Top 26 Healthcare & Technology Leadership Events to Attend in 2026

A curated AI brief for healthcare leaders planning 2026, highlighting the conferences where real decisions, partnerships, and technology direction take shape.

A New Year-Edition of our AI Brief for Healthcare Leaders

The coming year promises another wave of technological breakthroughs, regulatory changes and workforce pressures. Healthcare executives need curated insight into where the most important discussions will happen.

Just as we have done in previous years, we’ve assembled a concise list of 26 high‑impact healthcare and technology leadership events you should consider adding to your calendar in 2026. These conferences aren’t just another set of dates, they’re catalysts for strategic partnerships, AI adoption, operational efficiencies, and policy shifts.

Below you’ll find a quick explanation of why each conference matters, along with dates and locations.

Use this guide to coordinate travel budgets, identify thought‑leadership opportunities, and align conference attendance with strategic priorities such as AI governance, digital transformation, compliance, workforce optimization, interoperability and investment strategy.

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1. CES 2026 Digital Health Summit - Las Vegas, NV (January 6-9)

The digital‑health pavilion at CES features live demonstrations of AI‑powered consumer devices, robotics and longevity technologies. Policymakers, tech‑company executives and health‑system leaders attend to scout emerging innovations and consumer health trends.

Learn more: CES 2026 Digital Health Summit

2. 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference - San Francisco, CA (January 12-15)

This flagship investment symposium convenes global industry leaders, innovators and investors to discuss precision medicine, digital therapeutics and capital trends. It sets the tone for the year’s healthcare strategy and investment landscape. Executives gain a front‑row view into value‑creation models and partnerships shaping the business of health.

Learn more: J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

3. Fierce JPM Week - San Francisco, CA (January 13-14)

Running alongside the J.P. Morgan conference, Fierce JPM Week brings together biotech, pharma and medical‑device executives to explore current sector trends and investment opportunities. It’s ideal for leaders seeking market intelligence without the formality of the main conference.

Learn more: Fierce JPM Week

4. AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference - San Antonio, TX (February 8-11)

Hosted by the American Hospital Association, this meeting offers workshops, leadership boot camps and solutions for rural healthcare workforce challenges. It’s designed for rural CEOs, administrators and public‑health leaders seeking pragmatic strategies for strengthening care models in resource‑limited communities.

Learn more: AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference

5. ViVE 2026 - Los Angeles, CA (February 22-25)

CHIME and HLTH curate this digital‑health event where generative AI, cybersecurity and revenue‑cycle management are front and centre. The program includes matchmaking for providers and payers, making it a strong choice for forging partnerships around digital transformation.

Learn more: ViVE

6. 16th Annual State HIT Connect Summit - New Orleans, LA (February 23-26)

Now in its 16th year, the summit focuses on transforming the health‑and‑human‑services ecosystem with tracks on CMS readiness, AI‑powered automation and equitable service delivery. Attendees include state agency leaders, health‑information exchanges and Medicaid payers.

Learn more: State HIT Connect Summit

7. ACHE Congress on Healthcare Leadership - Houston, TX (March 2-4)

ACHE’s flagship Congress offers hundreds of sessions on leadership models, workforce engagement, financial sustainability and system integration. It’s an immersive environment for C‑suite leaders to exchange strategies and expand their professional community.

Learn more: ACHE Congress on Healthcare Leadership

8. HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition - Las Vegas, NV (March 9-12)

HIMSS26 remains the world’s largest health‑IT event, with 600+ educational sessions covering healthcare reform, data governance and clinical informatics. Executives can explore cybersecurity, interoperability and digital‑care platforms while networking with vendors and peers.

Learn more: HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition

9. SXSW Health & MedTech Track - Austin, TX (March 16-18)

Part of the SXSW Innovation Conference, the Health Track showcases cutting‑edge technologies in longevity, life‑extension and mental health. Sessions highlight how holistic approaches and AI‑powered tools are redefining the future of health and wellness.

Learn more: SXSW Health & MedTech Track

10. RISE National 2026 - Orlando, FL (March 23-25)

Marketed as a “Medicare Advantage mega event,” RISE National covers member experience, risk adjustment and regulatory compliance. It gathers quality, risk and member‑experience professionals who need insight into CMS policy changes.

Learn more: RISE National 2026

11. Health 2.0 Conference - Las Vegas, NV (April 7-9)

Themed “The Great Healthcare Shake‑Up,” this conference includes panels on what makes a startup stand out and what future‑ready health systems look like. Networking sessions and a business‑card exchange make it ideal for innovators and investors.

Learn more: Health 2.0 Conference

12. Becker’s Hospital Review 16th Annual Meeting - Chicago, IL (April 13-16)

Becker’s brings together hospital and health‑system executives for discussions on AI integration, operational solutions and staffing strategies. Expect expert‑led sessions, fireside chats and celebrity keynotes.

Learn more: Becker’s Hospital Review 16th Annual Meeting

13. NEXT 2026 (Net Health Conference) - Phoenix, AZ (April 20-23)

Net Health’s event provides hands‑on training and strategy sessions on using EMR software and analytics to improve clinical and business outcomes. Post‑acute care leaders, rehab therapists and wound‑care specialists will find actionable takeaways.

