The annual OARSI Congress is a global forum for those involved in OA research and treatment from academia and industry; including basic scientists, clinical investigators, radiologists, rheumatologists, orthopedic surgeons, physicians in physical medicine and rehabilitation, allied health professionals and policy makers. In keeping with the multidisciplinary international membership of OARSI, this meeting will feature a worldwide selection of expert speakers. Highlights this year include plenary sessions in ‘Hand OA’, ‘Retinoic acid in OA’, ‘Improving outcomes in OA studies’, ‘Designer scaffolds for cartilage repair’ and our annual debate; ‘Is exercise good or bad for OA joints?!’. We have no fewer than 3 pre-meetings; the ‘OARSI workshop in OA pain’ that will feature speakers from industry and academia, ‘Reducing the burden of OA through prevention’ run by the Alberta OA team in collaboration with two UK OA Centres, and the ‘Young Investigators’ session’. The meeting will also be preceded by an ‘OARSI Clinical Trials Course (on Wednesday, April 26th) following the highly successful lunchtime session that was held at the OARSI 2016 meeting.