IANDS to host European-African near-death symposium Oct. 31

The International Association for Near-Death Studies will hold its second European/African symposium on near-death experiences on Oct. 31, 2026, via Zoom. The four-hour event will feature personal accounts from four people with near-death experiences and talks from two European researchers as interest in the topic grows globally.

Why it matters: - The symposium is aimed at a global audience interested in near-death experiences and related phenomena. - IANDS says the event is meant to inform and inspire attendees while expanding access to research and firsthand accounts. - The program adds a Europe- and Africa-focused forum to a field that already draws large attendance at IANDS's annual conference.

What happened: - The International Association for Near-Death Studies will host its second European/African Symposium on Near-Death Experiences on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. - The event will take place via Zoom and run four hours. - The program starts at 14:00 Central European Time, or 9 a.m. EDT. - Four people with near-death experiences will share personal stories: Gina Lindroos of Sweden, Candice Purchase of South Africa, Lasse Gustavson of Sweden and Rainer Sturm of Germany. - Two European researchers will also present: Dr. Penny Sartori and Professor Patrizio Tressoldi.

The details: - Presentations will be delivered in English. - Conference times are 14:00-18:00 Brussels time, 13:00-17:00 London time, 3:00-7:00 p.m. in Johannesburg and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. EDT. - Dr. Penny Sartori, a nurse, researcher and author, will discuss hospital-based research into near-death experiences. - Patrizio Tressoldi, a senior researcher at the University of Padua in Italy, will explore scientific approaches to mapping the afterlife. - Ticket prices are $12 for IANDS Basic Members. - Members of local European NDE groups can pay $12 with a coupon code from their local IANDS organization. - Members of the South African NDE group can pay $6 with a coupon code from IANDS's South Africa organization. - Non-members can buy Early Bird tickets for $12 before Oct. 4 using code EUROSYM26EARLY. - Non-members pay $24 on Oct. 4 or later. - Tickets are available through the event registration page.

Between the lines: - Bob Coppes, IANDS vice president, said research indicates global interest in near-death experiences is growing. - Coppes organized the symposium with Dani Foffa of Italy, Cliff Green of Sweden and Harold Harbers of the Netherlands. - IANDS is a Durham, North Carolina-based educational nonprofit and a 501(c)(3) organization. - IANDS says its mission is to provide high-quality information on near-death-experience topics and to promote multidisciplinary exploration of those experiences and their implications. - The organization says it is the only membership group of its kind with local groups around the world. - IANDS also hosts an annual conference attended by nearly 1,000 people.

What's next: - Registration remains open ahead of the Oct. 31 symposium. - Organizers are positioning the event as part of a broader push to serve international interest in near-death experience research and testimony. - IANDS will continue its annual conference schedule alongside the new regional symposium format.