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See you in Ljubljana!
European
Society
for
the
Study
of
Tourette
Syndrome
E
u
r
o
p
e
a
n
E
v
e
r
y
o
n
e
is invited!
Society
for
the
Study
of
Tourette
Syndrome
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
Any questions?
Getting ready...
I am landing in Ljubljana (LJU) 🛬How do I reach the Grand Hotel Union Eurostars (conference venue)?
Ljubljana's Jože Pučnik Airport is located approximately 26 kilometres north of the city centre, so getting in is straightforward. You have several options:
1. By shuttle bus (Nomago)
Nomago operates a regular shuttle service between the airport and the city centre every day. It drops you off at the main bus station, from where the hotel is a short taxi or bus ride away. Check current schedules and book at nomago.si.
2. By shared or private transfer (GoOpti)
GoOpti offers door-to-door transfers between the airport and your accommodation; choose between a shared ride (grouped with other passengers for a lower fare) or a private transfer. Either way, book in advance online; for shared rides, the more flexibility you offer on timing, the better the fare.
3. By taxi
A direct taxi from the airport stands costs approximately €25–€35, payable by credit card or cash. The hotel is right in the heart of the city, so the ride takes around 20–30 minutes depending on traffic. This is the most convenient option if you are arriving with heavy luggage or late at night.
4. By city bus (Line 28)
Bus Line 28 runs every 30 to 60 minutes from the airport to the city bus station. A single ticket costs €3.30 Monday through Friday and €1.30 on weekends and public holidays. You can purchase your ticket from the driver in cash, or online via the AP Ljubljana website. The bus station at the airport is between car parks P1 and PH; head straight after exiting Arrivals. Journey time to the city centre is approximately 50 minutes. From the central bus station, the Grand Hotel Union Eurostars is a short walk or one bus stop away.
What about urban transport; ticket options & fares? 🎫
Go Urbana Card!
Those wishing to use Ljubljana city buses should purchase the Urbana public transport card. The card costs €2.00 and can be loaded with up to €50.00 of credit. It is available at LPP ticket offices, tourist information centres, newspaper kiosks, and post offices, and can be topped up at Urbanomat vending machines across the city, which accept both cash and card.
A single bus fare with the Urbana card is €1.30, valid for 90 minutes from validation, including unlimited transfers within that window.
Visitors who purchase their Urbana card at a Tourist Information Centre and keep the receipt can return it when they leave and claim a €2.00 refund.
You can also download the Urbana app (iOS / Android) and pay digitally without a physical card.
Spending a few extra days? Go Ljubljana Card!
If you plan to stay a few extra days and do some sightseeing, the Ljubljana Card (24/48/72h) includes unlimited bus rides and free or discounted entry to a number of attractions — available at the Tourist Information Centre and online via visitljubljana.com.
Info on taxis and mobility service apps 🚕
Regular metered taxis are available at the airport and throughout the city. Local companies include Metro Taxi, Laguna Taxi, and Taxi Rondo.
Uber launched officially in Slovenia in May 2025 and is now available in the wider Ljubljana area. All drivers are licensed taxi operators, and fares are determined by the official Ljubljana tariff structure, paid through the app.
Bolt is also available in Ljubljana and may offer competitive fares; worth having both apps installed.
Packing...
Do I need a travel adaptor? 🔌
Slovenia uses power plug types C and F (the standard two-pin European sockets), with a supply voltage of 230V and a frequency of 50Hz. If you are travelling from the United States or Canada, you will need a travel adaptor. Most modern laptops and phone chargers are dual-voltage (check for "100–240V" on the label), but hair dryers and similar appliances may not be.
United States use electrical outlets of types A & B.
I am attending the social event-dinner at the rooftop restaurant of the InterContinental hotel; is there a dress code? 👗
This is a wonderful opportunity to get together and enjoy 360° views of this wonderful capital and the Alps; we are just happy to see you!
DO bring your dance shoes!
