professor Mary Robertson and includes a prize of £250.
She is the Life President of ESSTS and a Patron of Tourettes Action UK.
She is the Life President of ESSTS and a Patron of Tourettes Action UK.
-Original research of any kind on the Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome, 8,000 words excluding references. Shorter submissions are acceptable, longer entries will be excluded.
-Published or unpublished.
-Work should also be submitted as an abstract for presentation (see procedure by clicking on the "Abstracts" tab above). Please include the relevant abstract(s) with your entry.
-Entries can include work presented at previous ESSTS meetings, but should also cover new ground in an abstract submitted for the 2026 meeting.
-The winner will be invited to make a platform presentation, if not already selected through the abstract acceptance process.
-Must be written by the entrant with a statement indicating the role of other members of the research team, if applicable.
-Published or unpublished.
-Work should also be submitted as an abstract for presentation (see procedure by clicking on the "Abstracts" tab above). Please include the relevant abstract(s) with your entry.
-Entries can include work presented at previous ESSTS meetings, but should also cover new ground in an abstract submitted for the 2026 meeting.
-The winner will be invited to make a platform presentation, if not already selected through the abstract acceptance process.
-Must be written by the entrant with a statement indicating the role of other members of the research team, if applicable.
Senior members – please distribute to your juniors.
If you have queries please contact Dr Jeremy Stern, at jstern@tourettes-action.org.uk
Submissions open soon!
REGISTRATION
Registration rates & options
Conference registration
In-person attendance
Offers access to all sessions, both BT workshops (beginner & advanced participants) and the TTAG meeting
Virtual attendance: TBC
Offers access to most lectures and & TTAG meeting. Excludes BT workshops (17 June) & clinical rounds session (18 June)
The ESSTS member rates apply to all those who will have become ESSTS members for the calendar year 2026.
Along with the ...more attractive registration fees, you greatly contribute to keeping the Society alive and allowing it to grow. 🙏
If you wish to become an ESSTS member, you may add your membership for 2026 directly when you register for the meeting.
Along with the ...more attractive registration fees, you greatly contribute to keeping the Society alive and allowing it to grow. 🙏
If you wish to become an ESSTS member, you may add your membership for 2026 directly when you register for the meeting.
(To view "member" rates, simply click on the respective button)
Senior ESSTS members
EARLY BIRD
until 5 April 2026
(midnight pdT)
(midnight pdT)
€390
Junior* ESSTS members
EARLY BIRD
until 5 April 2026
(midnight pdT)
(midnight pdT)
€225
*(MD/PhD students, postdocs, interns, residents, nurses, patient advocacy groups)
Senior ESSTS members
REGULAR RATES
€495
Junior* ESSTS members
REGULAR RATES
€290
*(MD/PhD students, postdocs, interns, residents, nurses, patient advocacy groups)
Senior participants
EARLY BIRD
until 5 April 2026
(midnight pdT)
(midnight pdT)
€445
Junior* participants
EARLY BIRD
until 5 April 2026
(midnight pdT)
(midnight pdT)
€270
*(MD/PhD students, postdocs, interns, residents, nurses, patient advocacy groups)
Senior participants
REGULAR RATES
€550
Junior* participants
REGULAR RATES
€325
*(MD/PhD students, postdocs, interns, residents, nurses, patient advocacy groups)
Registration guidelines
Step 1: Register and purchase your ticket(s).
Use our online registration forms below to select your event(s), enter your personal details and proceed with payment.
Use our online registration forms below to select your event(s), enter your personal details and proceed with payment.
Step 2: Conference confirmation & invoice
You will receive a confirmation email and a detailed invoice once your registration form(s) and payment have reached us.
Kindly note that if you have opted for payment via bank transfer this may take several days and that payment cannot be confirmed before receipt.
You may contact us separately if you require a custom invoice to submit to your institution for reimbursement purposes.
You will receive a confirmation email and a detailed invoice once your registration form(s) and payment have reached us.
Kindly note that if you have opted for payment via bank transfer this may take several days and that payment cannot be confirmed before receipt.
You may contact us separately if you require a custom invoice to submit to your institution for reimbursement purposes.
Virtual attendance: You will receive via email approximately 2 weeks-10 days prior to the conference (17 June) a unique link to access the live sessions.
⚠️ Kindly note that this link allows for one single connection per registered attendee.
For last-minute registrations, the access link will be issued to your email in real time.
⚠️ Kindly note that this link allows for one single connection per registered attendee.
For last-minute registrations, the access link will be issued to your email in real time.
Abstract authors: Authors (or at least one person from their group) who submit abstracts will need to register for the conference before the submission deadline, 29 March 2026. In the rare event of an unsuccessful submission, authors may request a full registration refund until 2 weeks after the early bird deadline, –5 April 2026–.
Refund policy: If for reasons unrelated to public health measures you are unable to attend –whether in-person or virtually– and need to apply for a refund, please consult our refund policy page.
Conference cancellation: In the unfortunate event of another conference cancellation due to restrictions imposed by the host country, ESSTS will fully reimburse all registered attendees.
Ready to register?
Different types of conference tickets available within the form below, including social event.
More options –indepedent registration for workshops, TTAG meeting and TS-school– will become available at the beginning of 2026.
When in Ljubljana...
Accommodation & orientation
For those who have attended one of our meetings in the recent years; do expect this section to become enriched with suggestions, custom city maps and detailed transport instructions.
Listed as usual, the jetlag-proof way! 😉
Listed as usual, the jetlag-proof way! 😉
To facilitate attendees with planning and arrangements, we are listing below 2 booking links incorporating preferential rates for the venue hotel (Grand Hotel Union Eurostars) and its adjacent sibling, the Eurostars uHotel.
The two buildings are interconnected and the conference halls can be accessed internally.
The two buildings are interconnected and the conference halls can be accessed internally.
