AAO Annual Meeting 2026: The Complete Guide for Exhibitors, Attendees & Ophthalmology Brands Planning Their Presence in New Orleans

The American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting is the largest and most influential gathering in global eye care. Every October, thousands of ophthalmologists, ophthalmic executives, clinical team members, researchers, and industry professionals converge in a single city to see the future of eye care unfold in real time. In 2026, that city is New Orleans — and if your company is even thinking about exhibiting, this guide is your starting point.

This article covers everything you need to know about AAO 2026: the official dates, the venue, what happens in the Expo, the full educational program, Subspecialty Day details, CME credit information, registration timelines, and how Interior Today LLC can build the custom exhibit stand that gives your brand a serious, professional presence on the AAO Expo floor.

AAO ANNUAL MEETING 2026 — FAST FACTS

Event: American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting 2026 (AAO 2026)

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Convention Center: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

Expo Dates: Saturday, October 10 – Monday, October 12, 2026

Opening Session: Saturday, October 10, 2026, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Subspecialty Day: Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10, 2026

Airport: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

Weather in October: Average high 80°F (27°C), Average low 64°F (18°C)

Time Zone: Central Time (UTC/GMT -5h in October)

Official Language: English

WHAT IS THE AAO ANNUAL MEETING?

The American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting is the world’s premier ophthalmology conference, bringing together comprehensive ophthalmologists, subspecialists, surgical innovators, practice administrators, and clinical team members for several days of intensive education, research, networking, and commercial discovery. The event has no equal in the eye care industry — it is the place where new surgical techniques are introduced, where landmark research is presented, and where the industry’s most important purchasing decisions are made.

For exhibiting companies, AAO is not just a booth opportunity — it is a direct pipeline to the most concentrated, qualified audience of ophthalmology decision-makers assembled anywhere in the world in a single week. Surgeons who perform hundreds of procedures per year, practice owners comparing competing platforms, administrators evaluating new services, and clinical team members learning what is coming next — they are all on the floor.

The 2026 edition takes place in New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, one of the largest convention facilities in the United States, situated in a city well known for its hospitality, culture, and energy. October in New Orleans means warm weather, vibrant evenings, and an atmosphere that keeps attendees engaged from the moment they arrive.

AAO 2026 EXPO — DATES, HOURS & WHAT HAPPENS ON THE FLOOR

The AAO 2026 Expo takes place Saturday, October 10 through Monday, October 12, 2026, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

The Expo is where the industry shows up. Every major ophthalmic technology company, pharmaceutical brand, surgical equipment manufacturer, practice management software provider, and medical device innovator in the eye care space either has a booth on this floor or is watching closely to see what their competitors are doing. For attendees, the Expo is the one place where they can see, touch, and evaluate the full landscape of products and services available to their practice in a single visit.

What exhibitors and attendees will find on the AAO 2026 Expo floor:

The latest surgical technology, pharmaceutical products, and ophthalmic services from leading and emerging companies. This includes IOLs, diagnostic imaging systems, refractive surgery platforms, dry eye treatments, retinal therapeutics, glaucoma devices, practice management solutions, electronic health record systems, ophthalmic instrumentation, and much more.

The Academy’s flagship booth, staffed by experts where attendees can speak with Academy leadership, purchase Academy products, and engage with the organization’s programs and resources.

New networking areas including private spaces designed for professional meetings and media interviews — a recognition that for many attendees, the relationships built at the AAO Expo are just as valuable as the products seen there.

Talks by key opinion leaders and industry presentations within the Expo hall, providing additional education on clinical and commercial topics without requiring attendees to leave the exhibition floor.

Expo hall theater and Learning Lounge presentations that give exhibiting companies a platform to present clinical data, product demonstrations, and continuing education content directly to the audience.

Lead retrieval scanning at every booth, allowing exhibitors to capture attendee contact information, registration type, practice type, and subspecialty — data that forms the foundation of post-show follow-up and sales pipeline development.

