The BIO International Convention (BIO 2026), the world’s largest and most comprehensive event for the biotechnology industry, begins today in San Diego. The convention brings together 20,000+ biotech and life sciences leaders from around the world. This year’s theme, “Driven by Purpose,” reflects the industry’s commitment to solve the impossible, push boundaries, and deliver better outcomes for patients, public health, and the world.
BIO 2026 features more than 150 sessions and 950+ speakers across 18 focus areas — from AI and digital health to diagnostics and personalized medicine, emerging opportunities in global markets, and more. Leading biotech executives, investors, service providers, government officials, regulators, and patient advocates representing the full ecosystem of biotechnology will connect over four days of networking, programming, and partnering.
With nearly 10,000 partnering delegates and 70,000 partnering meetings expected to take place, BIO 2026 brings together leaders, investors, and innovators to advance innovation and business development across the industry.
“The BIO International Convention unites the world of biotechnology with great purpose,” said John F. Crowley, President & CEO of BIO. “As we celebrate 50 years of our biotechnology industry, this year’s convention brings together innovators, entrepreneurs, public health officials, and patient advocates prepared to tackle the hardest scientific challenges and to save and change lives for the next 50 years and more. This year’s theme ‘Driven by Purpose’ exemplifies what drives everyone in biotechnology – and will ensure we continue to drive the miracles of modern medicine needed to save and improve lives worldwide for the 21st century and beyond.”
Notable speakers and moderators at BIO 2026 include Gary Sinise, actor, humanitarian, and founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation; Head Coach of the University of Notre Dame Marcus Freeman; Ashley Magargee, CEO of Genentech; Kimberly Powell, Vice President of Healthcare at NVIDIA; award-winning journalist Katie Couric; BIO Board Chair Fritz Bittenbender, Senior Vice President and Head of Public Affairs & Access at Genentech; Gov. Tina Kotek, Oregon; Michael Davis, MD, PhD, Acting Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Karim Mikhail, B.Pharm, MSc, Acting Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Lowell Zeta, JD, Acting Chief of Staff, Officer of the Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Rafid Fadul, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H); and INDY NXT by Firestone driver James Roe.
Other notable speakers include:
- Minister Preet Kaur Gill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, U.K. Department of Health and Social Care
- Lawrence Tallon, Chief Executive, U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- Emer Cooke, Executive Director, European Medicines Agency (EMA)
- Steffen Thirstrup, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, European Medicines Agency (EMA)
- Her Excellency Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi
- His Excellency Khalid Alburikan, Deputy Minister of Health for Investment, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Sandra Gallina, Director-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
- Robert Langer, ScD, Executive Chairman & Chair of Scientific Advisory Board, T.Rx Capital; Institute Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
A full list of speakers can be found here.
Speakers will discuss what it means to be “Driven by Purpose,” the future of biotechnology innovation, and the growing role of AI in scientific innovation.
This year, the convention will feature an AI Summit and the BIO Storytelling Stage that showcases the human stories of the biotechnology industry – who we are, who we serve, what we do, and why we do it.
To learn more, visit the BIO International Convention.
Registrants: 20,000 expected (40+% international)
Countries represented:68+
Exhibitors: 1,600+
Sessions: 150+
Speakers: 950+
Partnering meetings: 70,000 expected
Partnering delegates: nearly 10,000
