What to expect at the AAP 2026 National Conference & Exhibition

Pediatricians gathering in San Diego for the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2026 conference will have opportunities to explore some of the most pressing issues affecting children, families, and clinical practice, from generative artificial intelligence (AI) and health misinformation to vaccines, nutrition, behavioral health, and infectious diseases.

The conference, scheduled for October 2 through 6, features clinical sessions, plenaries, new research, and discussions designed to translate emerging evidence and guidance into pediatric practice. The agenda also reflects challenges pediatricians increasingly encounter outside the examination room, including social media misinformation and rapidly changing technology.

AI, misinformation, and digital health take center stage

Technology and online health information will be recurring themes. On October 4, “5 Things Every Pediatrician Should Know about Generative AI” will examine the use of generative AI in pediatric clinical care. R. Brandon Hunter, MD, FAAP, will lead the session.

Another session, “So You Think You Can Scroll? The Essential Guide for Navigating Health Misinformation,” will provide strategies for identifying and responding to inaccurate health information on social media while maintaining professional credibility, led by Zachary Rubin, MD.

The topic extends into other areas of pediatric care. Friday sessions will address online environmental health claims and the growing skin care market targeting children and adolescents, while a Sunday seminar will focus on misinformation surrounding breastfeeding.

An AAP influencer panel on October 3 will bring together Mikhail “Doctor Mike” Varshavski, DO; Ari Brown, MD; Leah Rappaport, MD; and Tommy Martin, MD, for a discussion about child health conversations occurring online and offline.

Clinical updates across pediatric practice

The agenda includes sessions addressing common and complex clinical questions. Friday’s programming features updates on type 1 diabetes technology and treatment, dermatologic emergencies, and distinguishing respiratory manifestations of long COVID from asthma and other cardiopulmonary conditions.

Vaccination will be a focus throughout the meeting. An October 3 vaccine update will review the current schedule and explain how the AAP develops its annual recommendations. On October 5, the “Meet the Red Book Committee” session will provide additional immunization updates and discuss an updated AAP policy statement addressing consumption of unpasteurized milk and milk products during pregnancy and childhood.

Nutrition and eating disorders also feature prominently. Sessions will examine prevention and recognition of eating disorders among youth with overweight and obesity, evidence surrounding prebiotics and probiotics, and practical pediatric management of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder.

Guidance pediatricians can bring back to practice

Later sessions will address behavioral health and implementation of new clinical guidance. “Preschool Petulance: When is it a Problem?” will review screening and interventions for clinically significant irritability, while a Monday session will focus on putting the new AAP urinary tract infection guideline into practice, including recommendations for diagnosis, treatment, and imaging.

Plenary programming will broaden the discussion to issues including childhood vaccination, adolescent loneliness and isolation, changes in adolescent substance risks, and children’s health coverage.

Together, the agenda provides pediatricians with a mix of clinical updates and practical strategies for navigating a changing health information environment while addressing challenges encountered in day-to-day pediatric care.