Welcome to another exciting day at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026!

First up on today’s agenda, we have the Plenary Session “Early-Onset Cancers” at 8 a.m. PT. It’s very clear that a number of cancers are rising in incidence in younger patients, yet the basis for that increase is not as clear. There are many hypotheses as to why this is happening, from genetics and biology to various environmental exposures. This is going to be a great Plenary Session grounded in both the epidemiology and molecular biology of early-onset cancers.

If you’re looking for some potentially practice-changing clinical trial results, check out the fourth and final Clinical Trials Plenary Session, which will start at 10:15 a.m. PT and showcase advances in immunotherapy. The final Clinical Trials Minisymposium of the meeting is also today, beginning at 2:30 p.m. PT and focusing on advances in precision oncology.

If you want to hear more about precision oncology and immunotherapy strategies under investigation, we have some great options for you, including:

• the Advances in Diagnostics and Therapeutic Session Resistance to Antibody-Drug Conjugates;
• the Advances in Diagnostics and Therapeutic Session New Advances in Bispecific Antibody Development; and
• the Major Symposium Off-the-Shelf Cell Therapies for Cancer and Beyond.

Of course, there is a fantastic lineup of sessions highlighting basic science discoveries as well, including:

• the Major Symposium Tumor-Secreted Factors: The Next Hallmark of Cancer?;
• the Major Symposium Structural Insights to Cancer Biology and Therapy; and
• the Advances in Population Sciences Session Multikingdom Microbial Determinants of Cancer.

And multiple sessions will examine strategies for cancer prevention, such as:

• the Advances in Prevention Research Session HPV Vaccination and Self-Sampling for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Globally and in Underserved Settings, and
• the Major Symposium Minorities in Cancer Research Scientific Symposium: Ancestry-Informed Precision Oncology—Integrating Genomic Diversity into Cancer Prevention and Treatment.

At 10:15 a.m. CT, you can check out the “Latest Advances in Translational Research from the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium” session, where researchers will discuss top-rated studies from December’s SABCS, an annual breast cancer meeting co-organized by AACR. For a refresher on the great science presented at SABCS 2025, check out the AACR Blog’s SABCS coverage!

In addition, several award recipients will deliver their award lectures this afternoon:

• Carman Li, PhD, recipient of the AACR Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award, will speak at noon PT.
• Kenneth M. Murphy, MD, PhD, recipient of the AACR-Cancer Research Institute Lloyd J. Old Award in Cancer Immunology, will speak at 3 p.m. PT.
• Charles W.M. Roberts, MD, PhD, FAACR, recipient of the AACR Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research, will speak at 4 p.m. PT.
• John F. DiPersio, MD, PhD, recipient of the AACR Award for Outstanding Achievement in Blood Cancer Research, will speak at 4:15 p.m. PT.
• Elizabeth A. Platz, ScD, MPH, recipient of the AACR-American Cancer Society Award for Research Excellence in Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, will speak at 5:15 p.m. PT.

And don’t forget about today’s Poster Sessions covering the breadth of cancer research—the first from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. PT and the second from 2 to 5 p.m. PT in the Exhibit Hall.

The applications of artificial intelligence (AI) for cancer research and care have been examined throughout this year’s AACR Annual Meeting, and a Special Session at 5 p.m. PT will help put these new insights into context. At “AI in Cancer Research and Care: What We’ve Learned and What Comes Next?”, researchers will have an open-ended discussion on the state of the field and how the AI sessions’ takeaways can be implemented at labs and cancer treatment centers around the world.

This evening’s Forums will be held at 5 p.m. PT and will discuss the state of multicancer early detection tests, collaboration between scientists and survivors, leveraging novel technologies for clinical trials, and cell-based therapies.

Part 2 of the Meet-the-Expert Sessions will also take place at 5 p.m., when you’ll have the opportunity to hear about the research journeys of Christopher R. Flowers, MD, MS; Kurt Schalper, MD, PhD; Daniel S.W. Tan, MBBS, PhD; and Maria Blasco, PhD. Stick around after their talks for the opportunity to meet with these eminent researchers!

The Minorities in Cancer Research (MICR) and Women in Cancer Research (WICR) constituency groups will hold their Town Meetings at 4 p.m. PT and 7 p.m. PT, respectively. These Town Meetings are open to anyone who supports the mission of these groups.

Today also includes the “Special Program for High School Students: The Conquest of Cancer and the Next Generation of Cancer Researchers,” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This program is designed to foster meaningful engagement between senior cancer scientists and motivated young students.

Finally, two Professional Development Sessions will be held this evening to round out the fantastic day of science. “Navigating a Path to Successful Career in Cancer Research,” beginning at 5 p.m. PT, offers a valuable forum to engage in informal roundtable discussions on career development topics, facilitated by established scientists from different sectors. “A Dialogue with Industry: Career and Collaboration Opportunities,” at 5:30 p.m. PT, will cover how academically trained scientists can explore career opportunities in industrial research and development.

Have a great day, and we’ll see you at tomorrow morning’s Plenary Session “Innovative Treatment Modalities: Shaping the Future of Oncology”!

For the most up-to-date program information, visit the AACR Annual Meeting App or Online Itinerary Planner.

More from the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 »

Keep up with the latest from the AACR Annual Meeting 2026, whether you are attending in person or virtually. View a photo gallery of scenes from San Diego, join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #AACR26, and read coverage of upcoming sessions in AACR Annual Meeting News.