AAO 2026 Annual Meeting Guide: Dates, Expo Highlights, and How to Prepare

AAO 2026 Checklist: How to Prepare

A meeting this size gets dramatically easier when you plan a few things in advance. Here is a practical checklist to help you make your AAO week in New Orleans productive and genuinely enjoyable.

1. Register Early 

Secure your badge as soon as possible, especially if you want advance pricing. AAO’s advance pricing deadline is September 9, and fees increase on Sept. 10. AAO also offers in person and virtual options, so you can choose the format that fits your goals.

2. Book Accommodations and Travel

• Stay Nearby: Book your hotel early, ideally in or near downtown and close to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Less commuting means more flexibility to catch early sessions, fit in Expo meetings, and still have energy for evening networking.
• Plan Your Transport: Think through your airport to hotel plan first, then your day to day movement. If you stay central, you can often rely on walking plus rideshare to move between the convention center, dinner spots, and evening meetups.
• Organize your free time, too: If your schedule allows, add an extra day (or more!) to experience the city beyond the convention center. Visit New Orleans curates practical trip planning resources, including getting around, things to do, nightlife, a downtown map, and an events calendar, so you can make the most of your time in NOLA.

3. Plan Your Education Schedule

AAO week is packed, so a little planning upfront makes a huge difference. Start by using the official online Meeting Guide to explore what is happening each day, shortlist the sessions you care about, and build a schedule you can follow once you are on site.
If earning credits matters to you, bake that into your plan early. AAO offers CME for both in person attendance and AAO 2026 Virtual content, and the last day to claim CME is March 31, 2027. CME is also available for Subspecialty Day participation.
Once you have the basics mapped, build your week around two or three “anchors”:

• Start with your clinical focus: If you want a true deep dive, Subspecialty Day gives you eight dedicated meetings across Friday and Saturday, including Retina across two days and dedicated meetings for Cornea, Glaucoma, Refractive Surgery, Uveitis, Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, Paediatric Ophthalmology, and Neuro Ophthalmology.
• Add hands on learning: Skills Transfer is one of the most practical parts of AAO. AAO notes that Skills Transfer lectures are included with in person registration, while labs require a separate lab ticket, so decide early what you want and plan around it.
• Plan for the whole team: If you are attending with technicians, scribes, photographers, or broader clinical staff, the AAOP Clinical Teams Program expands course offerings and includes workshops and instruction courses, with CE credit information listed for eligible sessions. If you are focused on operations, leadership, and reimbursement, the AAOE Practice Management Program includes Friday Intensives, Coding Sessions, and instruction courses across the week.

4. Research Exhibitors and Products

The AAO Expo is spread across Halls D through H, and it is easy to lose time if you walk in without a shortlist. Spending a little time reviewing the exhibitor list ahead of arrival will help you focus on the booths and product areas that matter most to you.

• Use the exhibitor directory: AAO recommends using the Meeting Guide and its Find Exhibitors feature to search by company name, booth number, product categories, medical specialties, common equipment terms, and basic ophthalmic conditions. If you want to move fast onsite, save your favorites so you can route your show floor time more efficiently.
• Build your Expo plan around the on-floor experiences: The Expo is not only booths. AAO highlights spaces and programming like the Academy Hub, plus theaters and learning areas such as the Learning Lounge, Poster Theater, and Poster Panel Discussions, along with Expo activities and talks. These are useful anchors if you want your Expo time to include both discovery and learning.
• Book meetings in advance: If there are vendors or partners you want dedicated time with, reach out early and set a meeting. It is the simplest way to avoid crowds and leave with clear next steps.

Where to find Ocuco at AAO 2026

If you are attending AAO because you want to improve the patient journey beyond the exam room, this is exactly the area we focus on. Ocuco helps ophthalmology and eyecare practices connect the clinical visit to optical retail performance, with workflows that support patient communication, eyewear sales, and inventory management in one coordinated experience. In the US ophthalmology market, we are doing this in partnership with Nextech by integrating Ocuco’s omnichannel optical platform, Acuitas 3, with Nextech’s Ophthalmic Platform. This helps ophthalmology teams connect diagnosis and treatment to optical operations, including patient communication, eyewear sales, and inventory, with clearer operational visibility and real time insights across both clinical and retail operations.

⇒ You can find Ocuco at Booth 4012. You can also meet us with our partner Nextech at Booth 2027.

5. Networking Beyond the Expo

Some of the most valuable connections happen away from the booths. Setting aside time for these moments can open doors you will not find during regular show hours. Here are a few opportunities to keep on your radar at AAO 2026.

• Networking Zones (on the show floor): AAO highlights dedicated networking areas inside the Expo, including Networking Zone 1 (Hall C) and Networking Zone 2 (Hall G), designed to give you space to meet, reset, and keep conversations moving between booth visits.
• New Orleans Marketplace (a local break without leaving the Expo): AAO also features the New Orleans Marketplace, where you can enjoy food and local craft beer while browsing products from local artisans and vendors.
• Illuminate (the signature Saturday night event): For a dedicated evening built around community, AAO’s signature Saturday night event is Illuminate, hosted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology Foundation. It takes place at Generations Hall in New Orleans on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Tickets are limited.

⇒ Practical tip: Pick one networking moment per day and protect it on your calendar. At AAO, your schedule can fill up fast with sessions, Expo walks, and last minute meetings. If you do not intentionally reserve time for networking, it usually becomes rushed hallway chats. A protected slot gives you space to have real conversations, meet people beyond your immediate circle, and build the kind of human connection that often leads to insights, collaborations, and business later, even when the conversation does not start with business.

6. Pack the Essentials

A successful AAO week often comes down to having the right gear and attire. New Orleans in October can feel warm outside and cool indoors, so plan for layers you can add or remove throughout the day. The forecast suggests daytime highs can range from about 23°C to 32°C, with overnight lows between about 14°C and 24°C. In other words, pack for warm afternoons, cooler evenings, and cold air-conditioned rooms. Use this as a planning guide, then check the week of forecast again as your travel dates get closer.

• Comfortable, Professional Attire: Aim for business casual clothing and shoes you are happy to wear all day. You will be on your feet for long stretches, so prioritize comfort as much as style. Bring a light layer so you can move easily between the warm outdoors and cooler air conditioned rooms.
• Business Cards: Have your business details ready to share. You will meet speakers, exhibitors, and peers, and you will want an easy way to exchange information. Bring a good supply of physical business cards and keep a digital option ready too, such as a vCard or a LinkedIn profile QR code.
• Tech and Supplies: A fully charged smartphone and a portable charger are essential. Your phone will double as your camera, notepad, schedule tool, and navigation. Pack a small notepad and pen for quick notes, plus a sturdy tote or backpack for brochures and materials. Add a reusable water bottle and a couple of snacks to keep your energy up during long days.

7. Define Your Objectives 

Set your objectives before you arrive. AAO is a big week with a lot happening at once, and having a few clear priorities will help you navigate sessions, the Expo, and networking without feeling pulled in every direction. Consider what matters most to you:

• Looking to compare new technologies, pharmaceuticals, or services on the Expo floor
• Planning to build skills through hands on learning and structured training
• Focused on earning CME and staying current on clinical updates
• Investing in operational improvements such as workflow, coding, or practice management
• Prioritizing networking and relationship building across the ophthalmology community

Write down two or three goals before you arrive. It will make it much easier to choose what to attend, who to meet, and what to follow up on once you are back home.