Annual Meeting 2026 Previews
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AACR CEO Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc): Welcome to the AACR Annual Meeting 2026
The theme of this year’s scientific program highlights how scientific progress—driven by interdisciplinarity and partnership across sectors of the cancer community—enables increasingly precise strategies for the prevention and treatment of cancer.
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Schedule Highlights from the Program Chairs: Friday, April 17
Don’t miss notable Professional Development Sessions, Educational Sessions and Methods Workshops, and more, say Program Committee Chairs Paul S. Mischel, MD, FAACR, and Alice T. Shaw, MD, PhD, FAACR.
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Expanded clinical trials program will feature advances in immunotherapy, precision oncology, ADCs, and more
A record 265 clinical trials abstracts—from proof-of-concept studies to phase III results—will be presented during this year’s AACR Annual Meeting.
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Saturday Plenary Session to explore the next frontier of research on minimal residual disease in solid tumors
The Discovery Science Plenary will focus on the latest research on the evolution of drug resistance, the role of cancer cell heterogeneity and plasticity, and novel strategies to detect and target residual disease.
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Sessions on hematologic malignancies will spotlight fundamental insights, therapeutic advances
The latest scientific and clinical innovations for hematologic malignancies will be showcased at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026, with sessions highlighting discovery science advances and how they are being rapidly translated into patient care.
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Sessions will offer perspectives from FDA and other leaders who are navigating the evolving regulatory science and policy landscape
The Regulatory Science and Policy track and the Science and Health Policy track will provide attendees with an opportunity to hear from and interact with key staff from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as patient advocates and leaders from industry and academia.
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AACR to recognize 2026 Scientific Achievement Award recipients
Awards and lectures during the Annual Meeting will honor scientists, clinicians, and physician-scientists who have made significant contributions to the understanding of the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer.
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Daily Plenary Sessions will highlight minimal residual disease, early-onset cancers, AI, innovative therapies, and more
The AACR Annual Meeting 2026 features six can’t-miss Plenary Sessions with a slate of prominent speakers discussing several of the hottest topics in cancer research.
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Plan your itinerary—learn about running for research, special accommodations, food trucks, and more
Attendees gathering in San Diego can learn about the latest advances in the field and forge connections with their peers, while also enjoying beautiful weather, local food, and live music.
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Session on communicating science will provide an array of perspectives on making research approachable
A new session will seek to provide answers to an age-old question: How can scientists help nonscientists understand complex research concepts and projects?











