ADA 2026 Scientific Session Indianapolis: Complete Guide for Exhibitors + Build Your Dental Trade Show Booth with Interior Today LLC

Event: ADA 2026 Scientific Session
Dates: October 8–10, 2026
Venue: Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
Exhibit Hall Opens: Thursday, October 8 at 9:00 a.m.
Organized by: American Dental Association (ADA)
Contact for Sponsorship: ADASales@conexiant.com

What Is the ADA 2026 Scientific Session?

The ADA 2026 Scientific Session is the American Dental Association’s premier annual conference — the most important gathering in the dental industry calendar. Held October 8–10, 2026 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, this event is designed specifically for dental professionals who value credible, research-driven education and practical clinical guidance they can apply in their practice from day one.

Previously known as ADA SmileCon, the 2026 edition refocuses as the ADA 2026 Scientific Session with an intentional shift toward what matters most: better patient outcomes through evidence-based continuing education. The program delivers clinical guideline-based CE rooted in the latest science and peer-reviewed research, making it distinctly different from general dental trade shows or regional meetings.

For dental suppliers, dental technology companies, equipment manufacturers, practice management solution providers, pharmaceutical brands, and any business serving the dental profession, the ADA 2026 Scientific Session is the single most valuable event of the year to exhibit at. The audience is not casual — it is practicing dentists who are actively evaluating solutions, implementing clinical guidelines, and making purchasing decisions for their practices.

The 2026 Scientific Session will be held alongside the Indiana Dental Association Center of Excellence program, expanding the professional reach of the event even further in the Indianapolis area.

Why Exhibiting at the ADA 2026 Scientific Session Is the Right Decision

Three things make this event stand apart from every other dental trade show or conference in the calendar.

First, the audience is exceptionally well-qualified. Attendees are practicing dentists seeking current clinical guidelines, research-backed education, and immediately applicable insights. They come to the ADA Scientific Session specifically to improve their practice — and they arrive open to thoughtful product discussions and supplier solutions that support better clinical outcomes. This is not a passive audience browsing out of curiosity. These are professionals actively evaluating the products and solutions they will use with real patients.

Second, the program is dentist-first by design. The ADA describes this as intentional focus with greater impact. Every CE course, general session, and exhibit hall activation is designed around what dentists need, which means exhibitors benefit from an attendee mindset that is already primed for relevant, practice-enhancing conversations.

Third, the engagement converts. Purpose-driven attendees in an evidence-based environment create high-quality leads and meaningful product discussions. If your brand offers something that genuinely helps dental professionals serve their patients better, this is where you will find the most receptive audience in the industry.

ADA 2026 Scientific Session – Full Event Schedule

Wednesday, October 7 Attendee registration opens at the Indiana Convention Center, Level 1, in the Crossroads Hallway outside Hall D. Early badge pickup is strongly recommended to avoid lines on Thursday.

Thursday, October 8 The main conference day opens with the Exhibit Hall running from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. followed by the Happy Hour in the Exhibit Hall from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. All exhibitors and badge holders have complimentary access to both the General Session and the Happy Hour on Thursday. CE presentations and panel sessions run throughout the day.

Friday, October 9 The Exhibit Hall is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CE sessions continue throughout the day.

Saturday, October 10 The Exhibit Hall is open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for the final half-day of the show. The House of Delegates begins October 10 and runs through October 13.

Continuing Education at the ADA 2026 Scientific Session

The ADA 2026 Scientific Session CE program is built around three core pillars that define the year’s curriculum and directly shape what dentists are discussing, evaluating, and purchasing during the event.

Clinical Guidelines is the first pillar, focusing on improving standards and procedures for increased confidence and better patient outcomes. Sessions here are built on the latest ADA clinical guideline updates, including oral cancer screening, radiography guidelines, and evidence-based treatment protocols.

Oral Systemic Health is the second pillar, covering the deep connection between oral health and whole-body health. This is one of the fastest-growing areas of dental research and practice, making it a high-attention topic for dentists seeking to expand their clinical scope.

JADA Research-Driven Insights is the third pillar, where CE topics are directly informed by the latest peer-reviewed research published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. This gives exhibitors a clear window into what clinical topics dentists are most focused on — and what product categories are most relevant to their practice evolution.

Continuing education is delivered through three formats: Presentations, Panels, and Hands-On Workshops. The Hands-On Workshops are particularly valuable as they generate the highest levels of attendee engagement and skill acquisition, and they attract dentists who are most actively updating their clinical capabilities.

The All-Access Hands-On Workshop Add-On Pass is available for $1,350, giving Conference Pass holders access to all live Hands-On Workshops across the event at a saving of over 20% compared to purchasing individual workshops at $349 each. Limited passes are available.

ADA 2026 Scientific Session Registration Pricing

All passes provide access for the full three-day event, October 8–10. Advanced pricing is available before September 28, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

For ADA Member Dentists including graduate students, retired dentists, and international members, the advanced Conference Pass rate is $699 and the standard rate is $1,099. The Exhibit Hall Only pass is free at the advanced rate and $25 at standard pricing.

For Nonmember Dentists, the advanced Conference Pass is $1,049 and the standard rate is $1,649. Exhibit Hall Only is $25 advanced and $50 standard. International nonmember dentists can add a $100 ADA membership fee at registration and receive member pricing.

For Dental Team members, the Conference Pass is $349 advanced and $549 standard. Exhibit Hall Only is free advanced and $25 standard.

