AAEP Convention 2026: Dates, Schedule, Registration and Las Vegas Guide
The 72nd AAEP Annual Convention will take place from December 7-11, 2026, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Registration is now open. The in-person educational program begins on Tuesday, December 8, and the AAEP Trade Show runs from December 8-10.
If you are attending, come and meet The Equine Practice Company team at booth 3707, beside the AAEP Connect area. This guide brings together the dates, registration prices, daily schedule, program highlights, virtual options, hotel information and practical details equine veterinarians need before travelling.
Planning ahead? The AAEP Convention 2027 will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, from December 4–8, 2027.
Want to attend our special AAEP presentations? Dr Sue Dyson and Professor Dennis Brooks are flying in and will each deliver a limited-capacity presentation during AAEP 2026 for our members. Only 70 places are available for each presentation, and a wristband is required for entry.
Wednesday 9th December @12.30pm – Dr. Sue Dyson
Thursday 10th December @12.30pm – Professor Dennis Brooks
Visit The Equine Practice Company at booth 3707 to collect yours while wristbands remain available. Last year’s presentations filled quickly, so we recommend visiting the booth early.
Official links: Register for AAEP 2026 | View the schedule | Explore the educational sessions
AAEP Convention 2026 Quick Facts
| Detail | AAEP 2026 information |
|---|---|
| Convention dates | Monday, December 7 to Friday, December 11, 2026 |
| Location | Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada |
| In-person education begins | Tuesday, December 8 |
| Trade Show dates | Tuesday, December 8 to Thursday, December 10 |
| Continuing education | More than 110 potential CE hours across the program |
| Exhibitors | Nearly 300 exhibitors |
| Attendance options | In-person or virtual |
| Virtual Table Topics | December 14-18, 2026 |
| Early registration and hotel deadline | September 17, 2026 |
| The Equine Practice Company | Booth 3707 |
AAEP describes its Annual Convention as the most comprehensive continuing education event dedicated to equine practice. For veterinarians planning their wider professional development, our guide to continuing education courses for equine veterinarians covers the principal learning formats and clinical subject areas available.
Is Registration Open for AAEP 2026?
Yes. Registration for the AAEP Convention 2026 is open now. Anyone may register, although AAEP members receive lower rates.
AAEP is offering its main early booking incentive until September 17, 2026. Registering and booking an official convention hotel by that date can save an AAEP member $180 on the final registration rate and $50 per night on accommodation.
Main AAEP 2026 registration prices
| Registration category | Through Sept. 17 | Sept. 18-Dec. 2 | From Dec. 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAEP member | $695 | $775 | $875 |
| Non-member | $1,195 | $1,195 | $1,295 |
| Resident or intern | $400 | $400 | $500 |
| AAEP student member | $50 | $50 | $80 |
| Virtual member | $500 | $500 | $500 |
| Virtual resident | $400 | $400 | $400 |
| Virtual non-member | $750 | $750 | $750 |
BEVA members can register at the AAEP member rate under the reciprocal arrangement between the two organisations. Additional categories, guest passes and optional-event prices are listed on the official AAEP registration page.
Registration prices and availability can change. Check the official page before booking.
Watch the Recent AAEP Highlights in Sixty Seconds
What Is Included With In-Person Registration?
In-person registration combines the live Las Vegas program with longer-term digital access. AAEP currently lists:
- More than 110 potential CE hours across clinical and practice-management sessions
- Access to educational recordings after the convention
- Live online Table Topics from December 14-18
- A printed or digital Convention Proceedings book
- Three days of access to the AAEP Trade Show
- Lunch vouchers for all three Trade Show days
- Entry to the Welcome Reception and ticketed access to the After Party
At the time of this update, AAEP states that the program has been submitted for RACE approval for more than 110 hours but has not yet received final approval. Nearly 60 hours have already been approved by HISA for attending and regulatory veterinarian CE.
Veterinarians should confirm the requirements of their own licensing jurisdiction before relying on particular sessions for credit.
AAEP Convention 2026 Program Highlights
The full scientific program covers clinical subjects from head to hoof and field to hospital, together with practice management, career development and professional wellbeing.
Major clinical areas include lameness, imaging, sports medicine, reproduction, internal medicine, surgery and dentistry. Veterinarians particularly interested in performance-horse and locomotor cases may also find our guide to equine lameness continuing education useful when planning their broader education.
