AACR Annual Meeting 2026: News and Highlights
The AACR Annual Meeting is the critical driver of progress against cancer, the place where scientists, clinicians, other health care professionals, survivors, patients, and advocates gather to share and discuss the latest breakthroughs. The 2026 edition of the most important cancer meeting in the world featured the following highlights:
- More than 23,000 registrants from 74 countries and territories participated in the meeting
- Nearly 250 clinical trials were presented, including several practice-changing studies
- A diverse program featuring more than 760 invited speakers from 24 countries, including 11 NextGen Stars selected for podium presentations through a competitive application process
- More than 190 reporters registered for the meeting, resulting in media coverage in high-profile outlets such as The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NBC News, CNN, Fox News, and STAT
- More than 5,700 people joined the AACR Annual Meeting conversation on the social media platform X, with over 19,000 mentions using the #AACR26 hashtag and generating 257 million impressions
- More than 270 scientific sessions were live-streamed (including plenaries, major symposia, advances sessions, educational sessions, methods workshops, and proffered paper sessions)
A Wrap-Up Plenary Session summarized the cutting-edge basic, translational, clinical, and population science presented at the meeting.
Four Clinical Trials Plenary Sessions showcased promising new approaches for a wide range of cancers.
Special sessions offered first disclosures of the structure and mechanism of 12 novel cancer agents that are moving into phase I clinical trials.
Topics included the impact of AI on cancer research and care, early-onset cancers, and innovative treatment modalities.
The official digital news source of the AACR Annual Meeting 2026.
Cancer Research Catalyst covered the cancer science, medicine, and policy highlights from the Annual Meeting.
The AACR NextGen Stars program gave 11 early-career scientists the opportunity to present in a major session at the Annual Meeting.
A total of 11 studies were highlighted in the Annual Meeting press program, nine of which were featured in press conferences.
The AACR’s award-winning magazine and website showcased several Annual Meeting programs of interest to cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.