UIAA - International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation

03/11/2026

Thank you to the Nepal Mountaineering Association for hosting the 2026 UIAA General Assembly in Kathmandu.

Delegates from 45 countries met in Nepal, where the NMA hosted the General Assembly for the third time, after 1982 and 2011. We appreciate its support for international cooperation in the climbing and mountaineering community. Thank you also to our partners Altezza Travel, Black Yak, Fixe, Kailas, Namah Ropes and the Petzl Foundation.

Give Back to Climbing started at the General Assembly. The UIAA Mountain Protection Commission and Climate Change Taskforce invited delegates to donate to a locally rooted project instead of paying an airline to offset their flight CO2.

After the recent floods in Nepal, all donations go to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Through the Nepal Red Cross Society, it provides shelter, health care, clean water and sanitation.

Now we invite the whole climbing and mountaineering community to get involved.

👉 Donate here: https://www.theuiaa.org/donate/



Altezza Travel BlackYak - Made for Missions Fixe Kailasglobal Namah Ropes Petzl

03/11/2026

02/11/2026

2026 UIAA GENERAL ASSEMBLY 🏔️
Kathmandu, Nepal | 31 October

The UIAA General Assembly has wrapped up in Kathmandu, hosted by the Nepal Mountaineering Association Nepal Mountaineering Association.

95 delegates from 45 countries came together to review the UIAA’s work, set future priorities and make decisions shaping the federation’s direction.

This was the third time the NMA has hosted the GA, after 2011 and 1982, the year the landmark Kathmandu Declaration was published.

Among the guests were four UIAA Honorary Members: Jordi Pons Sanjines, Frits Vrijlandt, Ang Tshering Sherpa and Injeong Lee.

Swipe for the key decisions ➡️
Full review on our website. Link in bio 🔗

The General Assembly reviewed the President’s Report and the UIAA Annual Report, looking back on the federation’s work and achievements in 2025.

▪️ Read UIAA President Peter Muir’s full message: theuiaa.org/presidents-report-for-ga-2026

▪️ Read the Annual Report: theuiaa.org/publications/annual-reports

🎥 A message from Fur Gelje Sherpa, President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, host of the 2026 UIAA General Assembly 🇳🇵

➡️

UIAA MOUNTAIN SAFETY SYMPOSIUM ⛑️

Ahead of the GA, the third UIAA Mountain Safety Symposium was hosted in the Nepali capital.

The programme, which focused on youth development, followed a similar format to past symposiums in Argentina and Kosovo.

▪️ Presentations examined the prevention and treatment of altitude-related illnesses and other medical emergencies.

▪️ Practical workshops covered emergency field care, technical rope skills, equipment maintenance and improvised rescue techniques in steep and glacial terrain.

▪️ Discussions explored opportunities for young Himalayan mountaineers while presentations from local rescue teams examined the current challenges facing the region.

Other key elements of the programme included:

▪️ The third Climate Change Summit
▪️ Outreach activities of the UIAA Mountain Protection Community
▪️ Meetings of the Management Board and UIAA Commissions

WORLD ICE CLIMBING STRATEGY WORKSHOP 🧊⛏️

The General Assembly also provided an opportunity for member federations to discuss the future of competition ice climbing through a dedicated World Ice

01/11/2026

Group photo UIAA General Assembly 2026

Nepal Mountaineering Association

📷: Mr. ABI

31/10/2026

Review of key decisions from UIAA General Assembly 2026, hosted by the Nepal Mountaineering Association in Kathmandu.

Full photo gallery and reviews of all events available in due course.

https://www.theuiaa.org/review-2026-uiaa-general-assembly/

Photos: Mr. ABI & Peter Bourne

30/10/2026

“We like to talk about the hard stuff we’ve just done.” 🎙️

Matt Samet on what the American Climbing Journal from is for: a place for climbers to tell their stories in a “deeper, more meaningful, journalistic way”.

“Back in the day, we did it at the campfire and then we did it in the mags and then we did it on Instagram and now… with the ACJ, sort of like bringing back somewhat of an old school place that’s a home for longer storytelling about the hardest ascents on rock.”

Hear the full conversation in Mountain Voices episode 18.
www.theuiaa.org/mountainvoices
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The American Alpine Club

29/10/2026

A fantastic UIAA Mountain Safety Symposium was held in the Kathmandu region on 27-28 October.

Thank you to all partners, speakers, organizers and participants.

Full report to follow

📷: Abiral Mudhari

Nepal Mountaineering Association
KAILAS Global

26/10/2026

🏆 The 2025-26 UIAA Mountain Protection Award winners have officially collected their awards.

On 23 October 2026, both projects were recognised as part of the King Albert I Memorial Foundation’s Mountain Award ceremony at the ALPS Swiss Alpine Museum in Bern.

