Healthy Lungs for Life public event: Barcelona 2026

The Healthy Lungs for Life campaign is run by the European Lung Foundation (ELF) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS). The campaign is aimed at everyone, whether you have a lung condition or not. It focuses on key themes that help raise awareness of how we can keep our lungs healthy and reduce the impact of lung disease worldwide.

On 6 September 2026, Healthy Lungs for Life will hold a free public event in Barcelona as part of the ERS International Congress 2026. The event is open to everyone who would like to learn more about lung health, take practical steps to protect their lungs and understand why healthy lungs are important throughout life.

Visitors will have the opportunity to:

• Receive a free lung function test
• Learn more about air pollution, smoking and lung health
• Speak with healthcare professionals and lung health experts
• Access educational resources and practical advice
• Discover simple actions that can help keep lungs healthy

The event will offer a variety of activities that are both informative and engaging for people of all ages.

What is a lung function test (spirometry)?

At the event, visitors can take a free lung function test, known as spirometry.

Spirometry is a simple breathing test that measures how well your lungs are working. During the test, you will be asked to take a deep breath and blow out as hard and as fast as you can into a device called a spirometer.
The test measures how much air you can breathe out and how quickly you can empty your lungs. It is quick, painless and usually takes less than 10 minutes.

Spirometry can help identify possible breathing problems and is often used to help diagnose and monitor conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While the test does not provide a diagnosis on its own, it can indicate whether further medical assessment may be helpful.

Take the Active Option at the ERS Congress 2026

9 September 2026 – Montjuïc, Barcelona
Join us for a 5 km run or 2.5 km walk in support of lung health and physical activity.

Healthy Lungs for Life for schools: Barcelona 2026

Working with local schools and partners to help young people learn about lung health, clean air and healthy lifestyles.