The 2026 ESC Guidelines for Heart Failure Have Not Been Released
Based on the available evidence, there are no 2026 ESC Guidelines for the management of heart failure. The most recent ESC heart failure guidelines were published in 2021 1, 2.
Timeline of Current Guidelines
The evidence clearly establishes:
- 2021: ESC published their heart failure guidelines 1
- 2022: AHA/ACC/HFSA published their heart failure guidelines 1
- 2024-2025: ESC released guidelines on other cardiovascular topics including chronic coronary syndromes (2024) 3, cardiovascular disease and pregnancy (2025) 4, and myocarditis/pericarditis (2025) 5
Why This Matters Clinically
The 2021 ESC guidelines remain the current European standard for heart failure management. However, significant new evidence has emerged since their publication that will likely inform future guideline updates 2:
- Non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists for HFmrEF and HFpEF
- Incretin-based therapies across the ejection fraction spectrum
- Rapid GDMT optimization strategies in acute heart failure
- New data on digitalis glycosides in HFrEF
Until updated ESC guidelines are officially released, clinicians should continue following the 2021 ESC heart failure guidelines while staying informed about emerging evidence that may influence practice patterns.
Common Pitfall
Do not assume guideline publication years based on article publication dates. A 2026 article discussing heart failure evidence 2 references the 2021 ESC guidelines as the current standard, confirming no 2026 guidelines exist.