ACS Clinical Congress 2026 takes place 26–29 September 2026 in Washington, DC — the annual meeting of the American College of Surgeons and one of the largest gatherings of surgeons in the world.
Clinical Congress is more than an annual meeting. It is an opportunity to step outside the demands of daily practice, engage with the full House of Surgery, and build a multi-day experience around your specialty, interests and professional goals.
CC26 at a glance
- 300+ educational sessions
- 500+ faculty and speakers
- 15 surgical skills and didactic courses
- Up to 185 CME credits
What you will gain
Learn across specialties. Practical knowledge from nationally recognised faculty across general surgery, trauma, surgical oncology, colorectal, vascular, paediatric, thoracic, plastic and transplant surgery — insights you can apply immediately to patient care.
Connect with your community. Build relationships with peers, mentors, surgical leaders and colleagues from across the profession, including international attendees from more than 80 countries.
Discover what is next. Expanded programming on artificial intelligence, telesurgery, clinical informatics, robotics and other emerging technologies shaping surgical practice, plus new perspectives on evolving practice models.
Grow professionally. Strengthen clinical skills, leadership capability, career planning and personal well-being through programming designed for every career stage — from medical students through to senior surgeons.
New for 2026
Clinical Congress 2026 introduces Best of Grand Rounds, expanded AI and informatics tracks, and interactive experiences that create additional ways to engage across the meeting. Didactic and Surgical Skills Courses can be added to registration for expert-led, hands-on practice.
A dedicated Medical Student Program supports students considering a career in surgery, and attendee services include Camp ACS, affiliate group functions and visa support.
Objectives
By the conclusion of Clinical Congress, participants should be able to apply new knowledge and ideas to improve their surgical practice, adapt concepts and quality measures in support of research advancements, and enhance the quality of patient care.
Visa guidance for international attendees
ACS provides official invitation letters to support visa applications. Given current global visa wait times, applicants from some countries may wait 6–9 months or more for an appointment — apply as early as possible.
CME credits are available for both onsite and virtual participation.
