We welcome you to Rotterdam, a city renowned for its bold architecture, vibrant culture, and remarkable spirit of reinvention. As Europe’s largest port and one of the Netherlands’ most dynamic urban centers, the city blends maritime heritage with cutting‑edge design. Rotterdam embodies connection, resilience, and forward‑looking creativity, making it the perfect host for the 19th ICRS World Congress – Cartilage Forward: Technology, Precision, Performance.

Rotterdam’s iconic bridges reflect the collaborative spirit we foster throughout this meeting. Our Congress is designed to promote meaningful cross-disciplinary exchange, bringing together clinicians, researchers, and other stakeholders to share novel and exciting insights into the treatment of cartilage disorders and evolving joint preservation strategies. The 19th ICRS World Congress will also empower younger participants to engage with seasoned experts from around the world, facilitating the rise of the next generation of global cartilage researchers and clinicians. Importantly, in the spirit of our theme, we come together not only to share knowledge, but to play as a team, shaping and refining the evolving playbook of joint preservation.

We are confident that the 19th ICRS World Congress will offer excellent opportunities to meet old and new friends, and will stimulate future collaborations among cartilage researchers, clinical scientists, and practitioners. As Rotterdammers say: “Actions, not words!”. So join us in Rotterdam on May 1–3, 2027, build our playbook of joint preservation, and contribute to the forward movement of our incredible field.

Gerjo van Osch PhD & Seth Sherman MD, Scientific Program Co-Chairs