Keynote address: Dr. Martine van Zijll Langhout
Wildlife veterinarian Dr. Martine van Zijll Langhout will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday, December 8. Her presentation, “Let’s Go Wild! Wildlife as Inspiration for a Happy Life,” draws on her experience working with free-ranging African wildlife to examine resilience, teamwork, leadership and managing pressure in veterinary life.
Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture: Dr. Anthony Blikslager
Colic and gastrointestinal researcher Dr. Anthony Blikslager will present the Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture:
Conquering Colic: State-of-the-Art Management of the Acute Abdomen and the Role of Next Generation Science
This is one of the main clinical presentations on the Tuesday program.
New Business Burst
The new Business Burst, “The Business of Transitions: From Start-Up to Step-Back,” will present short sessions addressing the financial, operational and cultural decisions encountered throughout an equine veterinary career. Topics range from managing student debt and establishing a practice to succession and planning an eventual exit.
Collaborative Case Studies
AAEP is also introducing small-group Collaborative Case Studies in respiratory medicine, dystocia, internal medicine and wound management. Participants complete preparatory material before working through cases in groups of eight to ten.
These sessions require advance registration and were marked as sold out when this guide was updated on September 3. They will not be available through the Virtual Convention.
The AAEP sessions page contains the current speaker and topic listings. AAEP has also introduced Ollie, an AI convention assistant that can help attendees find relevant sessions and build a personal itinerary.
Limited-Capacity Presentations With Dr Sue Dyson and Dr Dennis Brooks
The Equine Practice Company is bringing Dr Sue Dyson and Dr Dennis Brooks to Las Vegas for two special, limited-capacity presentations during AAEP 2026.
Dr Sue Dyson: The Potential Benefits of Including Ridden Exercise as Part of Pre-Purchase Examinations of Sports Horse
Horses may appear non-lame when examined in hand but show gait dysfunction during ridden exercise. Is there evidence that ridden exercise may influence risk assessment during pre-purchase examinations? Dr Sue Dyson will explore this important question for veterinarians examining sports horses.
Dr Dennis Brooks: The First Three Minutes of the Horse Eye Exam
The degree of ocular discomfort, level of light perception and a photograph of the affected eye can be obtained quickly to accelerate diagnosis and guide therapy. Dr Dennis Brooks will explain what veterinarians should assess during the critical first three minutes of an equine eye examination.
How to Attend These Presentations
Each presentation is limited to 70 attendees, and a special wristband will be required for entry.
Wristbands will be available from The Equine Practice Company at booth 3707 while the allocation lasts. Last year’s presentations filled very quickly, so please visit our booth early if you would like to attend.
Presentation times and locations will be added here once confirmed.
AAEP Convention 2026 Schedule at a Glance
The convention runs for five days, but the main in-person educational program begins on Tuesday. Monday is largely devoted to student activities, member roundtables, committee meetings and the opening reception.
| Date | Main activities |
|---|---|
| Monday, Dec. 7 | Extended Student Program, Internship/Externship Career Night, member roundtables, committee meetings and Welcome Reception |
| Tuesday, Dec. 8 | Sunrise Sessions, opening session, keynote, Kester News Hour, Milne Lecture, Business Educational Session, Trade Show opening, Early Career Reception and Vet Story Night |
| Wednesday, Dec. 9 | Fun Run, Sunrise Sessions, educational sessions, Trade Show, membership meeting, alumni receptions and international events |
| Thursday, Dec. 10 | Ethics session, educational sessions, Collaborative Case Studies, President’s Luncheon, final Trade Show day and After Party |
| Friday, Dec. 11 | Educational sessions and the final day of the convention |
Use the official schedule at a glance together with the convention app when planning your days. Sessions and event details can be updated as December approaches.
AAEP Trade Show Hours and What to Expect
The AAEP Trade Show brings together nearly 300 exhibitors covering diagnostic imaging, pharmaceuticals, rehabilitation, dentistry, laboratory services, practice management, mobile technology and other areas of equine veterinary work.
Trade Show hours
| Day | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, Dec. 8 | 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Dec. 9 | 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. |
| Thursday, Dec. 10 | 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. |
The Trade Show Reception runs from 4:30-6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Registered attendees also receive ten $5 lunch vouchers for use in the exhibit-hall food court from Tuesday through Thursday.