Are we going for a morning run this year? 🏃 Shall I pack my running shoes?
Morning run tradition continues and gifts & rewards 🎁 are on the menu!
Thursday 18 June, 7AM, destination Park Tivoli, exact route here; scan the designated QR code on the programme you will receive upon your arrival.
Weather & participation permitting, we shall repeat the run on Friday 19 June, direction riverside, along the Ljubljanica!
More info by our Chief Track & Field Officer: Nanette Mol Debes.
Weather & participation permitting, we shall repeat the run on Friday 19 June, direction riverside, along the Ljubljanica!
More info by our Chief Track & Field Officer: Nanette Mol Debes.
Do bring sunscreen and sunglasses 🕶️. June days are long and bright, and the UV index in Ljubljana in mid-summer can be higher than you might expect for Central Europe.
You mentioned a custom map-guide featuring the hosts' personal picks??
Restaurants for proper sit-down meals, quick bites between sessions, characterful cafés for that mid-morning espresso, and the sights worth carving out time for; from Plečnik landmarks to the Castle and beyond. Skip the tourist traps and experience Ljubljana's finest, ESSTS-style:
Click ↓ to open the map legend
Where can I find the programme of the conference?
The detailed programme of the conference (including original abstracts, poster rounds and oral presentations in order of appearance) can be found inside the book of abstracts that will be distributed to all registered attendees when collecting their badge.
You may also find it here.
You may also find it here.
Where can I view the ePosters?
We have encouraged all authors, –whether participating with posters or oral presentations–, to submit a digital version of their work. You may find the ePosters of all those who submitted one, here.
How can I vote for the Best Poster and Best Oral presentation?
Visit the "Best of" page for details, or scan the QR code on your badge.
The voting platforms will become available immediately after the completion of the respective –poster/oral presentation– last rounds.
The winners will be announced during the closing ceremony, on Friday 19 June at 4.45PM.
The voting platforms will become available immediately after the completion of the respective –poster/oral presentation– last rounds.
The winners will be announced during the closing ceremony, on Friday 19 June at 4.45PM.
Can I vote at the ESSTS Board elections?
All ESSTS members in good standing are entitled to vote. Voting will take place online during the General Assembly on Thursday 18 June; members will receive their unique voting link by email in real time. The platform will remain open for 24 hours to allow those not attending in person to cast their vote as well. Results will be announced during the closing ceremony on 19 June and online announcements will follow.
All those who become members of the Society during an election year acquire voting rights. If you wish to vote, you may renew your 2026 membership until 13:30 on Thursday 18 June.
Four candidates are standing for election across the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer positions for the 2026–2029 term.
In alphabetical order:
Elia Abi-Jaoude (Canada), Laavanya Damodaran (UK), Osman Malik (UK), and Natalia Szejko (Poland).
View the announcement, detailed candidate statements and CVs, including voting rules and procedures.
In alphabetical order:
Elia Abi-Jaoude (Canada), Laavanya Damodaran (UK), Osman Malik (UK), and Natalia Szejko (Poland).
View the announcement, detailed candidate statements and CVs, including voting rules and procedures.
How can I reach the social event dinner venue from the Grand Hotel Union Eurostars?
The social event dinner takes place at B-Restaurant, on the 20th floor of the InterContinental Ljubljana, with 360° views of the city and the Alps to set the scene for the evening. 🌆
The good news: the two hotels are both on Slovenska cesta, Ljubljana's main central boulevard, making this one of the easier social event commutes in the last years. It's approximately a 10-12 minute walk along a single, well-lit street. View the route here.
How can I attend the "Master Plečnik's Ljubljana and the Old Town" guided tour?
Continuing our recent museum & cultural tradition reserved for social-event attendees, this year's gift is a guided walking tour of Ljubljana through the lens of Jože Plečnik, the visionary architect whose Triple Bridge, central market, embankments and National Library shaped the modern face of the city, followed by a stroll through the Old Town.
