Clinical Congress 2026 will return to Washington, DC, September 26–29, with a program designed to give every surgeon a reason to attend. Over 4 days, surgeons will find opportunities to sharpen their skills, explore emerging technologies, and connect with colleagues.
Surgeons from across specialties and career stages will find new and reimagined programming addressing some of the most important developments and challenges facing surgery today.
Look Ahead to the Future of Surgery
Two new program elements will feature compelling speakers and emerging topics relevant to surgeons.
The Best of Grand Rounds Series will feature three presentations selected by ACS members for their ability to challenge, inspire, and inform. Powerful speakers will discuss surgical leadership and personal narratives; “antifragility,” resilience, and social innovation; and the future of surgery in space.
For surgeons seeking to understand how technology will affect clinical practice, the Clinical Informatics and AI Sessions will offer eight sessions examining how artificial intelligence (AI), data collection, and analytics are reshaping surgery. Sessions also will explore AI regulation and policy, with opportunities for discussion among attendees.
The meeting's renowned Named Lectures will bring additional high-profile perspectives.
In separate special lectures, Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, FACS, president of the National Academy of Medicine, and Martin A. Makary, MD, MPH, FACS, former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, also will address major issues affecting healthcare.
Use What You Learn—In and Out of the OR
Clinical Congress provides something that specialty meetings cannot always replicate: discipline-specific clinical education and topics that affect the entire spectrum of surgery.
The program includes specialty-specific content for trauma, cardiothoracic, orthopaedic, urologic, pediatric, vascular, plastic, surgical oncology, rural surgery, and general surgery, along with multidisciplinary sessions applicable across specialties. Topics range from managing surgical site infections and antimicrobial resistance to difficult patient communication, telesurgery, and complex surgical decision-making.
General surgeons can choose from sessions on diverticulitis, ventral hernia surgery, common bile duct stones and cholangitis, and anorectal pathology. The popular “Ten Hot Topics in General Surgery” session will examine developments including axillary de-escalation in breast surgery, hernia prevention during abdominal wall closure, and gastroesophageal reflux disease management.
But surgical excellence extends beyond technical skills. Clinical Congress 2026 will address the professional challenges that increasingly shape surgeons' lives, including workload, administrative complexity, workforce shortages, advocacy, sustainability, burnout, and career transitions.
Sessions will examine how surgeons can reclaim professional autonomy, the growing role of locum tenens, sustainability in the OR, and grassroots advocacy. Other programming will address fertility preservation for surgeons, retirement, and burnout.
Discover Breaking Research and Connect with Colleagues
Clinical Congress also remains an important venue for surgical research. The Scientific Forum will showcase work from medical students, residents, fellows, early-career investigators, and established researchers.
The High-Impact Clinical Trials and Studies session will highlight potentially practice-changing research, while Video-Based Education Sessions will provide detailed demonstrations of surgical procedures. Meet-the-Expert and Special Interest Sessions offer additional ways to learn directly from surgical leaders.
The value of attending Clinical Congress extends beyond the educational program. Thousands of surgeons will gather throughout the meeting to exchange ideas, build collaborations, reconnect with mentors, and develop new professional relationships.
A new Networking Coffee with Your Specialty program will provide opportunities for colon and rectal, pediatric, vascular, and plastic surgeons to connect with colleagues, with each specialty having access to dedicated meeting space for conversation and networking.
The Exhibit Hall will feature more than 135 companies, along with ACS Central, Innovation Theater presentations, and new features such as an interactive surgeon workforce map and the ACS Postural Stabilization and Stretch Lab.
Register and Start Planning
With so much to see and do, the best way to make the most of Clinical Congress 2026 is to start planning now. The interactive Meeting Platform is available to help attendees build personalized schedules, and much of the content will be available virtually and on demand shortly after the live sessions.
