Key Insights From the International ICU Diary Conference 2025

We report on the 2025 International ICU Diary Conference that provided a comprehensive update on current knowledge, innovations and global practices related to ICU diaries. Held in a 6-week online format, the event featured 23 speakers and was attended by mean 69.7 (SD 20.5) participants per session. Topics included development of ICU diaries, use in special settings, digital diaries, survivors' and families' experiences, Post-Intensive-Care Syndrome and follow-up and implementation projects. Highlights were innovative solutions for digital diaries and the report of persons with lived and living experiences with diaries, changing the focus on humanising critical care. RELEVANCE FOR PRACTICE: ICU diaries support patient- and family-centred care and should be implemented more widely across healthcare systems. Their successful adoption requires contextual adaptation and policy support, with future development likely to be shaped by the increasing use of digital ICU diaries.