What is new for DDW 2026? | October 2025-Presentation Slides

Presentation Slides

Pdf Summary

The Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026 introduces significant program changes aimed at improving participant experience and unifying the event across its four participating societies: ASGE, AGA, AASLD, and SSAT. Led by DDW Council Chair Loren Laine, MD, these efforts focus on streamlining the large and complex program to enhance navigation for attendees, especially newcomers.<br /><br />A key update is shifting from a society-based abstract submission process to a content track-first approach, removing society distinctions from submissions. This is expected to yield easier navigation and stronger session development. The transition to unified programming will be incremental, starting with combined postgraduate courses in 2025, unified abstracts in 2026, decreasing society-specific invited sessions in subsequent years, and complete unification by 2029.<br /><br />The abstract submission categories, previously 38 with 443 subcategories, will be condensed into 14 content tracks aligned with American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) categories, such as Colon, Endoscopy, Liver & Transplantation, and Surgery. Society volunteers will assist in reviewing and scoring abstracts, focusing efforts where submission volumes are highest.<br /><br />Each society provided updates. AASLD maintains signature sessions like the Presidential Plenary and Basic Science Emerging Topic Conference but will fully integrate liver abstracts into content-track programming. AGA offers 106 clinical and translational sessions including popular components like guideline highlights and debate sessions, with initiatives supporting research mentorship and travel awards. ASGE continues favorite features such as mini-courses and hands-on sessions, adding improvements to poster hubs, learning centers, and video plenaries, including awards promoting quality improvement and diversity research. ASGE also aims to streamline video forums to enhance interactivity and reviewer efficiency. SSAT retains key scientific conferences and lectureships while integrating abstracts into track-based sessions and expanding video and poster presentation opportunities.<br /><br />Overall, these changes demonstrate DDW’s commitment to becoming the premier global GI meeting by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, improving navigation, and enhancing scientific quality. Attendees are encouraged to engage via webinars and submission platforms and to apply for various awards through society websites.

Keywords

Digestive Disease Week 2026

DDW program changes

unified programming

content track-first submission

American Board of Internal Medicine categories

ASGE

AGA

AASLD

SSAT

gastrointestinal research