The AAEP Connect area offers places to meet colleagues and AAEP staff, along with a portrait hub, coffee, charging facilities and other attendee services. There are also Stable Education presentations, Mane Connection discussions and exhibitor demonstrations throughout the three days.
View the latest details on the official AAEP Trade Show page.
Visit The Equine Practice Company at Booth 3707
The Equine Practice Company will be exhibiting at booth 3707, a 20 × 10 space beside the AAEP Connect area and close to the central escalators. You will also find us near our friends at PowerFloat, making the booth straightforward to locate between lectures or during the lunch break.
We launched The Equine Practice Company at the AAEP Convention in Denver in 2019, where four veterinarians enrolled in our Dentistry Program directly from the stand. Since then, AAEP has become one of our favourite opportunities to meet members, speakers and equine veterinarians from around the world in person.
Stop by booth 3707 to meet the team, learn more about our equine veterinary education and talk through the clinical areas you want to develop. There will be no hard sell. We are equally happy to meet existing members, answer questions or simply have a conversation between sessions.
More details about our team and any booth activities will be added to this guide as they are confirmed.
Hotels for the AAEP Convention in Las Vegas
The convention is being held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, which makes Mandalay Bay the most convenient option for attendees who want the shortest route to the sessions and Trade Show.
AAEP’s official hotel choices include:
- Mandalay Bay
- W Las Vegas
- Luxor
Booking through the official convention accommodation system by September 17 can save $50 per night. AAEP has also warned attendees and exhibitors about unofficial housing companies claiming to represent the convention. Use the links on the official registration and hotel page rather than responding to unsolicited booking calls or emails.
Las Vegas will be busy during convention week, so international attendees and anyone extending their stay should organise accommodation and flights early.
Can You Attend AAEP 2026 Virtually?
Yes, but the 2026 virtual option is not a live stream of the Las Vegas sessions.
AAEP states that there will be no live streaming of the in-person educational program. Virtual access begins after the Las Vegas meeting:
- On-demand recordings are expected to be available by December 14
- Live virtual Table Topics run from December 14-18
- On-demand CE can be earned through December 31, 2027
- In-person registrants receive the recordings and virtual Table Topics at no additional cost
The virtual option is useful for veterinarians who cannot travel or who want to complete the education at their own pace. If flexible access is an important consideration, our comparison of the best online and hybrid CE platforms for equine veterinarians explains what to assess when comparing different providers.
AAEP 2026 Social and Networking Events
The organised events are a valuable part of AAEP, particularly for equine veterinarians who normally work alone or in small ambulatory teams.
Highlights include:
- Welcome Reception: Monday, December 7, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
- Early Career Practitioners’ Reception: Tuesday, December 8, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
- Vet Story Night: Tuesday, December 8, 8:00-10:30 p.m. Additional ticket required.
- Las Vegas Fun Run & Walk: Wednesday, December 9, 6:30 a.m. Advance registration and a $35 fee required.
- Alumni Receptions: Wednesday, December 9, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
- International Members’ Breakfast and Reception: Wednesday, December 9, for AAEP members based outside the United States and Canada.
- President’s Luncheon: Thursday, December 10, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Additional $60 ticket required.
- The After Party: Thursday, December 10, 8:00-10:30 p.m. Admission is included, but a ticket is required.
Check the official AAEP events page for current times, eligibility and ticket availability.
The Early Career Practitioners’ Reception may be particularly valuable for recent graduates looking to build professional relationships and make more deliberate education choices. Our guide to choosing continuing education as an early-career equine veterinarian provides a practical framework for deciding which opportunities are worth the time and expense.
Is the AAEP Convention Worth Attending?
For many equine veterinarians, AAEP is worthwhile because it concentrates clinical education, professional discussion and the equine veterinary marketplace into one trip.
The educational value is strongest when you plan around the cases and decisions that matter in your own practice. Select a few priority clinical areas before you arrive, mark the sessions you do not want to miss, and leave deliberate gaps for the Trade Show and conversations with colleagues.
