Exercise and Childhood Cancer: From Science to Life "The 3rd Pediatric Exercise Oncology Congress Meets FORTEe"

On behalf of the organizing committee, we are pleased to present the abstracts from the 2026 conference, "PEOC meets FORTEe". The Third Pediatric Exercise Oncology Congress, this year meeting in person with the EU Study FORTEe (Get Strong to Fight Childhood Cancer: An Exercise Intervention for Children and Adolescents Undergoing Anti-Cancer Treatment), brought together scientists, clinicians, exercise professionals, physiotherapists, patients, families, community partners, and advocates from across the globe. Over two intensive days, 142 participants from 24 countries, guided by seven invited speakers, engaged in rigorous, wide-ranging, and interdisciplinary exchange that our field needs for sustaining growth and addressing key issues. The conference was held in Mainz, Germany, on 16-17 April 2026 and explored the growing field of evidence examining the impacts of exercise on basic biological mechanisms through to patient perspectives on quality of life. There was also a clear focus on knowledge translation, moving evidence to inform clinical integration of exercise to support beneficial outcomes across treatment trajectories. We would like to thank all of the researchers and presenters for their work and for contributing to the positive impact on patients and families who journey through a childhood or adolescent cancer diagnosis. The Congress Presidents and Scientific Committee Lead of the Third Pediatric Exercise Oncology Congress meets with FORTEe 2026. Scientific Committee co-leads included Miriam Götte, Nicole Culos-Reed, and Marie Neu. Scientific Committee members included Alejandro Lucía, Amanda Wurz, Carolina Chamorro Viña, Corina Rueegg, Elias Dreis-Mickenbecker, Emma Verwaaijen, Helen Griffith, Joachim Wiskemann, Jörg Faber, Maria Olsson, Maxime Caru, Nivedita S. Prabhu, Sara Grimshaw, and Vesile Yıldız Kabak. Congress organization was through the University Medical Center Mainz.