Insider Scoop: What's Cookin' Onsite

Cardiology asked ACC.26 Chair Katie Berlacher, MD, MS, FACC, Vice Chair Julie Damp, MD, FACC, and CV Team Lead Kristen Campbell, PharmD, CPP, FACC, about some of the newer aspects of ACC.26 they are most excited about. Here are their top picks:

Immersive Learning at Its Best

One of the hottest and most active areas of the conference, the Personalized Skills Zone is a "can't miss" spot that is sure to enhance learning for everyone. Interactive simulation stations and dynamic expert-led cases will offer hands-on learning for cardiac and pulmonary POCUS, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, transvenous pacing as well as TEE use in the setting of structural interventions. Attendees can also practice pulmonary artery catheter interpretation and VA ECMO use, cheer on their favorite team in the STEMI Smackdown competition, or compete themselves in this year's Escape Room where teams race against the clock to manage a simulated pulmonary embolism or a cardiac arrest.

Chat With the Experts

Meet-Up Zone 1 in the Lounge & Learn Pavilion will be the home for a series of "After Chats," allowing for more informal discussions and interactions with faculty, trialists, guideline authors and other experts. Highlights include:

• 'Meet the Trialists' sessions where attendees can ask follow-up questions and dive deeper into the science behind the LBCTs.
• 'Meet the Experts' sessions where attendees can discuss the nuances of recent guidelines with the authors who developed them.
• 'Between Hope and Harm' where attendees will be able to explore challenges of guiding patients and families through urgent, value-driven choices with critical care cardiologists and palliative care specialists.

An INTENSIVE Look at AI

Back by popular demand, the ACC.26 Intensive will focus on artificial intelligence (AI). Intensive sessions will address practical implementation of AI in daily patient care, as well as essential approaches to AI financing and AI governance. New this year, the AI Intensive also will go beyond standard sessions and extend to both the After Chat area and the Personalized Skills Zone, where attendees can speak with AI experts leading efforts across the field and get hands-on practice to learn the best ways to prompt generative AI models. Check out the ACC's online AI Resource Center at ACC.org/AI in the meantime.

You Voted, We Delivered

For the second year in a row, we are excited to bring back the crowd‑sourced session – built from a topic suggested and voted on by ACC members. This year's pick dives into one of the most talked‑about trends in medicine: concierge and direct reimbursement models. A panel of clinicians who live this work every day will break down what's really involved, giving attendees a candid look at the opportunities, challenges, and real‑world impact for both patients and practitioners.

Keys to Inspiration

Get ready to be inspired. ACC.26 brings together visionary leaders whose ideas, research and innovation are redefining what's possible in cardiovascular care. This year's Keynote lineup spans the cutting edge of AI, the evolution of adult congenital heart disease, the power of team‑based care, and the future of translating discovery into practice. The ACC.26 lineup, which includes Mintu Turakhia, MD, MS; Carole A. Warnes, MD, FACC; Cathleen Biga, MSN, MACC; Rohan Khera, MD, MS, FACC; and Paul A. Friedman, MD, promises to challenge, motivate and spark new thinking across the profession. See dates and times and to learn more, or search "Keynotes" in the ACC.26 App.

First Time Tips!

• Start with the ACC.26 App. It's your personal GPS for building your schedule, finding your sessions and never missing a moment.
• Comfort is key. Pack your comfiest shoes and something blue for Monday's "Wear Blue" day. Don't have blue? No worries – the ACC Central store has your back.
• FACC, AACC or MACC? Swing by the FAM Lounge to grab your special lanyard, enjoy coffee or lunch, and attend exclusive sessions. It's our way of saying thanks for being part of the family.
• Don't miss the bookends. Kick off your weekend with the Opening Showcase and first LBCT session on Saturday, and then close it out with the Closing Ceremony and Convocation on Monday.
• Ready for hands‑on fun? Try the Escape Rooms in the Personalized Skills Zone or test your trivia chops in the Gameshow Room – think Family Feud and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, ACC‑style.
• Explore the Expo. With 250+ companies and organization, ACC Central, puppies, pickleball, and Learning Destinations like the Future Hub and Health Equity Hub, it's a can't‑miss experience.
• Make connections that matter. The Lounge & Learn Pavilion is your go‑to spot for meet‑ups, Member Section events, the Heart2Heart Stage, the HeartPAC Lounge and more.
• Most importantly, HAVE FUN. You're part of something big here. Enjoy every minute.

Stay in Touch During #ACC26

Follow the ACC on X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, BlueSky and YouTube for highlights from ACC.26. Be sure to tag @ACCinTouch and @JACCJournals and use the hashtag #ACC26 in your posts. A special thanks to this year's Social Media Ambassadors who will be sharing their insights and perspectives throughout the meeting. Learn more about who to follow and to access ACC's official Hashtag Guide.

Not on social media? ACC.org will be providing comprehensive daily news coverage from the meeting, including summaries on the hottest Late-Breaking Clinical Trials and trends, video wrap-ups and more. Bookmark ACC.org/ACC2026 for all the meeting news coverage. In addition, in-person attendees can pick up a copy of the ACC.26 Daily newspaper located throughout the Convention Center each morning to read all about the day's highlights.

Giving Day at ACC.26: Help Unlock a $25,000 Matching Gift

Stop by the ACC Foundation Mardi Gras Booth just outside of Lounge & Learn to help unlock a $25,000 matching gift – every $100 becomes $200 to support educational travel grants for up-and-coming cardiovascular professionals, thanks to a generous gift from ACC member and donor Harvey J. White Jr., MD, FACC.

Travel costs shouldn't stand between rising leaders and life-changing education – and on Giving Day, you can help close that gap. Snap a photo inside the ACC seal, spin the prize wheel for fun swag, and make a real impact on the future of cardiovascular care. Can't wait? Text ADVANCING to 41444 to give instantly.

A Finale You Won't Want to Miss

The newly reimagined Closing Ceremony and Convocation promises to send ACC.26 out on a high note. This year's celebration brings the entire community together to reflect on the top takeaways from three days of groundbreaking science, honor the global society leaders, presidents and partners who help drive progress year round, and celebrate the remarkable achievements of the 2026 Distinguished Award winners and all newly elected FACC and AACC members.

We'll also proudly welcome ACC's incoming president, Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC, as she steps into her leadership role.

And the celebration doesn't end there – stick around afterward for a lively reception where you can congratulate ACC's newest members, connect with colleagues, and wrap up your time in New Orleans on a perfectly jazzy note.