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2026 Medical Conference Calendar International Events ● WHX in Dubai (February 9-12) and WHX Labs (February 10-13) ● HIMSS Global Health Conference, Las Vegas (March 9-12) ● MEDICA, Düsseldorf, Germany (November 16-19) United States Events ● The Health Management Academy 2026 Medical Conferences (multiple dates) ● The Society of Hospital Medicine Converge (March 29-April 1) ● American Hospital Association Annual Meeting (April 19-21) ● American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (May 29-June 2) ● American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions (June 5-8) |
The calendar for the year 2026 is filled. The year’s events will provide healthcare professionals with opportunities to increase their knowledge and network with other professionals in the field. These also allow the exploration of the latest innovative possibilities in patient care.
The timing couldn't be more apt, considering market predictions in hospital care. It’s projected to move toward USD$5.9 trillion globally by 2029. This is a 44% increase from USD$3.9 trillion in 2022. That represents substantial investment flowing into diagnostics, infrastructure, and data systems. (1)
With conferences in specialized fields representing the first look at breakthroughs, here’s what 2026 is offering to healthcare professionals.
The Big International Events
Large conferences this year will attract healthcare professionals from across the globe.
WHX in Dubai (February 9-12) & WHX Labs (February 10-13)
Known before as Arab Health, the World Health Expo in Dubai has grown to become the largest healthcare gathering in the world. This year, the event is expected to welcome more than 235,000 professionals and 4,300+ exhibitors from more than 180 countries. The main event takes place at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai.
Simultaneously, WHX Labs—turning 25 years this year—runs at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Combined attendance for both venues is projected to exceed 270,000 professionals and 4,800+ exhibitors.
China, Germany, the US, the UK, and Korea all bring their largest presences to date. Three countries will also make their debut with full pavilions, which include Croatia, Luxembourg, and Indonesia.
Major exhibitors include Philips, GE Healthcare, Siemens, and United Imaging, while laboratory diagnostics will be represented by Beckman Coulter, Sysmex, among other leading companies.
WHX spans nine product sectors, including imaging, diagnostics, and healthcare infrastructure. The event also features six conferences accredited by CME and four boot camps. For those seeking insight into global healthcare trends, particularly in Middle Eastern and Asian markets, this provides comprehensive exposure.
HIMSS Global Health Conference (March 9-12)
Building on the success of HIMSS25, which united 28,000 healthcare professionals, HIMSS26 in Las Vegas sets its sights on even more technology leaders. Healthcare professionals who work with electronic health records, AI implementation, cybersecurity, or digital transformation will find relevant content here. (3)
Everything takes place in one location at the Venetian Convention & Expo Center. There are over 600 educational programs, ranging from AI in diagnosis to the challenges of interoperability, data governance, cyber threats, the future of the workforce, and health equity. The expo floor showcases over 950 health IT exhibitors.
HIMSS membership already includes over 125,000 individuals and 430+ provider organizations. So, connections made here tend to stick around long after the conference end. Also, continuing education credits are available if desired, with several options for networking that may be either formal or informal, whichever the attendee prefers. (4)
HIMSS is valuable for its practical advantage. You’ll see real individuals demonstrating what has been successful in production settings. Even with an exploding market for healthcare analytics, staying on top of this equipment is no longer optional.
MEDICA Trade Fair (November 16–19)
In the heart of Germany is the world’s largest medical trade show. It’s a massive event, boasting 5,000+ exhibitors and 80,000+ visitors. It's a four-day event held in Messe Düsseldorf.
What makes MEDICA unique is its scope. The fair covers all types of medical imaging, lab technology, diagnostics, health IT, mobile healthcare, physiotherapy, orthopedic technology, and medical disposables. That's basically everything to do with medical technology in one ginormous setting.
The 2025 event had 78,000 attendees and 5,300+ exhibitors. If you're looking to understand European markets or source European innovations for American healthcare systems, MEDICA provides those connections. (5)
US Conferences
As the melting pot of medical events, here’s what’s in store for healthcare professionals in the US.
The Health Management Academy 2026 Medical Conferences
Though large industry conferences fill thousands of seats, many of the most fruitful discussions occur in smaller, more specialized groups. The Health Management Academy holds their executives from large health systems in small, retreat-like meetings where objective problems are solved.
THMA adheres to a 1:1 proportion between health system administrators and the industry stakeholders, which fosters open peer-to-peer discussion that has become rare in the health industry.
Here's their projected line-up for the year:
- Value-Based Strategy Collaborative (April 15-17, Scottsdale, AZ)brings together population health, managed care, and provider-owned health plan leadership. The topic of this conference is to help the community focus on finding answers and solutions regarding regulation and the challenges posed by the concept of value-based care.
- Cardiovascular Forum (May 6-8, Fort Lauderdale, FL)is a conference where leaders of cardiovascular service lines gather to address issues related to scaling coverage, optimization of utilization, and rethinking methods of growth.
- Oncology Forum (May 6-8, Fort Lauderdale, FL)discusses the surmounting pressures facing oncology leaders. This includes escalating specialty drug costs to the ever-evolving policy and operational challenges of building integrated cancer programs around innovative therapies.