Winner: Flagship Shelters for the Environment / Mountain Huts as Lighthouses for the Environment (France), run by FFCAM. The project turns mountain huts into places to learn about water, energy, waste, climate change and responsible mountain behaviour.

Best new initiative: Walking The Tra Tra (South Africa), endorsed by the Mountain Club of South Africa. Rooted in the Cederberg mountains, it brings together mountain sport, environmental care and local culture, working directly with residents, local youth and landowners.

Congratulations to both teams!

Read more: theuiaa.org/uiaa-mountain-protection-award-winners-recognised-at-prestigious-ceremony

📸 Olivier Rüegsegger

23/10/2026

📰 UIAA Monthly Newsletter: October 2026

🔗 Find the full newsletter and article links in our bio

Three significant UIAA events take place over the next week:

🏆 This evening, the 2025-2026 Mountain Protection Award Ceremony will be held as part of the prestigious annual King Albert I Memorial Foundation Mountain Awards.

🏔️ On Tuesday 27 October, in Nepal, the two-day UIAA Mountain Sports Symposium commences.

🇳🇵 Following a few days of preparatory meetings, the 2026 UIAA General Assembly will be staged in Kathmandu from 30-31 October, hosted by the Nepal Mountaineering Association.

Ahead of the GA, and as detailed in this newsletter, the UIAA has delivered a number of major projects:

🩺 The UIAA Medical Commission is proud to publish its Health Advice FAQs for Older Mountaineers (65+).

🧗 The UIAA Safety Commission has delivered its initial report following an inspection conducted in Kalymnos, Greece in May.

🌍 The UIAA Mountaineering Commission will launch its new global access catalogue at the GA.

👉 For further information on the GA, including the final programme and agenda, please visit the dedicated website page (link in bio).

📩 For logistical questions, please contact the UIAA Office: [email protected]



Tangible momentum, excelling in safety initiatives, communicating more effectively.

UIAA President Peter Muir’s report for the 2026 UIAA General Assembly to be held in Kathmandu, Nepal from 30-31 October.

🔗 Find the full newsletter and article links in our bio

UIAA Safety Commission releases initial findings from Kalymnos inspection conducted in May 2026.

The report covers understanding the cause, testing process, current findings, next steps and work in progress as well as advice for climbers.

🔗 Find the full newsletter and article links in our bio

To complement existing medical advice available on the UIAA website, the UIAA Medical Commission has recently published a comprehensive health advice site specifically for older hikers, climbers and mountaineers (65+). The advice is presented in an FAQ format and addresses three general questions related to travel, strength and exercise before a d

23/10/2026

🏔️ UIAA publishes health advice for older mountaineers (65+)

To complement existing medical advice available on the International Climbing & Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) website, the UIAA Medical Commission has recently published a comprehensive health advice site specifically for older hikers, climbers and mountaineers (65+).

📋 The advice is presented in an FAQ format and addresses three general questions related to travel, strength and exercise, before a deep dive into four categories:

🦴 Bones & joints – back surgery, joint replacement, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis
❤️ Heart & lungs – blood pressure, COPD, heart attack
🧠 Mind & movement – anxiety, dementia, gait changes
⛰️ Other – big adventures & high altitude, cancer, Type 2 diabetes, urinary issues

🩺 The advice is the result of a rigorous and collaborative process involving a wide range of experts from the UIAA Medical Commission. This is the second such FAQ website, following the advice prepared for women at altitude in 2024. Advice specific to taking children to altitude is in 2027.

💬 As Dr Urs Hefti, UIAA MedCom President, orthopaedic surgeon and leader of a sports medicine clinic in Switzerland, explains in a dedicated message:

“I want to urge you: do not wait until you notice your strength declining to start training your muscles. Start training now. Too many older people come to my clinic after falls or injuries that might have been less serious, or perhaps avoided, if they had maintained better strength, fitness and muscle.

Strong muscles help you remain independent. They support your posture and joints, help you climb and tackle uneven ground, improve balance and reduce the risk and consequences of falls. They also help you recover from illness, surgery and periods of inactivity. If you want to keep walking, scrambling or climbing in the mountains, strength is not an optional extra.

Muscles are not just a motor for movement but help us to remain healthy in numerous ways: actively regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism, supporting immune function and hormonal balance, even helping to regulate inflammation.”

👉 The Health Advice FAQSs for Older Mountaineers (65+), and Dr Hefti's full message, can be viewed here:
🔗 www.theuiaa.org/high-altitude-medicine-faqs/older-mountaineers-faqs/

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UIMLA - Union of International Mountain Leader Associations
International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations UIAGM IVBV
The American Alpine Club
CAI - Club Alpino Italiano
BMC
Koninklijke Nederlandse Klim- en Bergsport Vereniging NKBV
The Alpine Club
Mountaineering Ireland
The Alpine Club of Canada
Schweizer Alpen-Club SAC