Dear CHIP-CTO Operators and Enthusiasts,
The Danube river has long time been a barrier separating and protecting the Roman Empire from the “barbarians.” Fortunately, these times are gone, and in line with the European Union’s Danube Strategy the river has become not a symbol of division but one of connection. Today it carries not only goods and people but also ideas, experiences, and scientific collaboration. In this spirit, we see the Danube as a current that should unite us in knowledge transfer, experience sharing, and joint projects in the fields of CTO-PCI and CHIP.

After the successful kick-off meeting in May 2025, held in remarkable coincidence with the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss Sohn, the composer of the Blue Danube Waltz, we are delighted to invite you—reloaded and full of energy—to join us again for the second edition in 2026. Vienna will provide a fitting stage, a city where culture and science have always met, and where this year we also celebrate 140 years of Oskar Kokoschka (1886–1980), 160 years of Sigmund Freud (1856–1939), 185 years of Otto Wagner (1841–1918), 250 years of the Albertina art collection (founded 1776), 260 years of the Wiener Prater (1766), as well as the 270th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s birth in 1756. These commemorations remind us that innovation is inseparable from tradition, and that science, art, and culture have always advanced together in this city.

The scientific program for 2026 has been designed to exceed the richness of our opening meeting. Planned 10 live cases from Vienna and partner hospitals across the Danube region, complemented by contributions from international colleagues, will form the centerpiece of our exchange. Leading operators will present their expertise, and the discussions that follow will be as stimulating as the setting itself. And as in Vienna every important conversation is accompanied by coffee, we warmly invite you to continue your debates over a Melange, a Konsulkaffee, a Kosakenkaffee, or perhaps a Maria Theresia.
This year’s focus will address the most pressing challenges in CHIP and CTO:

• Challenges when using MCS
• Intensive Care aspects in CHIP
• Mastering the calcified enemy
• How to manage challenges in CTO-PCI (like uncrossable caps)
• Decision making in how to finish a CHIP/CTO procedure
• New aspects of the CTO toolbox with a glimpse into the future
• Wet model trainings and workshops offered by our industry partners will add a practical dimension, ensuring that innovation finds its way directly into clinical routine.

Thus, what was once a line of division is now a river of inspiration, and we warmly look forward to welcoming you to Vienna on April 23–24, 2026, for the Danube CHIP & CTO Meeting, where science, culture, and collegiality will flow together as seamlessly as the Danube itself.

With kind regards,
The Board of Directors