The AAO Expo is not a product display. It is a buying environment. The physicians, administrators, and clinical team members who walk this floor have come to evaluate options, ask hard questions, and in many cases make purchase decisions. A well-designed, professional exhibit stand is not optional — it is the price of admission to being taken seriously.

AAO 2026 OPENING SESSION — OCTOBER 10, 9:30 AM TO 11:00 AM

The AAO 2026 Opening Session is one of the most attended events of the entire meeting week. It takes place Saturday, October 10 from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM and sets the tone for everything that follows.

The program includes a celebration of Academy Award winners, notably the Laureate Recognition Award, formal addresses by Academy leadership, and the ceremonial transfer of the gavel to the incoming Academy President Elect.

The 83rd Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture will be delivered by Janet Louise Davis, MD, titled “Predicting the Future of Uveitis.” Dr. Davis is the Leach Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, where she serves as academic and fellowship director of the uveitis service. Her clinical and research work centers on the diagnosis, management, and disease mechanisms of intraocular infections and inflammations, as well as masquerade conditions including infiltrative and degenerative diseases.

The keynote address will be delivered by Robert Wachter, MD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Drawing on his experience as a practicing physician, hospital leader, and author, Dr. Wachter will discuss his new book, “A Giant Leap: How AI is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future,” published by Portfolio/Penguin in 2026. A book signing event follows the keynote — which means a crowd of attendees actively engaged and circulating through the meeting space immediately after the session ends.

AAO 2026 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM — SESSIONS, LECTURES & SKILLS TRANSFER

The educational program at AAO 2026 is the deepest and most comprehensive annual ophthalmology curriculum anywhere in the world. In-person meeting registration includes access to a broad range of learning formats:

AAO, AAOE, and AAOP instruction courses covering clinical, surgical, business, and technical content across every subspecialty and practice management domain.

Symposia including the popular Academy Café sessions, known for their interactive format and conversational approach to complex clinical topics.

Original paper sessions where researchers present new findings to their peers — often the first public airing of data that will shape clinical practice in the years ahead.

Poster podium presentations and poster discussion sessions that offer attendees and presenters focused, direct interaction around specific research topics.

Video program sessions showcasing surgical techniques, case studies, and innovations in visual format.

The Spotlight on Cataract takes place Monday, October 12, featuring rapid-fire mini-lectures and spontaneous panel discussions built around video cases of intraoperative and postoperative complications. The audience participates in real time through polling on case management choices. The session concludes with the Charles D. Kelman Lecture, one of the most anticipated named lectures in cataract surgery.

Skills Transfer is one of the most practically valuable elements of the entire meeting. AAO 2026 offers 49 hands-on Skills Transfer labs alongside 27 prerequisite lectures included with in-person registration. Labs require a separate ticket. A notable debut in 2026 is the Scleral Buckle and Pneumatic Retinopexy for Repair of Retinal Detachment lab, directed by Gordon S. Crabtree, MD, and Kathleen A. Schildroth, MD, focused on identifying ideal surgical candidates and developing procedural confidence in both techniques.

Some learning opportunities require individual tickets or separate registration, including AAOE Friday Intensives, AAOE Coding Camp, AAOE Fundamentals of Ophthalmic Coding, AAOP Friday Intensives, AAOP Skill Workshops, Skills Transfer labs, and Subspecialty Day meetings.

Full program and meeting information will be available starting June 22, 2026, in the online Meeting Guide, which will include Program Search, Handouts, Posters, Videos, Exhibitor Search, a Planner and Calendar, Networking and Event Listings, Expo Activities and Theater Presentations, and the Official Meeting Directory.

AAO 2026 SUBSPECIALTY DAY — OCTOBER 9–10, NEW ORLEANS

Subspecialty Day is a distinct meeting within the meeting — a day of focused, advanced-level education in specific clinical areas that runs the day before the main AAO program opens. In 2026, eight subspecialty meetings are scheduled in New Orleans across Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10.