For Students including current-year dental school graduates, dental students, dental team students, and pre-dental students, the Conference Pass is $49 at both advanced and standard rates. The Exhibit Hall Only pass is free.

ADA early-career member dentists who are one to five years out of dental school receive 50% off their registration — a strong incentive that brings a particularly growth-oriented segment of the dental profession into the exhibit hall.

Dental Practice Group Discounts are available for teams of three or more member dentists or team members registering together for Conference Passes. Three passes earn $50 off each, four passes earn $100 off each, and five or more passes earn $150 off each. All registrants must be on the same registration record.

Exhibiting at the ADA 2026 Scientific Session – Booth Pricing and Inclusions

Standard 10×10 booth space is priced at $4,800. Corner 10×10 booths carry an additional $800 add-on fee.

Every exhibitor booth at the ADA 2026 Scientific Session includes a comprehensive package worth significantly more than the booth fee alone. Inclusions are complimentary access to the General Session on Thursday and the Happy Hour on Thursday evening, six exhibit hall personnel badges, access to the pre-show opt-in attendee list including full name, title, and organization two weeks before the event, exclusive access to the exhibitor networking lounge which includes three complimentary breakfasts and two receptions with a combined value of $1,700, and a complimentary exhibitor marketing kit to help promote your presence to attendees before the show.

The pre-show attendee list access is one of the most valuable inclusions in this package. Having full name, title, and organization information two weeks in advance gives your team the ability to pre-qualify, pre-schedule, and pre-communicate with your most important prospects before you even set foot on the show floor.

Sponsorship Opportunities at the ADA 2026 Scientific Session

The ADA 2026 Scientific Session offers a comprehensive range of sponsorship packages for companies that want elevated visibility beyond their booth presence. All sponsorship and advertising inquiries should be directed to ADASales@conexiant.com.

The Attendee Tote Bag sponsorship at $10,800 (exclusive, 1 available) puts your brand front and center on every tote bag carried by every attendee throughout the event, paired with a sponsor-provided promotional insert inside the bag.

The Attendee Lanyard sponsorship at $1,850 (exclusive, 1 available) places your brand on every attendee’s badge lanyard — a walking, visible brand impression for the entire duration of the conference.

The Attendee Tote Bag Insert at $2,250 (3 available) drives attendees to your booth with a promotional insert placed in every attendee tote bag.

On-Site Signage starting at $3,000 (limited availability) places your brand in high-visibility areas throughout the Indiana Convention Center during the Scientific Session, ensuring maximum exposure to all attendees. Specific signage opportunities can be discussed with your ADA Sales Representative.

The Brand Exclusive Email at $1,750 delivers two fully branded emails from your company to all registered attendees, available both pre-conference and post-conference. This is unlimited availability, meaning any exhibitor can purchase this option.

Scientific Session Email Sponsored Content at $1,500 each (limited) places your content block in an official ADA 2026 Scientific Session email to all registered and prospective attendees. Available from April through September 2026 — giving you months of pre-show brand visibility.

Hotel Key Cards starting at $7,250 put your logo and message on the guest key cards used by attendees every day of their stay. You can choose from select hotels in the room block or all participating hotels.

Hotel Block Room Drops at $8 per drop with a minimum of 500 rooms delivers your message or promotional item directly into attendees’ hotel rooms before they start their day.

The General Session Breakfast sponsorship at $17,500 (exclusive, 1 available) sponsors the first meal of the Scientific Session, creating a powerful, positive brand association as dentists begin their conference experience. This includes inclusion in all pre-show and on-site marketing, on-site signage throughout the breakfast, branded high-boy tabletop clings (up to 10), and the opportunity to provide branded napkins, cups, and giveaways.

Mobile App Sponsorship

The ADA 2026 Scientific Session mobile app engages attendees pre-show, on-site, and post-show — making it one of the highest-frequency brand touchpoints of the entire event.

The Daily Exclusive Package at $5,500 (3 available) includes two push notifications, an interstitial page ad, and a rotating banner ad. À la carte options include individual push notifications at $1,000 each and rotating banner ads and in-line ads on the Schedule page at $1,500 each.

The Show Special via Mobile App at $1,000 per special (unlimited) brings attendees directly to your booth with special offers or giveaways featured in the app so all attendees can access them throughout the event.

Educational Sponsorship Opportunities

CE Lectures and Workshops sponsorships start at $1,500 per course (limited availability) and allow companies to support an evidence-based presentation, panel, or hands-on workshop aligned with their clinical focus area, brand, or product. Supported topics can cover clinical guidelines, oral systemic health, or JADA research-driven insights.

This is one of the most credible brand-building opportunities in dental trade shows — your company’s name associated with legitimate, peer-reviewed clinical education puts you in a category of trusted partner rather than just an exhibitor.

Bundle Packages for Greater Value

The ADA 2026 Scientific Session offers three curated bundle packages that combine pre-conference and on-site sponsorship elements at savings compared to purchasing individually.

The Pre-Conference Digital Package at $5,650 includes two sponsored content ads in ADA 2026 Scientific Session marketing emails, two brand-exclusive emails to registered attendees, and an ad in all attendee registration confirmation emails.

The Booth Driver Package at $6,500 includes a hotel room drop delivering a promotional flyer to 500 dentists, a Show Special via the mobile app, and two app push notifications per day — a powerful combination designed to funnel attendee foot traffic directly to your exhibit stand.

The First Impression Package at $7,950 includes a tote bag insert, a mobile app in-line Schedule ad, and a $4,500 on-site signage credit — combining tangible, physical visibility with digital reach for a well-rounded first impression strategy.