Staying current in pediatrics means getting out from behind the screen and into a room with other people who treat kids for a living. Conferences bring that: the latest research, hands-on workshops, and the kind of hallway conversations where you actually learn things. We put together this list of 10 pediatric conferences worth your time in 2026.
“Every keystroke saved, is time saved, which means I can do my job longer and see more children.”
Dr. Melanie Hsu, Children’s Health Council
“Every keystroke saved, is time saved, which means I can do my job longer and see more children.” — Dr. Melanie Hsu
This year’s lineup spans emergency medicine, cardiology, psychology, oncology, and advocacy. Several conferences have changed locations from 2025, so double-check logistics before booking travel.
1. Mayo Clinic Pediatric Days 2026
Dates: January 18-22, 2026
Location: Disney Aulani, Kapolei, Hawaii (livestream also available)
Website: Mayo Clinic Pediatric Days 2026
Mayo Clinic Pediatric Days covers medical and surgical conditions affecting children and adolescents across a five-day program. The audience is broad: general pediatricians, subspecialists, family physicians, PAs, NPs, nurses, and residents all attend.
The big change for 2026 is the venue. It has moved from the Kohala Coast to Disney Aulani in Kapolei, and there’s now a livestream option if Hawaii isn’t in the budget. Course directors are Angela Mattke, M.D. FAAP and Jason Anderson, M.D. FAAP. Registration: $1,100-$1,200.
2. Pediatric Emergency Medicine Assembly 2026
Dates: January 20-22, 2026
Location: San Diego, CA (part of ACEP Accelerate)
Website: PEM Assembly
PEM Assembly is the go-to conference for anyone working with pediatric patients in the ED. Content ranges from foundational skills refreshers to advanced dual-board-level material.
New location for 2026: San Diego, after several years in Orlando. PEM Assembly now runs as part of the broader ACEP Accelerate event, which means more cross-specialty networking opportunities on-site.
3. Cardiology 2026: 29th Update on Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Disease
Dates: February 25 – March 1, 2026
Location: Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, Scottsdale, AZ
Website: Cardiology 2026 – CHOP
CHOP’s annual cardiology update is in its 29th year and still one of the most thorough post-graduate courses in the subspecialty. Plenary sessions, breakout tracks, moderated panels, and discussion groups cover the full range of pediatric and congenital cardiovascular disease. Attendees include cardiologists, intensivists, surgeons, nurses, neonatologists, anesthesiologists, ACHD specialists, sonographers, and perfusionists. Sessions run 7:00 am-1:00 pm EST daily.
Scottsdale replaces Lake Buena Vista as the 2026 venue. For more events in this space, see our list of cardiology conferences.
4. Pediatric Potpourri: State of the Art 2026
Dates: March 1-5, 2026 (arrivals begin February 28)
Location: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, Kaanapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii
Website: Pediatric Potpourri 2026
A week in Maui with morning sessions and free afternoons. That alone sells it for a lot of attendees, but the content holds up too. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Medical Group presents a broad review of pediatric topics covering current clinical challenges and recent subspecialty advances. The faculty rotates across specialties, so the programming covers ground you might not seek out on your own.
One thing to note: this is in-person only. No virtual option.
5. World Pediatrics Congress 2026
Dates: March 23-24, 2026
Location: Rome, Italy
Website: World Pediatrics Congress
The 26th Annual Congress on Pediatrics & Neonatology returns to Rome with the theme “Innovations in Pediatric Care: Shaping the Future of Child Health.” This is a hybrid conference with both in-person and virtual attendance. The program includes keynote speeches, workshops, oral presentations, and poster sessions. It draws international scientists, neonatologists, researchers, pediatric nurses, and exhibitors.
Worth knowing: this is organized by Conference Series LLC Ltd, not a major medical society. Other World Pediatrics events in 2026 include Paris (May 21-22), London (June 8-9), and Istanbul (September 24-27). The Istanbul event, the World Summit on Pediatrics, may be the higher-profile option if you’re considering international travel.
6. AAP Advocacy Conference 2026
Dates: April 12-14, 2026
Location: Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA
Website: AAP Advocacy Conference 2026
This one is different from the typical CME conference. The AAP Advocacy Conference is built around skills-building workshops, policy briefings, and direct meetings with congressional offices. Day one covers workshops and keynotes, day two focuses on congressional meeting prep, and day three puts attendees on Capitol Hill. Up to 18.00 AAP CME credits available.
The conference moved from March to April for 2026 but stays in Arlington, VA. Heads up: online registration closed due to limited capacity. Call AAP Registration at 800.433.9016 option 3 or email registration@aap.org to check availability.
7. SPPAC 2026: Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference
Dates: April 30 – May 2, 2026
Location: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV
Website: SPPAC 2026
SPPAC 2026’s theme is “Inquire, Inspire, Ignite!” and the program includes the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Programming targets all career stages and emphasizes culturally competent therapeutic interventions, trauma-informed care practices, and health equity research. The conference moved from Phoenix to Las Vegas this year.
If you work at the intersection of psychology and pediatrics, this is your conference. We also have a broader guide to psychology conferences worth checking out.
8. ASPHO Annual Meeting 2026
Dates: April 29 – May 2, 2026
Location: Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN
Website: ASPHO 2026
The numbers tell the story:
- 1,300+ expected attendees
- Up to 41.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits
- 10 MOC Part 2 points
- On-demand content available through July 6
ASPHO brings together subspecialist investigators and practitioners in pediatric hematology/oncology from across the field, including hospitalists, PAs, NPs, and allied health professionals. Both in-person and on-demand registration options are available. The 2026 meeting moves from Louisville to Minneapolis.
9. Hot Topics in Pediatrics 2026
Dates: July 16-18, 2026
Location: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Lake Buena Vista, FL
Website: Hot Topics in Pediatrics 2026
Nemours puts this one on and it’s geared toward primary care pediatric providers. National leaders cover the most current and practical topics in pediatrics, with sessions running 7:00 am-1:00 pm EDT. The focus is on evidence-based education that translates to practice changes you can make immediately. Up to 13.00 Live AAFP Prescribed credits.
If you need CME credits and a few afternoons at Disney, this is your pick.
10. AAP National Conference & Exhibition 2026 (AAP Experience)
Dates: October 2-6, 2026
Location: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA
Website: AAP Experience 2026
This is the big one. The AAP Experience is the largest pediatric conference in the world, with 350+ sessions, 350 exhibits, and 10,000+ attendees from over 50 countries. San Diego hosts in 2026, taking over from Denver.
A few logistics to keep in mind: the event is fully cashless. Abstract submissions close April 10, 2026, and plenary session proposals close March 13, 2026. For registration questions, call 800.433.9016 option 3 or email registration@aap.org.
Learn more about how TextExpander can help your pediatric practice:
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Make the most of your conference time
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