Credit:
Courtesy of Varnika Roy
A recap of ACS Fall 2026
In Chicago, the American Chemical Society Committee on Meetings and Expositions (M&E) welcomed more than 13,000 presenters, attendees—including over 4,000 first-time attendees—and exhibitors for a week of scientific exchange, collaboration, and networking.
Registration enhancements continued to improve the attendee experience and included convention center food and beverage vouchers, discounts for participants from emerging economies, additional drink tickets for the ACS Connect Reception and Sci-Mix, and a registration refund program. Major programming highlights included a special ACS 150th keynote lecture delivered by 2019 Nobel laureate M. Stanley Whittingham, the ACS150 JACS Symposium Series, and the ACS Board of Directors Open Meeting and ChemLuminary Awards, which served as the opening plenary session. New meeting enhancements included the use of Bold Reuse reusable cups to promote sustainability at the ACS Connect Reception and Sci-Mix; expanded ACS Member Lounge activities featuring Member Lounge Theater, the Committee on Chemists with Disabilities (CWD) Brand Hub, and booths for future meetings and their local section hosts; and the introduction of live transcription services by Wordly to increase accessibility for meeting sessions and events.
The ACS Fall 2026 exposition provided an engaging and dynamic environment for attendees, fostering scientific discovery, professional networking, and career development. The expo hall opened with a lively performance by bucket drummers, creating an energetic atmosphere and welcoming attendees into the space. Throughout the week, attendees explored a wide range of exhibitor booths, participated in the ACS Career Fair, and attended programming in two expo theaters. A new pilot initiative, the Pharma Zone, highlighted exhibitors, products, and solutions tailored to the pharmaceutical community, creating a dedicated space for industry engagement and innovation. The Wellness Lounge and Bonding Zone offered attendees an opportunity to recharge while on the show floor, featuring activities such as massage therapy, interactive games, and a coloring corner. Together, these experiences enhanced the overall attendee journey by supporting learning, connection, and well-being.
A recap of 2026 ACS regional meetings
In addition to the ACS Spring and Fall meetings, ACS events staff manage a wide range of regional and specialty meetings throughout the year. Regional meetings held thus far in 2026 include the following:
• Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting (MARM) from May 17 to 19 in Hershey, Pennsylvania
• Northwest Regional Meeting (NORM) from June 28 to July 1 in Boise, Idaho
“The ACS Fall 2026 exposition provided an engaging and dynamic environment for attendees, fostering scientific discovery, professional networking, and career development.”
Looking ahead, several regional meetings remain on the calendar, including the following:
• Midwest Regional Meeting (MWRM)—Oct. 25–27
• Southeastern Regional Meeting (SERMACS)—Nov. 4–7
• Central Regional Meeting (CERM)—Nov. 15–17
• Southwest Regional Meeting (SWRM)—Nov. 16–19
If you attended ACS Fall 2026, I hope you had the opportunity to stop by the Regional Meeting Community Reception on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the Marriott Marquis Chicago. The reception provided a great opportunity for attendees to learn more about ACS regional meetings, connect with organizers, and explore ways to get involved. The Regional Meetings Resource Portal serves as a valuable hub for planning tools, organizer training, and quarterly topic-focused learning sessions designed to support meeting organizers and volunteers.
A look at 2026 specialty meetings
The Atlantic Basin Conference on Chemistry 2026 is quickly approaching and will take place Dec. 6–9 in Rio de Janeiro, with all conference events taking place at the Windsor Barra Hotel and Windsor Expo Center. The conference will be hosted by eight organizing societies with the theme “Chemistry for Global Impact: Strategic Partnerships for Sustainable Innovation.” There is still time to grab early bird tickets; early bird pricing ends on Sept. 25. Emerging economy discounts are available to members residing in countries with emerging economies.
Looking to ACS Spring 2027
Plans are in full swing. ACS Spring 2027 will be held in person in New Orleans, March 21–25. The deadline to submit an abstract is Sept. 28, and presenters will receive acceptance notices in December. Registration will also open in December. ACS will continue to host the Priestly Medalist Award Address and the ACS Board’s Open Meeting, this time on Sunday, March 21, 2027, as the opening plenary, followed by a 1 h ACS Connect Happy Hour.
Beginning in 2027, the digital meeting will be a standalone meeting, separate from the spring and fall meetings. This new approach will include two new pilots: a global digital meeting and a division-specific digital meeting.
We hope you can join us at an ACS meeting in 2027. As always, feedback is welcomed at M&[email protected].
ACS publishes C&EN but is not involved in editorial decisions.
Views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of C&EN or ACS.
