HCIM 2026 - Shaping the future of healthcare together

06/08/2025

Meet the Scientific Committee 🩺💡

We're proud to introduce our Scientific Committee: a dynamic team of medical, academic and artistic experts ensuring scientific quality, accreditation standards and inspiring content.
Their guidance ensures that HCIM 2026 will be both professionally recognized and creatively grounded in the real-world impact of healthcare clowning.

👉 Discover who they are and how they contribute to the congress : https://www.hcim2026.org/scientific-committee/


Institut et Haute Ecole de la Santé La Source Accademia Teatro Dimitri

10/07/2025

Healthcare Clowning International Meeting HCIM 2026
📣 Call for Abstracts

HCIM 2026 will take place on March 11-13 2026 in Lausanne, Switzerland. It celebrates 40 years of healthcare clowning and a decade of international collaboration. This global meeting brings together professional artists, healthcare teams, researchers, fundraisers, managers, and NGOs to share knowledge and explore best practices.

Under the theme «Shaping the future of healthcare together», HCIM 2026 offers a space for cross-sector exchange, creative dialogue, and collective inspiration – strengthening the role of presence and play in healthcare.

The program focuses on five key areas:
- Performing arts and clowning in healthcare: The transforming power of imagination and play
- The art of connecting: Building presence, trust, and inclusive relationships
- Sustainable management and fundraising strategies
- Research, impact and social sustainability
- The future of humanizing care: Imagining what comes next

Are you interested in participating and contributing to the program?
This is a unique opportunity to share your insights and inspire change. Submit your abstract for a workshop, a presentation, a poster or another form of contribution to engage in meaningful conversations.

Deadline for abstract submission: August 15, 2026.

Let’s shape the future of healthcare together! 🫧

👉 Find more information about the HCIM 2026 and about abstract submission: www.hcim2026.org



European Federation of Healthcare Clown Organizations NAFHCO World Health Organization (WHO) ČERVENÝ NOS Clowndoctors CliniClowns Cliniclowns Belgie The Dream Doctors Project רופאי חלום Fondation Dr Clown Laughter League Atlanta Clownmedicin Crveni Nosovi klaunovidoktori Danske Hospitalsklovne Theodora Foundation Hôpiclowns Humor Hilft Heilen KlinikClowns e.V. Sonrisa Médica Le Rire Médecin Operação Nariz Vermelho Pallapupas RED NOSES International ROTE NASEN Österreich Sairaalaklovnit Sykehusklovnene Zdravotní klaun

16/04/2025

Dear Healthcare Clowning Community,

HCIM 2026 is fast approaching, and we’re excited to shape a program that truly matters!

Your insights and ideas shall guide us, and we want to make sure the topics we explore reflect what’s most important to you and our community.

It would be a huge help, if you could take a moment to answer three key questions:

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

18/02/2025

Are you ready to shape the future of care with us?

We are calling all professional artists and healthcare clowns working in care environments, medical and care professionals, as well as researchers to share their knowledge and experience at the Healthcare Clowning International Meeting 2026, happening in Lausanne, Switzerland, from 11–13 March 2026. This is a unique opportunity to share your insights and inspire change.
What matters to you?

Submit your abstract to engage in meaningful conversations on topics such as:

- Performing arts in healthcare: The power of creativity in care.
- The art of connecting: Co-creation, communication, and collaboration.
- The transforming power of play: Building trust and fostering empowerment.
- Research & impact: Integrating evidence to enhance impact.
- The future of humanizing care: How can we contribute to humanizing care in vulnerable environments?

Present your:
- Research
- Workshops
- Panel discussions
- Posters

Submit your abstract by June 20, 2025!
Discover submission details, guidelines and topics here: https://hcim2026.org/call-for-abstract/

Do you know someone who should be part of this? Share this post and encourage them to submit!

Call for Abstract Submission Deadline: 20 June 2025 This is your chance to share your expertise with the world In 40 years, healthcare clowning has changed dramatically. This art form had to adopt according to the increasing demand of the beneficiaries. Coming from the entertainment sector, healthca...

01/10/2024

📣SAVE THE DATE📣

More information to come soon...

05/09/2022

Join the inaugural meeting of the Health Care Clowns Online Academy on September 16, 2022~ 15:00-18:00 CEST.
Register for free: https://bit.ly/3cItW3i

Speakers are Tsour Shriqui, Dream Doctors Project + Pérola Regina Ribeiro, Red Noses Slovenia +Tünde Gelencsér, Red Noses Hungary
Sharing their experience during Covid19 and pre-surgery .