The tour begins right outside the Grand Hotel Union Eurostars, on the pedestrian street, at approximately 18:20 on Thursday 18 June; just step out of the venue after the last session of the day.
The tour begins right outside the Grand Hotel Union Eurostars, on the pedestrian street, at approximately 18:20 on Thursday 18 June; just step out of the venue after the last session of the day.
Farewell Ljubljana...
How can I receive a certificate of attendance/CME credits (for medical professionals)?
Just say the word! Fill out the form below.
Kindly note: Only medical professionals are eligible for CME credits.
Will there be any recordings of the sessions available on the website?
Yes! Once these select recordings have been edited for clarity, and any possibly sensitive/confidential parts have been removed, we will make them available online in a protected area, accessible by in-person attendees and active members for a period of 8 weeks.
I truly enjoyed the conference! How can I become a member/renew my membership?
This is such an important, vital matter to the Society!
Theatrics aside, we have been running on an empty tank since our last physical meeting in Hannover in 2019. Commitment and time dedicated (a very great deal of it!) have been the fuel that allowed for this conference to take place despite the seriously tight mathematics.
Becoming a member echoes both moral encouragement and recognition, as well as meaningful, concrete support to keep the endeavour alive so that we can meet again next year!
View membership page here.
Theatrics aside, we have been running on an empty tank since our last physical meeting in Hannover in 2019. Commitment and time dedicated (a very great deal of it!) have been the fuel that allowed for this conference to take place despite the seriously tight mathematics.
Becoming a member echoes both moral encouragement and recognition, as well as meaningful, concrete support to keep the endeavour alive so that we can meet again next year!
View membership page here.
I would love to get more actively involved in ESSTS' activities; whom should I contact?
Let's talk!
Send us a message at ideas@essts.org, or feel free to contact directly any of our board members.
Send us a message at ideas@essts.org, or feel free to contact directly any of our board members.
Speak their language (a little goes a long way)
Do
Do learn a word or two. Slovenians are genuinely delighted when visitors make the effort. "Hvala" (HVAH-lah) means "thank you", and "Prosim" (PRO-seem) covers both "please" and "you're welcome". Most people in Ljubljana speak excellent English, and many speak German or other European languages too.
Do
Do expect warmth and directness in equal measure. Slovenians tend to be reserved at first but hospitable once acquainted — much like the country itself, which rewards those who look a little closer.
The old town is made for walking
Do
Do wear comfortable shoes. Ljubljana's car-free centre is compact and beautiful, with the Ljubljanica river running through it and the castle watching from above. Most of the city's best coffee, food, and architecture is within easy walking distance of the hotel.
Don't
Don't be alarmed by the occasional e-bike or delivery vehicle threading through a pedestrian zone; keep an eye out and enjoy the rest.
Pick your restaurant wisely
Do
Do venture a few streets away from the most obvious tourist spots. Ljubljana has an excellent and quietly confident food scene; market-fresh produce, Central European classics, and some genuinely creative contemporary cooking. The Central Market along the river is a good place to start.
Don't
Don't underestimate how walkable everything is. The hotel is two minutes from Prešeren Square, five minutes from the castle funicular, and a leisurely stroll from the Triple Bridge and the Central Market. You may find you barely need transport at all.
A note on the sun
Do
Do bring sunscreen and sunglasses. June days are long and bright, and the UV index in Ljubljana in mid-summer can be higher than you might expect for Central Europe.
