American Dental Association to End Annual SmileCon Event in 2026

CHICAGO, May 22, 2025 — The American Dental Association (ADA) has announced that its annual SmileCon conference will hold its final event in October 2025.

Upon careful consideration, the ADA made the difficult decision to sunset SmileCon in 2026 and beyond. Despite positive attendance feedback and a higher percentage of repeat attendees each year, SmileCon meeting attendance never rebounded to pre-COVID levels. The rising costs associated with holding events were also a factor.

“SmileCon has been much more than a professional conference; it’s been a showcase of the best dentistry has to offer. It's where new ideas have been shared and where the dental community has come together to shape the future of oral and overall health. From dental professionals and presenters to sponsors, exhibitors and vendors, everyone contributed to its legacy,” said ADA president Dr. Brett Kessler. “As we explore new ways of connecting and growing together, the ADA extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who made SmileCon possible, including the host cities that welcomed us with open arms and warm hospitality.”

SmileCon 2025 (October 23-25) in Washington, D.C. will proceed as planned, but SmileCon 2026 (originally scheduled for Oct. 8-10, 2026) in Indianapolis will not move forward. Although registration had not yet commenced for Indianapolis, the ADA understands the anticipation and excitement surrounding this event. The ADA is working with the Indiana Dental Association and Visit Indy to identify future opportunities in the city.

Traditionally, the ADA has also held its House of Delegates meeting in conjunction with SmileCon. The House of Delegates is the ADA’s policy-making and legislative body and will continue meeting annually. It will meet after SmileCon in Washington, D.C. this year and next year in Indianapolis, as planned.

The Governance and Organizational Manual of the ADA requires that the ADA hold an annual scientific session. The ADA is exploring new meeting possibilities and programs to advance oral and overall health by keeping dental professionals up to date on the latest scientific guidelines and technical innovations. Further information will be shared when it is available.

About the American Dental Association
The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing 159,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance has long been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), published monthly, is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit ADA.org. For more information on oral health, including prevention, care and treatment of dental disease, visit the ADA's consumer website MouthHealthy.org.