Friday, October 9, 2026:

Glaucoma Subspecialty Day 2026 — Program Directors: Joshua D. Stein, MD, MS and Qi N. Cui, MD, PhD

Neuro-Ophthalmology Subspecialty Day 2026 — Program Directors: Madhura A. Tamhankar, MD and Chantal Boisvert, MD

Pediatric Ophthalmology Subspecialty Day 2026 — Program Directors: Laura B. Enyedi, MD and Tina Rutar, MD

Refractive Surgery Subspecialty Day 2026 — Program Directors: Edward E. Manche, MD and Julie M. Schallhorn, MD

Retina Subspecialty Day 2026 (Day 1) — Program Directors: Diana V. Do, MD and Gaurav K. Shah, MD

Uveitis Subspecialty Day 2026 — Program Directors: Ann-Marie Lobo, MD and Kathryn L. Pepple, MD, PhD

Saturday, October 10, 2026:

Cornea Subspecialty Day 2026 — Program Directors: Divya Srikumaran, MD, Ellen Koo, MD, and Guillermo Amescua, MD

Oculofacial Plastic Surgery Subspecialty Day 2026 — Program Directors: Nicholas R. Mahoney, MD and Michael Kangwhi Yoon, MD

Retina Subspecialty Day 2026 (Day 2) — Program Directors: Diana V. Do, MD and Gaurav K. Shah, MD

Subspecialty Day registration gives attendees flexibility to float among all Subspecialty Day meetings taking place on the same day, continental breakfast and lunch, coffee breaks, and automatic access to the corresponding Subspecialty Day Virtual content. CME credits are available for both in-person and virtual Subspecialty Day participation, up to 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits per day, claimable through March 31, 2027.

The 2026 Subspecialty Day Advisory Committee Associate Secretary is Jody R. Piltz, MD. The advisory committee includes Julie Falardeau, MD; David G. Morrison, MD; Timothy G. Murray, MD, MBA; Sonal S. Tuli, MD; and Sonia H. Yoo, MD.

The online abstract submitter for Retina Subspecialty Day 2026 Clinical Trial Updates is open and closes August 4, 2026.

AAOE AND AAOP PROGRAMS AT AAO 2026

The American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives program (AAOE) delivers education specifically tailored to the unique challenges faced by ophthalmic practice administrators and physician leaders. From coding and billing to operations, staffing, and strategic growth, the AAOE program is the most targeted resource in the industry for the people who run the business side of eye care.

The American Academy of Ophthalmic Professionals program (AAOP) is the Academy’s home for technicians, scribes, and other clinical team members. AAO 2026 features specific courses and sessions for the entire care team, including the newest offering: AAOP Skill Workshops.

Selected coding sessions carry their own CME credit — the Fundamentals of Ophthalmic Coding and Coding Camp sessions each offer up to 3 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.

CME CREDIT AT AAO 2026 — WHAT PHYSICIANS NEED TO KNOW

The American Academy of Ophthalmology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AAO 2026 is designated for a maximum of 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Physicians can claim credit multiple times, up to the 50-credit maximum, through March 31, 2027, splitting the claim across 2026 and 2027 if needed.

CME-eligible activities include AAO 2026 scientific sessions, instruction courses, Skills Transfer programs, AAOE and AAOP Friday Intensives, Academy Café, Ask the Experts, Original Papers, and the Jackson Memorial Lecture at the Opening Session.

Activities not eligible for CME credit include posters, videos, committee meetings, viewing exhibits, attending Expo hall theater and Learning Lounge presentations, special meetings and events, EyeNet Corporate Events, the AAOE General Session, and social networking.

Attendees registered as exhibitors or friends/family are not eligible to receive CME credit.

For non-US licensed physicians, the American Medical Association has confirmed eligibility for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. European ophthalmologists can convert CME credits to meet European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) CME/CPD requirements through the AMA-UEMS mutual recognition agreement.

