Prepare for San Diego, California, October 2-6, 2026!

We want to hear from you! Turn your expert knowledge into a session at the 2026 National Conference.

2026 National Conference Submission Deadlines

Due November 14, 2025

• General Session Proposals 
• Requests for Section/Council Programs & Courses/ Faculty suggestions for Core Sessions 

Due March 13, 2026: Plenary Session Proposals

Due April 10, 2026: Abstract submissions
Call for Abstracts will open February 2026

For drafting purposes only.

Seminar

Traditional presentation format with slide-based lecture.

• Time: 60 Minutes
• Learning Methods: Lecture/didactic presentation with slides.
• Faculty are encouraged to use cases, informal audience polls and questions& answers to engage the audience.
• Room-Set: Theater seating; faculty in front of room with podium.
• Seminars will be placed in the largest rooms and should expect between 150-500 attendees.
• An audience response system may be available for a select few seminars.

Workshop

Interactive workshop format which but should spend most time with audience interacting with each other and faculty. A simple room set-up of rounds tables and small groups will encourage engagement.

• Time: 90 Minutes
• Learning Methods: Interactive format which may include didactic/lecture with slides; pro-con debate; round-table discussions; role-play; simulation; audience competitions; think-pair-share; audience collaboration; or crowdsourced discussion.
• Room-Set: This session will be set in round tables and will have limited the number of attendees in a small (80-100) to medium (100-150) room.
• Faculty will have access to a podium and standard A/V.

Laboratory

Ticketed hands-on laboratories where faculty and teaching assistants will teach hands-on skills for a limited audience.

• Time: 90 Minutes, the majority of which should be spent learning a hands-on skill.
• Learning Methods: Hands-on skill-based learning where attendees may listen to a limited didactic/lecture and then engage with equipment, other attendees/faculty or teaching assistants or others to learn a hands-on skill.
• Room-Set: Clinical skills labs will be in variable room set-ups based on the needs of the hands-on learning.
• Examples of skill provided in the past: Wound Care & Suture; Casting & Splinting Otoscopy
• Special Notes: Paid ticket will be required

Section/council programs are highly focused topics of interest to section or council members and/or general pediatric providers, which require and assume that the attendee has knowledge and interest in the content area. These programs are planned and implemented by section or council program chairs, in conjunction with the National Conference Planning Group and staff. They may include aspects such as: awards, business meetings, educational content targeted to members of the section/council and/or abstract presentations. These sessions are open to all registered National Conference attendees. 

Requests for section/council programs must be submitted by November 14. Please complete the form below and return to ncesubmissions@aap.org.  

Courses are half or full-day specialty programming, which are planned and implemented by an AAP section, council or other internal constituency group. These specialty sessions offer hands-on education, deep-dive discussion, or are tailored to a specific audience. Courses may require a paid ticket to offset equipment or meal costs.

AAP Section & Councils should hold on inviting faculty or developing agendas until they receive an acceptance notification.  Program chairs and staff should receive notifications in December. 

Suggested faculty only accepted from Section/Council Representatives 

The National Conference Planning Group has designated a number of pre-accepted “Core Sessions” which will not need to be submitted as a new proposal. The below list of sessions will be automatically accepted and slated into the 2025 program.

The Planning Group will be in contact with Section/Council Representatives to receive faculty suggestions for the Core Sessions listed. The Planning Group will review, select and invite faculty for Core Sessions. 

The Call for Plenary Sessions will open February 2026

Deadline: March 13, 2026

Plenary sessions are a place for all National Conference attendees to come together to hear experts on cross-cutting topics. These sessions are high-level lectures addressing cutting-edge, crucial or emergent clinical topics for pediatric care and should be of broad interest and importance to all attendees. Plenaries are 20-minute presentations by a single speaker on the main stage of the National Conference and must be designated for CME credit. 

The Call for Abstracts will open February 2026

Deadline: April 10, 2026

The National Conference accepts abstracts of case reports, original research, program evaluations, quality improvement projects, and advocacy projects for presentation within various section and council programs. Section/council programs are developed by AAP member specialty and subspecialty communities to provide a forum for the advanced discussion of clinical matters, research developments, or special interest areas. The 2026 Call for Abstracts will be open from February to Friday, April 10, 2026.