FACE AHEAD 2026 — AO CMF International Symposium
01 Oct 2026 – 03 Oct 2026 · Bangkok, Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand · In-Person
FACE AHEAD 2026 is the third edition of the AO Foundation's flagship craniomaxillofacial (CMF) summit, taking place in Bangkok, Thailand from 1 to 3 October 2026 under the theme "Excellence Beyond Boundaries". Held only once every two years, FACE AHEAD has become the global meeting point for craniomaxillofacial and facial plastic surgeons who want to see where the specialty is heading rather than only where it has been.
Across 2.5 intensive days, the programme combines keynote lectures, debate-driven panels, case-based discussions and hands-on interaction with some of the most influential CMF surgeons in the world. Content spans the full breadth of the specialty: facial trauma and reconstruction, orthognathic and craniofacial surgery, oncologic reconstruction and microvascular techniques, temporomandibular joint surgery, virtual surgical planning, patient-specific implants, 3D printing and the growing role of digital workflows and artificial intelligence in the operating room.
FACE AHEAD is organised by AO CMF, the craniomaxillofacial specialty arm of the AO Foundation — a not-for-profit, surgeon-driven organisation that has shaped surgical education in trauma and musculoskeletal care for more than sixty years. AO CMF's education portfolio ranges from principles and advanced courses to masters-level courses, fellowships and the Global Oral Cancer Diploma, and FACE AHEAD sits at the top of that ecosystem as the community's biennial gathering.
The event is deliberately designed to be more than a lecture marathon. A strong emphasis is placed on peer exchange in an open, informal environment: young surgeons early in their career sit alongside senior faculty, and the AO NextGen community gives trainees and early-career surgeons a structured way to connect with mentors. For surgeons from Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region, Bangkok offers convenient connectivity and one of the most accessible opportunities of the biennium to benchmark local practice against international standards and to build referral and research relationships across Asia, Europe and the Americas.
The scientific programme is supported by an abstract track (submission for the 2026 edition closed on 5 June 2026), an industry exhibition showcasing implant systems, navigation and planning platforms, and a social programme that makes the networking side of the meeting as productive as the sessions themselves.
Who should attend
craniomaxillofacial surgeons, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, ENT/head and neck surgeons, facial trauma specialists, residents and fellows in CMF training, and researchers working in facial reconstruction and digital surgical planning.
Registration
Registration, accommodation guidance and the detailed programme are published on the official FACE AHEAD website. Given the biennial cadence and limited capacity, early registration is strongly advised.