IJCAHPO continuing education credit is also available for qualifying courses. COA, COT, and COMT candidates should note that IJCAHPO credits cannot be claimed through the Academy’s online CME system and must be claimed directly with IJCAHPO.

VIRTUAL MEETING OPTION AT AAO 2026

AAO 2026 offers both in-person and virtual options. When you register for the in-person meeting in New Orleans, you automatically receive access to the corresponding virtual content. Attendees can also register solely for virtual participation if travel is not possible.

Virtual content covers the main AAO 2026 program as well as Subspecialty Day content from meetings taking place on the same registration day. CME credits are available for virtual participants, and the claim window runs through March 31, 2027.

AAO 2026 IMPORTANT DATES

June 22: Full program and meeting information available in the online Meeting Guide

June 24: Academy, AAOE, and AAOP members can register and reserve hotel rooms

July 8: Nonmembers can register and reserve hotel rooms

August 4: Deadline for Retina Subspecialty Day 2026 Clinical Trial Updates abstract submissions

August 28: Last day for new companies to submit information for exhibitor review

September 11: Deadline to submit an exhibit space application

Exhibiting companies: mark September 11 as the hard deadline. If you are a new company, the intake review process starts as early as February 23 and newly approved companies can purchase space from April 15 onward. Do not wait — space sells fast.

WHO EXHIBITS AT THE AAO ANNUAL MEETING?

The AAO Expo is designed for companies whose products and services are related to ophthalmology or the medical field broadly. The exhibitor community at AAO represents the full commercial landscape of eye care:

Surgical equipment manufacturers — phacoemulsification systems, vitrectomy platforms, laser systems, and surgical visualization

Pharmaceutical companies — treatment innovations for glaucoma, retinal disease, dry eye, infection, and inflammation

Medical device companies — IOLs, corneal inlays, glaucoma drainage devices, and diagnostic instrumentation

Ophthalmic imaging and diagnostics — OCT systems, fundus cameras, topographers, and visual field analyzers

Practice management and EHR software companies — electronic health records, scheduling, billing, and analytics platforms

Refractive surgery technology companies — LASIK platforms, SMILE systems, and phakic IOL manufacturers

Dry eye and anterior segment product companies — therapeutic devices, nutraceuticals, and procedural tools

Ophthalmic education and publishing organizations — journals, clinical resources, and training platforms

Specialty pharmaceutical compounding and dispensing services

Health IT, telemedicine, and remote monitoring platforms for ophthalmic care

Ophthalmic insurance and billing services

Clinical research organizations and trial management services

Eligibility to exhibit is determined by the Academy. Companies with cosmetic products and services are not invited to participate. New companies must submit for review before April 15 to access early space selection, or by August 28 at the absolute latest. Submit via the Exhibitor Portal at aao.org.

EXHIBIT STAND BUILDERS FOR AAO 2026 — WHY INTERIOR TODAY LLC IS THE RIGHT CHOICE

Here is a reality that every exhibiting company at the AAO Annual Meeting eventually learns: the quality of your exhibit stand directly affects how seriously attendees take your company.

The AAO Expo floor is a competitive environment. The companies across from you and beside you have invested in professional, custom-designed exhibit spaces. Physicians walking the floor make snap judgments about a company’s credibility and investment level within the first few seconds of seeing a booth. A generic rental display with pop-up graphics communicates one thing. A purpose-built, custom exhibit stand communicates another entirely.

Interior Today LLC is a US-based trade show booth builder and exhibit stand contractor that specializes in designing and fabricating custom exhibition environments for companies across the medical, pharmaceutical, surgical technology, and healthcare industries. We build exhibit stands for AAO and for the full range of ophthalmic industry events — from compact 10×10 presences to large-scale, multi-structure exhibit environments that fill an entire section of the Expo floor.

