More than 12,000 diabetes researchers, physicians, and healthcare innovators will converge on New Orleans this June for a gathering that promises to reshape how the world approaches one of the most pressing health challenges of our time. The American Diabetes Association's 2026 Scientific Sessions, running June 5–8 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, represent the global diabetes community at its most ambitious—a moment when leading experts will unveil the latest breakthroughs in prevention, treatment, and the pursuit of cures.
The urgency behind this year's meeting is impossible to ignore. Over 40 million Americans are now living with diabetes, affecting roughly 1 in 8 people across the country. As rates continue to climb, the research presented at these sessions carries real weight: scientists will share findings on everything from next-generation obesity therapies to innovative early-detection strategies that could halt disease progression before it takes hold.
This year's program tackles diabetes from multiple angles, each reflecting where the science is moving fastest. Sessions on advancing obesity and metabolic health will showcase incretin-based therapies and their effects on both weight loss and blood sugar management. Equally significant are presentations focused on prevention and early detection—research highlighting precision medicine approaches and lifestyle interventions that could delay or prevent disease altogether. New evidence on cardiometabolic outcomes will examine how emerging therapies are reducing complications to the heart, kidneys, and liver, ultimately extending and improving lives for people living with diabetes.
Perhaps the most transformative theme centers on technology and access. Presentations will reveal how artificial intelligence and digital tools are reimagining diabetes care, reducing treatment burden, and making care more person-centered and affordable. Equally compelling is the cutting-edge work on beta cell replacement and regenerative medicine—science that moves closer each year to the possibility of remission or cure.
The sessions also feature the Innovation Challenge, returning this year on Saturday, June 6, from 4:30–6:00 p.m. Emerging companies will pitch novel ideas directly to a panel of judges and a live audience, with winning contestants earning private meetings with potential funders. It's a tangible reminder that breakthroughs often come from unexpected places, and that the diabetes research ecosystem thrives when new voices get a platform.
Rita Rastogi Kalyani, MD, MHS, the ADA's chief scientific and medical officer, frames the moment clearly: "The research presented highlights the growing impact of diabetes and obesity, and the continued need to accelerate scientific progress." Marlon Pragnell, PhD, the ADA's vice president of research and science, adds that the meeting arrives "at a defining moment for diabetes and obesity research, where discovery is rapidly translating into real-world impact."
For those unable to attend in person, the scientific sessions will be offered virtually, with on-demand access available to registrants starting June 10. This hybrid approach ensures that the insights shared—from potential diabetes cures to next-generation obesity treatments—reach a global audience of clinicians and researchers.
What emerges from these sessions will influence diabetes care worldwide. The combination of rigorous science, emerging technologies, and a genuine commitment to expanding access suggests that the breakthroughs being presented aren't merely incremental. They're foundational steps toward a future where diabetes prevention and cure shift from aspiration to reality.