LOS ANGELES (October 8, 2026) — Over 5,000 ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists will gather in Los Angeles from October 17 to 20 for the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery’s 2026 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO. The event will showcase new research on hearing, sleep, breathing, and head and neck conditions, including developments in gene therapy.

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The meeting, hosted by the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF), aims to provide crucial insights into health issues affecting millions of patients. Experts will also discuss potential Medicare payment cuts for 2027 and their implications for patient access to care.

Key research themes include:

- GLP-1 medications and their connection to thyroid cancer risk, airway and ear conditions, and sleep apnea.

- The relationship between hearing and brain health, with findings on diabetes, sex-specific cognitive decline, and noise-induced hearing damage.

- Sleep apnea's broader implications for cardiovascular health, mental well-being, and driving safety.

- Links between eating disorders and elevated salivary gland cancer rates.

- Gene therapy advancements for genetic hearing loss and vestibular schwannoma.

Dr. Rahul K. Shah, CEO and executive vice president of the Academy, emphasized the significance of the meeting, stating, "The Annual Meeting brings together the best of our specialty—science, innovation, and policy. It is where ideas move forward and where discoveries in hearing, sleep, breathing, and head and neck health increasingly reveal connections across the whole person."

The event will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center, located at 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015.

Media opportunities at the meeting include access to leading experts, interview arrangements with researchers presenting their findings, commentary on current health policy issues, and resources tailored for reporters in the fields of health, science, and medicine.

To request interviews, advance materials, or media credentials, journalists may contact [email protected] or call 703-535-3722.

The AAO-HNS represents approximately 13,000 professionals dedicated to treating conditions of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck, advancing the specialty through education, research, quality improvement, and advocacy.