- Orthopedic Forum (May 6-8, Fort Lauderdale, FL)addresses the daily delicate balance between growth, patient outcomes, and financial sustainability that faces each orthopedic service line executive.
- Chief Physician Executive Forum (May 13-15, Las Colinas, TX)engages chief physician executives and chief medical officers who shape the health system decisions in finance, strategy, operations, and growth. The executives meet twice a year in immersive, retreat-style settings.
- Chief Physician Executive Circle (May 13-15, Fort Lauderdale, FL)is another assembly of Chief Physician Executives confronting exponentially more complicated healthcare scenarios. The highly curated format brings together system-level leaders from independent and integrated health systems for peer-led discussions and continuing education.
- Chief Nursing Executive Forum (June 1-3, San Diego, CA)brings together an invitation-only group of C-suite nurse executives with a focus on the future of nursing. There’s primary emphasis on designing the care team, academic collaborations, leadership, and succession planning.
- Pharmacy Growth Collaborative (June 3-5, Carlsbad, CA)brings health system pharmacy executives together biannually for open dialogue on key topics, such as specialty drug management and 340B program effects.
What sets these conferences apart is that they focus on keeping their sessions relevant to today’s healthcare professionals.
The Society of Hospital Medicine Converge (March 29-April 1)
The practice of hospital medicine is always developing. And one of the events that allows it to move forward is SHM Converge in Nashville. It's deemed as the largest gathering of hospitalists with education sessions that highlight what you're dealing with on the floors.
The conference has courses and sessions on advanced learning that are led by faculty members who practice hospital medicine. The learning tracks that are available include health policy, diversity and equity, practice management, and research innovation.
If you see yourself as a hospitalist who feels somewhat isolated in your work environment, you'll feel seen and heard, knowing that thousands of other hospitalists share similar experiences in this profession. This, in itself, provides tremendous benefit to many participants.
American Hospital Association Annual Meeting (April 19-21)
The American Hospital Association Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. is geared towards administrators, board members, and policymakers at hospitals. An added advantage of holding this convention in the country’s capital is that you get to meet personally people who make the rules you follow.
Expect talks of payment reform, regulatory compliance, workforce development, and strategic planning. These are macro-level concerns that determine the success or failure that your own organization may and will face within the next five years.
If you're a leader in the field or an up-and-coming one, the networking opportunities and insights gleaned within the course of this meeting could prove invaluable.
American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (May 29-June 2)
The American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago is one event that's not to be missed by anyone involved in cancer care. Over 40,000 oncology professionals attend this five-day conference, making it the largest cancer care gathering in the world.
There are more than 200 sessions that bring forth the latest developments in cancer research and care. Both physical and virtual participation are possible, and all sessions can be accessed online for a minimum of seven years. That's a massive advantage if you can’t or don't get a chance to attend all sessions.
For five decades, the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has been the go-to venue for revolutionary cancer research breakthroughs. Key results of major clinical trials are often shared at this meeting for the first time.
American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions (June 5-8)
The American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans is a key event for diabetes research and care. With millions affected by diabetes, this conference brings the people working on the solutions together.
It will be attended by endocrinologists, researchers, general practitioners, diabetes educators, and pharmaceutical companies. Scientific sessions will display the most recent research. Meanwhile, practical workshops will help clinicians put new guidelines and technologies into practice.
Why This All Matters
The healthcare conference ecosystem in 2026 is a microcosm of its industry at large, with a focus on pressing healthcare issues. It's where the real innovations happen, partnerships are forged, and the ideas for better patient outcomes are born. So, review your schedule, canvass your coworkers, and make sure you go to at least a couple of conferences in a calendar year.
References
- “Is this how healthcare will be optimized in the future?” Source: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/12/healthcare-hospital-of-the-future/#:~:text=The%20hospital%20sector%20is%20in%20growth%20mode.%20In%202022%2C%20it%20represented%20around%2040%25%20of%20the%20global%20healthcare%20market%20%2D%20over%20%243.9%20trillion.%20By%202029%2C%20its%20share%20will%20grow%20to%2044%25%2C%20with%20a%20market%20value%20of%20%245.19%20trillion
- “World Health Expo 2026 Vital Stats.” Source: https://www.worldhealthexpo.com/events/healthcare/dubai/en/home.html#:~:text=235k%2B,300%2B
- “HIMSS 2025 Recap For Healthcare CIOs.” Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidchou/2025/03/06/himss-2025-recap-for-healthcare-cios/#:~:text=HIMSS%202025%2C%20the,from%20the%20event
- “HIMSS - About Us.” Source: https://www.himss.org/who-we-are/#:~:text=With%20over%2060%20years%20of,and%20550+%20health%20services%20organizations
- “International decision-makers in the healthcare industry rely on MEDICA 2025 and COMPAMED 2025 in Düsseldorf.” Source: https://www.medica-tradefair.com/en/Media_News/Press/Press_material/Press_Releases/Press_Releases/International_decision-makers_in_the_healthcare_industry_rely_on_MEDICA_2025_and_COMPAMED_2025_in_D%C3%BCsseldorf