Conference programme
In-person format: PDF conference programme
independent event option
Workshops: Behavioural therapy for tic disorders
(Running parallel to ENIGMA-TS, TTAG AM & PM sessions
09:00-12:00
Workshop in English for participants with basic training
"Basic principles and behavioural techniques for treating tic disorders"
View programme
09:00 The cornerstone of treatment: diagnostics, assessment and psychoeducation
09:25 Habit reversal training (HRT)
10:15 Break ☕
10:30 Exposure and response prevention (ERP)
11:15 Function-based interventions
11:45 Questions and closing - challenges in real life
14:00-15:00
Workshop in English for advanced participants:
"OCD and tic-related OCD"
View programme
14:00 Quiz
14:10 Introduction, background & assessment of tics, OCD and tic-related OCD
14:30 Treatment overview including sequencing of treatment
14:55 Systemic approach (school, work)
15:10 Neurobiology & update on medication
15:25 Break ☕
15:45 Case discussions in smaller groups
09:30-10:30
ENIGMA-TS
"Unravelling brain development and genetic background in Tourette Syndrome"
20' talk followed by 40' discussion/ENIGMA-TS working group meeting
Speaker:
Moderated by:
Patient associations and advocacy groups
(Running parallel to BT workshops)
Annual meeting of Tics and Tourette Across the Globe (TTAG)
AM Session: 11:00-13:00
PM Session: 14:00-17:00
independent event option
13:00-14:00
Light lunch break
18:00-19:00 (onwards!)
Opening ceremony
Speaker:
I. Keynote "Tourette Disorder: Tears, Fears and Years"
The role and impact of anxiety and depression in TS, with recent data on suicidality.
Lecture (45') followed by discussion (15')
Moderated by:
II. Professor Mary Robertson Award; winner & oral presentation
Moderated by: Natalia Szejko
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. Focus on clinical aspects
Speaker:
Osman Malik
10.15-10:30
Q&A-discussion
Moderated by:
Nanette Mol Dbes
10:30-11:00
Coffee break
12:30-13:30
Lunch break
13:30-14:15
General Assembly
Board elections | 2026-2029 term
(eVoting available for members not attending in person)
15:00-15:30
Coffee break
15:30-16:15
Complementary medicine in tic disorders: a scoping review
Speaker:
Moderated by:
Nanette Mol Dbes
16:15-16:45
Pharmacotherapy for tics: past & future
Speaker:
Kirsten Müller-Vahl
Moderated by:
Nanette Mol Dbes
From 19:30
optional event
Social event-dinner TBA
Venue: B-Restaurant 20th floor InterContinental Hotel
💡 As this is an optional event, you can get your tickets at any time, even after you have registered for the conference. The social event is open to non-conference attendees as well.
⚠️ Kindly note that we shall not be able to accommodate last-minute dinner registrations; if you wish to attend our social event, thank you for registering by Sunday, 7 June, at the latest.
09:00-10:45
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:
Kirsten Müller-Vahl
10:45-11:15
Coffee break
12:30-13:30
Lunch break
13:30-14:30
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: Tammy Hedderly
15:15-15:45
Coffee break
16:45-17:15
Closing ceremony
Best poster & best oral presentation awards
New ESSTS Board announcement
ESSTS Conference 2027 announcement
Please note: Ljubljana 2026 will be an in-person-only conference. The TTAG Meeting remains hybrid.
Wed, 17 June
AM Session: 11:00-13:00
PM Session: 14:00-17:00
independent event option
Patient associations and advocacy groups
Annual meeting of Tics and Tourette Across the Globe (TTAG)
Programme, abstract submissions, registration options:
registration page
Udeležence iz Slovenije prosimo, da se obrnejo na uros@essts.org (ref: early bird)
Conference format update: Ljubljana 2026 in-person only
20 May 26
Please note: Ljubljana 2026 will be an in-person-only conference.
The hybrid format has been discontinued due to minimal virtual participation.
Select sessions will be recorded and made available online to members and attendees approximately 2 weeks post-conference.
The hybrid format has been discontinued due to minimal virtual participation.
Select sessions will be recorded and made available online to members and attendees approximately 2 weeks post-conference.
NEWS
As we pick-up the pace and go through re-structuring phases, our motivation and commitment to delivering essential content will only flourish.
It is what makes us tick after all. 😉
It's a wrap!
THANK YOU to everyone who joined us in Athens, what a fantastic conference! 🙏
Welcome aboard new colleagues and friends, you are now a part of a growing family. 💙
Venue: Eugenides Foundation.
Read more
