MIR 2026: What is the new generation of doctors looking for?

At CMC, we always keep a close eye on the MIR residency selection process.

We know the hard work behind every exam and the sacrifices candidates make, spending months away from their families and friends to prepare for one of the most demanding exams of their careers.

However, although the choice of specialty is usually the biggest headline, this year we’d like to look a little deeper. 
What do these results tell us about the next generation of doctors?
Is medical vocation changing?

We believe that this year’s most popular specialties reveal a reality that deserves closer attention.

So let’s take a look. 

Overall, the MIR 2026 results have once again confirmed trends that had already been emerging.

-Dermatology was once again the most sought-after specialty, with all available positions filled on the very first day. Its popularity comes from an attractive combination of clinical practice, excellent working conditions (with few or no on-call duties), and minor surgical procedures, offering an excellent work-life balance.

-Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery closely followed the same path, also filling all of its positions on the first day. Like Dermatology, it offers strong career prospects in both the public and private sectors, making it one of the most competitive specialties.

Some things never change. Cardiology continues to be one of the favourite specialties among the highest-ranked candidates.

It has always stood out for its complexity, its technological component and the opportunity to develop highly specialised skills in areas such as interventional cardiology and advanced imaging, while maintaining enormous clinical relevance. Residents appreciate the direct impact they can have on patient survival, as well as the balance between medical and interventional practice.

Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology also remained among the top choices, with several of the first ten candidates selecting one of these specialties. Pediatrics and Psychiatry also secured places within the top ten.

Another encouraging result was Ophthalmology, which experienced a remarkable rise, with a large number of positions filled within just two days.

While surpassing Dermatology or Plastic Surgery may seem almost impossible, these specialties continue to demonstrate their strength and remain consistently attractive to future residents.

This year also brought one of the biggest changes to the MIR programme: the introduction of Emergency Medicine as a new specialty.

Although only 82 residency positions were available, the results did not fully match the expectations raised by previous surveys. All positions were eventually filled on the thirteenth day, later than many emergency physicians had anticipated.

However, this should not be interpreted as a lack of interest.

Starting a brand-new specialty naturally creates uncertainty. Future residents have no previous generations to look up to and little information about how training will evolve, what on-call duties will look like or how the specialty will integrate with other medical disciplines.

Another factor may be the limited presence of Emergency Medicine professors at medical schools. Many students are still unfamiliar with the specialty and the broad range of responsibilities emergency physicians undertake.

Several structural challenges will probably improve over the coming years, including workload, on-call duties and emotional exhaustion—factors that once again highlight the importance of achieving a healthier work-life balance.

Unfortunately, not every specialty attracts the same level of interest.

Some continue to struggle to fill their residency positions, despite playing an essential role within the healthcare system.

Family and Community Medicine once again became the last specialty to fill all of its positions, despite offering the largest number of residency places.

Other laboratory-based specialties or those with less direct patient contact, such as Preventive Medicine and Public Health, even required an extraordinary allocation process to reduce the number of unfilled positions.

In one of our recent LinkedIn posts, we discussed how the heavy administrative workload and organisational challenges may reduce the appeal of some of these specialties.

Nevertheless, their contribution to healthcare is invaluable. Primary care, prevention and public health require a broad multidisciplinary vision that is fundamental to the sustainability of any healthcare system.

This year’s MIR results reveal a reality that becomes clearer every year. Future residents are increasingly looking for a balance between their professional and personal lives. They value quality of life, job stability, research opportunities, the possibility of working in the private sector and access to cutting-edge technology.

These preferences tell us a great deal about how medicine is evolving in our country. The priorities of the next generation of doctors are changing, and that is something we can no longer ignore.

So the question is:

Are they asking for too much?

Before answering, think about everything it takes to become a medical specialist.
Six years of medical school, the MIR examination and another four or five years of residency training. We’re taliking about -at least- 11 years!

After more than a decade of education and training, isn’t it reasonable to expect better working conditions and a healthier balance between professional dedication and personal well-being?