Learn more: NEXT 2026

14. Health Evolution Summit - Dana Point, CA (April 21-23)

An invitation‑only retreat, the Health Evolution Summit convenes CEOs from health systems, plans and life‑science organizations to debate pressing challenges across services, IT and life sciences. Participation requires an application but offers unmatched peer exchange.

Learn more: Health Evolution Summit

15. Digital Healthcare Innovation Summit (DHIS) East - Boston, MA (April 27-28)

CHI’s annual summit covers direct‑to‑consumer healthcare, underserved populations, policy shifts and distributed care models. Investors, early‑stage companies and insurance executives participate in interactive panels and breakout sessions.

Learn more: DHIS East

16. AMIA Amplify Informatics Conference - Denver, CO (May 18-21)

For the first time AMIA merges its Clinical Informatics Conference and Informatics Summit into one event, featuring exhibits, poster sessions and signature talks on informatics, AI and data science. It’s essential for clinical informatics professionals and researchers.

Learn more: AMIA Conference

17. Bio‑IT World Conference & Expo - Boston, MA & Virtual (May 18-21)

Celebrating its 25th year, Bio‑IT World explores converging science and IT to advance precision medicine. Keynotes, technical sessions and hands‑on symposia cover digital and data transformation across life sciences.

Learn more: Bio-IT World Conference & Expo

18. Digital Health 2026 (Reuters Events) - Chicago, IL (May 20-21)

This conference tackles the unsustainability of current care models and showcases technologies designed to enhance the workforce and improve access. Senior digital‑health leaders and CIOs attend for real‑world case studies and targeted networking.

Learn more: Digital Health 2026 (Reuters Events)

19. HealthSec USA Summit - Boston, MA (June 9-10)

Dedicated to cybersecurity, the summit offers hands‑on learning on protecting medical devices, securing patient data and mastering HIPAA regulations. It’s geared toward IT and security leaders from providers, payers and life‑science firms.

Learn more: HealthSec Summit

20. AMA Annual Meeting (House of Delegates) - Chicago, IL (June 5-10)

The AMA House of Delegates gathers physicians and policymakers to debate healthcare policy. The 2026 meeting is scheduled for June 6-10 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. It’s the place to understand emerging regulations and advocacy priorities.

Learn more: AMA Annual Meeting

21. HFMA Annual Conference (AC26) - National Harbor, MD (June 7-10)

The Healthcare Financial Management Association’s annual conference brings together 3,500+ finance leaders. The 2026 event will be held June 7-10 in National Harbor, Maryland. Topics include revenue cycle, payment models and financial strategy.

Learn more: hfma Annual Conference

22. Digital Health & AI Innovation Summit - Boston, MA (June 8-9)

Organized by World BI and SkyMedAI, this summit focuses on wearable sensors, gamified patient engagement and adaptive clinical trials. It attracts leaders from pharmaceutical, med‑tech and technology companies.

Learn more: DHAI Summit

23. ASHE Health Care Facilities Innovation Conference - Minneapolis, MN (August 2-5)

ASHE’s flagship conference focuses on facility safety and patient safety. It features solutions to maintain resilient, sustainable healthcare environments and networking with 3,000+ facility‑management professionals. Expect insights on energy management, compliance and technology‑driven operations.

Learn more: ASHE Conference

24. World Medical Innovation Forum (WMIF2026) - Boston, MA (September 22-23)

Hosted by Mass General Brigham and Bank of America, WMIF2026 gathers global leaders to discuss investment trends, technology developments and regulatory barriers that shape patient care. It’s an important forum for C‑suite executives seeking insight into cutting‑edge therapies and investment opportunities.

Learn more: World Medical Innovation Forum

25. NCQA Health Innovation Summit - Atlanta, GA (October 4-7)

NCQA’s summit slated for Oct. 4‑7, 2026 in Atlanta brings together leaders across the quality spectrum. Sessions blend strategy and action with a focus on value‑based care, health‑equity measurement and digital‑quality solutions.

Learn more: NCQA Summit

26. HLTH 2026 - Las Vegas, NV (November 15-18)

HLTH is one of the largest digital‑health forums of the year, covering AI, emerging diagnostics and workforce well‑being. The event attracts executives from Fortune 500 companies, startups, investors and policymakers, offering a panoramic view of healthcare innovation.

Learn more: HLTH

2026 Is About Choosing Where to Show Up

These 26 events provide healthcare leaders with opportunities to network with peers, engage in strategic debate and discover innovations across AI, data interoperability, cybersecurity, finance and operations.

Choose deliberately to attend fewer events, but the right ones aligned to your organization’s strategic priorities. If your goal is to sharpen investment insight, start the year at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. For operational excellence and revenue‑cycle strategy, HFMA’s Annual Conference will be critical.

To explore the forefront of AI and digital health, ViVE, the Digital Health & AI Innovation Summit and HLTH provide comprehensive coverage.

Planning early ensures you secure budget, travel arrangements and potential speaking opportunities. As AI and digital transformation accelerate, being in the room where decisions are made will position your organization to lead rather than follow.

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