Editorial

Welcome to this first issue of 2026. This year marks 40 years since the Ottawa Charter (WHO, 1986) was launched at the first International Conference on Health Promotion in Ottawa, Canada, on 21 November 1986, arguing for coordinated action across sectors and not simply in healthcare settings, to improve health equity and to achieve Health for All by 2000 and beyond – shifting the emphasis from treating illness to promoting wellbeing. Where are we now? Approaching this anniversary provides an important juncture to critically reflect on the legacy of the Charter and its principles – building healthy public policy, creating supportive environments and strengthening community action – and the continuing relevance of the Charter today. With widening health inequalities, demographic changes and contemporary global crises, along with challenges of AI and digital health literacy, arguably position the Charters vision and principles remaining as, or even more, relevant in the promotion of health and wellbeing.

As health promoters, is this a timely opportunity to ask ourselves how can the Ottawa Charter better address deep-seated inequities of ill health and chronic diseases, especially those concerning vulnerable populations; how do we incorporate AI and digital approaches into existing and traditional health promotion frameworks and navigate contemporary social, ecological and digital determinants of health? Over the course of this year, academics and practitioners will no doubt be prompted by the Charters anniversary to debate these pertinent issues and celebrate its relevance – do consider the International Journal of Health Promotion and Education for your research in this area. In addition to the continued publication of high-quality peer reviewed research papers, this volume will include a commentary series that debates health promotion teaching of salutogenesis by a global collaboration of key experts in the field. Alongside this exciting addition, there is a continued focus on invited editorials that highlight contemporary health promotion and education challenges with responsive innovative research methodologies.