The convention can be particularly valuable if you want to:
- Review current clinical evidence across several disciplines
- Compare equipment and services before making a major purchase
- Discuss difficult cases with practitioners outside your normal network
- Earn CE while retaining access to recordings after the meeting
- Reconnect with the wider equine veterinary profession
The relationships formed at AAEP can sometimes be as valuable as the formal program. For veterinarians seeking longer-term professional guidance, our article on veterinary mentorship explores what makes a mentoring relationship genuinely useful.
The main drawbacks are the cost and time away from practice. If travelling to Las Vegas is not realistic, the virtual registration provides the educational recordings and Table Topics at a lower price, although it cannot reproduce the in-person conversations and Trade Show.
Practical Advice for First-Time Attendees
AAEP is a large meeting, and trying to attend everything usually creates more frustration than value.
Before leaving home:
- Choose three clinical or business questions you want the convention to answer.
- Build your session schedule around those questions rather than filling every available hour.
- Identify the exhibitors you want to visit and group them by location on the floor plan.
- Book optional events in advance because some have attendance limits.
- Pack comfortable shoes. The convention venue and Trade Show involve a considerable amount of walking.
- Leave time between sessions. Some of the most useful conversations happen in hallways, at lunch or while visiting the stands.
Most attendees wear business-casual clothing for lectures and the Trade Show. Las Vegas can be mild outside in December but conference rooms often feel cool, so bring a light layer.
Where Is the AAEP Convention 2027?
The 73rd AAEP Annual Convention will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, from December 4–8, 2027.
AAEP has confirmed the dates and host city, although registration, venue and program information have not yet been released. We will update this guide as further details become available.
Frequently Asked Questions About AAEP Convention 2026
When is the AAEP Convention 2026?
The 72nd AAEP Annual Convention runs from Monday, December 7 to Friday, December 11, 2026. The in-person educational program and Trade Show begin on Tuesday, December 8.
Where is the AAEP Convention 2026 being held?
AAEP 2026 will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Is AAEP Convention 2026 registration open?
Yes. Registration is open. The primary early registration and official hotel deadline is September 17, 2026.
How much does AAEP 2026 cost?
Through September 17, registration is $695 for AAEP members, $1,195 for non-members, $400 for residents and interns, and $50 for AAEP student members. Virtual member registration is $500. Other registration categories are available.
Do I need to be an AAEP member to attend?
No. Non-members may register, although AAEP members receive discounted registration. BEVA members can request the AAEP member rate under the organisations’ reciprocal arrangement.
How many CE hours are available?
AAEP lists more than 110 potential CE hours. At the time of this update, the program had been submitted for RACE approval, and nearly 60 hours had been approved by HISA. Confirm the latest approval status and your jurisdiction’s requirements before registering.
Is the 2026 convention available online?
Yes. Virtual registration includes recorded educational sessions and live virtual Table Topics from December 14-18. The sessions held in Las Vegas will not be live-streamed.
When is the AAEP Trade Show open?
The Trade Show is open from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. on December 8 and 9, and from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on December 10.
Where is The Equine Practice Company booth?
Visit The Equine Practice Company at booth 3707, beside the AAEP Connect area and near the central escalators.
Where can I find the full AAEP Convention 2026 schedule?
The current daily overview is available on the official AAEP schedule page, with detailed speaker and session listings available through the program and convention website.
When and where is the AAEP Convention 2027?
The AAEP Convention 2027 will take place in Phoenix, Arizona, from December 4–8, 2027. Registration, venue and program details will be added once they are announced by AAEP.
Final Word
The AAEP Convention is one of the few occasions when so much of the equine veterinary profession gathers in the same place. The education matters, but so do the conversations, demonstrations and renewed sense of connection with colleagues who understand the realities of equine practice.
If you are joining us in Las Vegas, plan your program early and make time to visit The Equine Practice Company at booth 3707. We look forward to seeing you in December.
Register for the AAEP Convention 2026
View the AAEP Convention 2026 schedule
Watch Dr. Sue Dyson Presentation At The Recent AAEP Convention
Here is the recording of Dr. Sue Dyson presentation at the 71st AAEP Conference in Denver, Colorado.
This guide is written by an equine veterinarian who attend AAEP regularly for mover the past decade – not just as delegates, but as speakers, educators, and exhibitors.
We’ve attended AAEP as early-career vets, practice owners, and educators, and we know exactly what’s worth your time (and what isn’t) once you’re on the ground.