Last year, the online edition of Healthcare Clowning International Meeting (HCIM) was cancelled entirely. It was a good decision for HCIM, but there was so much great input to explore new ways to look at healthcare clowning, learn the latest best practices, create innovative programming, network globally with other healthcare clowns doing this magical work.. Too good to be ignored.

European Federation of Healthcare Clown Organizations and NAFHCO joined forces to provide another platform for this and Health Care Clowns Online Academy was born.

10/05/2022

HCIM 2022 is over. It was a great success with an average of 320 participants per day from 35 different countries from all over the world live in The Hague. Feeling warm, joyful and very thankful. It was a gathering of wonderful people from different disciplines who not only connected with each other, but also inspired each other tremendously. We will stay connected to each other and make even more impact in the world.

Feel the vibe and connection of HCIM 2022 (again) by enjoying the aftermovie. On our website you can also find the photos, a couple of extra phone recordings and more about the speakers/panelists: https://bit.ly/3P7FkUI

HCIM2025 will be hosted by Fondation Theodora. We are looking forward to it!

HCIM2022 is co-funded by The Creative Europe Programme of the European Union

CliniClowns Creative Europe Fokker Terminal

22/04/2022

HCIM2022 were 3 great and wonderful days! We really connected worlds, connected people and changed spaces. We enjoyed it very much. This ‘Health Care Clown World Wide Song’ unites us all in our common goal. How beautiful! Keep up the good work and stay connected with each other.

HCIM is co-funded by The Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

Creative Europe
CliniClowns

07/04/2022

Only 2 weeks for HCIM! Preparations are in full swing. This is your final call to buy your ticket, so be quick while it is the last chance to do so. Get inspired by this compilation of a lot of our keynote speakers and panelists, who will bring you lots of knowledge and inspiration on humanizing healthcare. And look forward to enjoy meeting each other live again; healthcare professionals, fundraisers and healthcare clown organisations from all over the world, in beautiful The Hague! Let’s connect worlds, connect people and change spaces: https://bit.ly/35JHR5o

HCIM is accredited by the V&VN quality register and the Register of Healthcare Professionals for Dutch Professionals (15 points per day). And now also by NIP Child and youth psychologists and NVO Remedial educationalist-Generalist (14,5 points for 3 days, for in training 7 points for 3 days).

CliniClowns Creative Europe

05/04/2022

We have some good news! HCIM is now also accredited for child and adolescent psychologists (NIP) and remedial educationalists (NVO). If you participate 3 days, you will receive 14,5 points (for in training this is 7 points for 3 days). Buy your ticket now, while you still have the chance: https://bit.ly/3DFSGSL. Let’s connect worlds, connect people and change spaces!

CliniClowns Creative Europe

02/04/2022

Only 3 weeks for HCIM! Autism will be a one of the many healthcare topics we’ll explore. In the panelsession ‘Art and play in the world of autism’, experts will show how children with autism benefit of applied arts. So they feel connected in a special way, as this heartwarming video of Kyan beautifully demonstrates. He is 8 years old, autistic and has special needs. His mom Joyce shows Kyan’s meeting with healthcare clowns during his time in the hospital. She was very touched by this experience. Interested in learning more on autism or other topics? Then join us at the pannelsessions. If you didn’t yet, buy your ticket while you still have the chance and register right away! https://bit.ly/3LxuV1T

HCIM is accredited by the V&VN quality register and the Register of Healthcare Professionals for Dutch Professionals (15 accreditation points per day).



CliniClowns Creative Europe

24/03/2022

We are pleased that, thanks to further COVID-19 easing in The Netherlands from March 23rd, HCIM will take place! Only 4 weeks till we’ll meet each other live again, from all over the world. Safety of all participants is important to us. Therefore, we are following the recommendations for COVID-19 that still apply in The Netherlands. On our website you will find information on how we ensure that HCIM takes place in a safe manner and on preparing your trip to The Netherlands: https://bit.ly/36ijAny. And if you didn’t yet, buy your ticket while you still have the chance!

HCIM is accredited by the V&VN quality register and the Register of Healthcare Professionals for Dutch Professionals (15 accreditation points per day).

Creative Europe CliniClowns