What Interior Today LLC delivers for AAO 2026 exhibitors:

Custom Design Tailored to the Medical Audience. The physicians and practice leaders at AAO are sophisticated evaluators. They have seen thousands of booths. A design that reads as clinical, credible, and investment-grade requires medical industry experience. Interior Today understands this audience and designs exhibit environments that communicate trust, quality, and innovation from the first moment of eye contact.

Full-Service Fabrication and Installation. We handle everything from initial design concepts through final fabrication, shipping, on-site installation, and post-show teardown. Your team arrives at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to find a fully built exhibit ready to go. No surprises, no last-minute problems.

Product Display and Demo Integration. Ophthalmic companies often need their booths to do specific jobs: display surgical systems at clinical angles, integrate interactive screens for clinical data presentation, create comfortable consultation areas for in-depth physician conversations, or showcase pharmaceutical packaging with proper lighting and signage. We design for these specific functional requirements, not just for aesthetics.

Inline and Island Booth Configurations. Whether you are working with a 10×10 inline booth, a 20×20 peninsula, or a large 30×50 island space, Interior Today designs and builds at every scale. We optimize every footprint to maximize traffic flow, dwell time, and sales conversation opportunities.

Modular Systems for Multi-Show Exhibitors. Many AAO exhibitors also appear at ARVO, ASCRS, ESCRS, AAO subspecialty events, and other ophthalmic conferences throughout the year. Interior Today builds modular exhibit systems that reconfigure efficiently for different show sizes and floor plans, protecting your investment across multiple events.

Regulatory and Convention Center Compliance. The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has specific structural, safety, and logistics requirements for exhibitors. Interior Today is experienced with major convention center requirements and builds booths that meet venue specifications without delays or complications on-site.

Brand Storytelling at the Highest Level. AAO is where the ophthalmic industry’s reputation is made or reinforced. The brands that dominate the floor year after year are not the ones with the biggest budgets — they are the ones whose exhibit tells a coherent, compelling story. Interior Today’s design team works with your marketing and clinical teams to translate your brand positioning, clinical evidence, and product portfolio into a physical space that communicates clearly to every person who walks past.

If you are exhibiting at AAO 2026 in New Orleans — whether it is your first time on the floor or your fifteenth — contact Interior Today LLC at interiortoday.us to discuss your exhibit requirements. The September 11 deadline for exhibit space applications is a hard stop, and booth design, production, and logistics need to begin well before that. Start the conversation now.

PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO AAO 2026 IN NEW ORLEANS

Getting There: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) serves New Orleans with 15 airlines and more than 50 nonstop destinations. The convention center is accessible from the airport via taxi, rideshare, and shuttle services.

Hotel Reservations: Book only through the Academy’s official hotel reservation provider, Expovision, to guarantee the best available rates and earn hotel loyalty points. Members can book starting June 24; nonmembers starting July 8. Beware of fraudulent housing companies that falsely claim Academy affiliation. Report suspected fraud to meetingfraud@aao.org.

Weather and Attire: October in New Orleans brings warm, pleasant weather with average highs around 80°F and lows around 64°F. Business-conservative or business-casual attire is appropriate for all meeting events. Comfortable shoes are strongly recommended — the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is vast, and there are significant walking distances between halls and sessions.

For International Exhibitors and Attendees: Many international visitors will require a B-1 Business Visitor Visa to enter the United States. Apply no later than 90 days before travel. The Academy provides official invitation letters for visa applications — email exhibitions@aao.org to request one. The Visa Waiver Program is available for citizens of eligible countries through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). International group housing packages are available through AAO International Group Housing at aao-igh.com.

Local Phone Info: New Orleans area code is 504. To call New Orleans from outside the US, dial +1-504 followed by the seven-digit number.

Tipping: A 20% tip is customary in US restaurants, taxis, and for personal services.

Electricity: Standard US voltage is 120V, 60Hz. International visitors may need an adapter for two flat blades, with or without a grounding pin.