The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) looks forward to welcoming you in beautiful San Diego for the AACR Annual Meeting 2026! More than 22,000 scientists, clinicians, other health care professionals, cancer survivors, and patient advocates from around the world are expected to attend this year. We are thrilled to host you all at this hallmark event where, together, we continue to stimulate breakthroughs against cancer with a spirit of innovation and collaboration.

The theme of this year’s meeting is “Precision, Partnership, Purpose: Advancing Cancer Science to Save Lives Globally,” which celebrates the collective effort of the cancer community at the heart of cancer research. The hard work of researchers around the world presents, in its totality, a tremendous opportunity to make further progress against cancer. The AACR salutes the global community of researchers united in our shared purpose: to improve patients’ lives and seek an end to the worldwide scourge of cancer.

I would like to express my deepest thanks to our esteemed AACR President, Lillian L. Siu, MD, FAACR; our AACR Annual Meeting Committees; and our dedicated Program Chairs, Paul S. Mischel, MD, FAACR, and Alice T. Shaw, MD, PhD, FAACR, for so generously devoting their precious time and expertise to develop an outstanding program.

This year’s Annual Meeting will highlight the impact of cancer research across a wide range of disciplines, and I have no doubt that the groundbreaking discoveries showcased will have both an immediate and future impact on cancer care. Expect to hear about new insights into the underpinnings of cancer, new approaches to reduce cancer risk, new technologies to detect cancer and intervene earlier, and new treatments that are empowering patients to live longer, better lives.

The extensively cultivated program offers an unparalleled look into the latest, most impactful developments in cancer research.

• Six Plenary Sessions will highlight cutting-edge advances in cancer research, with an emphasis on transformative scientific discoveries and innovative technologies. (The Opening Plenary on Sunday, April 19, will feature pioneering researchers whose presentations will reflect the meeting theme, and a closing Plenary Session on Wednesday, April 22, will feature key meeting takeaways.) 
• Nine types of Advances Sessions, including a new session type on Advances in Survivorship Research, will present the latest research in areas such as early detection and interception, prevention, new technologies, and diagnostics and therapeutics.
• Four Clinical Trial Plenary Sessions will report novel clinical research, as well as the science behind the trials, that offers significant clinical benefit to patients.
• More than 7,400 proffered abstracts will be presented.
• Six Forums and eight scientific Special Sessions will discuss topics such as drug discovery and development, cell-based immunotherapies, and artificial intelligence in cancer research and care.
• More than 65 Educational Sessions and Methods Workshops will feature leaders in their fields presenting state-of-the-art concepts and technologies across a broad range of areas. All attendees will have access to the Educational Program as part of their meeting registration.
• Countless opportunities for networking and professional development will be available.

All Annual Meeting scientific sessions, including those in the Educational Program, will be live streamed on the virtual meeting platform. If you miss a session and wish to view it again, recordings will be available through the end of October 2026.

 There are many ways to observe the exciting content that the Annual Meeting has to offer:

• The Online Itinerary Planner provides fully searchable access to the full text of all proffered abstracts.
• The AACR Annual Meeting App will be available soon and will include all proffered abstracts in full.
• The Proceedings of the AACR Annual Meeting containing the full text of all regular proffered abstracts (clinical trial abstracts and late-breaking abstracts are not included) can be downloaded as a PDF on April 7.
• Clinical trial and late-breaking abstracts will be published as an online-only supplement to the AACR journal Cancer Research on April 17. 

As you prepare for the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 next month, be sure to stay up to date with AACR Annual Meeting News, featuring coverage of all the great things to come at this year’s meeting.

We look forward to seeing you in San Diego!

Register Today for the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 »

Don’t miss the world’s premier cancer research event, April 17 to 22 in San Diego. In-person and virtual registration packages include access to live sessions, Q&A, networking, CME/MOC credits for select sessions within the Educational Program, and more.