It’s that time of year again. The global oncology community descends on Chicago for the ASCO Annual Meeting, turning the Windy City into the epicenter of cancer research, innovation, and collaboration. If you’re heading to McCormick Place, you already know the main program will be packed…but some of the most valuable conversations often happen just outside the official sessions.
For first-timers (or veterans who want to level up their week), we put together this practical guide to satellite events. These gatherings offer focused clinical discussions, networking with peers, and chances to connect with thought leaders in a more intimate setting. Many are free or low-cost with early registration, and they’re a smart way to make the most of your time in Chicago.
We’ve pulled together the ones on our radar as of now. Times and details can shift, so always double-check the links and register early. And if you’re new to ASCO, check out our 2025 post on tips for maximizing your conference experience.
Here's the lineup:
Thursday, May 28
Clinicals to Exam: Oncology Board Review [Registration Closed]
- 12:30 – 4:30 PM
The Wit Chicago — Gateway Room, 201 N State St
- Sponsor: SignifyMD, The Oncology Brothers, Two Onc Docs
- ASCO Panel & Reception with Astellas Pharma & Portal Innovations
- 4:30 – 6:30 PM
- 400 N Aberdeen St
- Sponsor: Portal Innovations, Astella
- The Giants of Cancer Care® 14th Anniversary Celebration
- 7 – 10 PM
Adler Planetarium, 1300 South DuSable Lake Shore Dr
- Sponsor: Pfizer, Daiichi-Sankyo, Regeneron
Friday, May 29
- 6 – 9 PM
233 S Wacker Dr
- Sponsor: Foundation of Medicine, Gilead, Kite
- OncoDaily Party: Chicago Lights
- 8 PM – 2 AM
- 322 W. Armitage Ave
- Sponsor: OncoDaily
- Live Tumor Board: Exploring Novel Targets and Breakthrough Treatment Strategies in Extrapulmonary Neuroendocrine Carcinomas
- 6 – 8 PM
Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. 301 E North Water St
- Sponsor: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- Show Me the Data™: Redefining Treatment Paradigms in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Across the Disease Continuum
- 6 – 8 PM
- Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. 301 E North Water St
- Sponsor: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals; Daiichi Sankyo, Inc; and Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC.
- Cases and Conversations – Applying the Evidence: Real-World Strategies to Optimize Care for Patients With Myelofibrosis
- 6 – 8:30 PM
- Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. 301 E North Water St
- Sponsor: Bristol Myers Squibb and PharmaEssentia
- Therapeutic Progress and IMPACT in CRC
- 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Hyatt Regency Chicago, Regency Ballroom CD (Ballroom Level, West Tower), 151 East Wacker Dr
- Sponsor: Colorectal Cancer Alliance
- Continuing the Innovation Story in Prostate Cancer
- 6:30– 8:30 PM
Hyatt Regency Chicago, Crystal Ballroom A (Lobby Level, West Tower), 151 East Wacker Dr
- Sponsor: Head and Neck Cancer Alliance
- Precision Pathways in RCC: Translating Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy Advances Into Personalized Patient Care
- 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Hilton Chicago, 720 S Michigan Ave
- Sponsor: Clinical Care Options, LLC dba Decera Clinical Education, AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai Inc., Exelixis, Inc., and Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC.
- The Art of Therapeutic Balance: Innovations in Pancreatic Cancer Across the Disease Continuum
- 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Hilton Chicago, 720 S Michigan Ave
- Sponsor: Clinical Care Options, LLC dba Decera Clinical Education, in partnership with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), Revolution Medicines, Inc.
- Beyond CIT: Uniting Patient Voices With the Latest Evidence on Novel Targeted Therapies for CLL/SLL
- 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Hilton Chicago, 720 S Michigan Ave
- Sponsor: Clinical Care Options, LLC dba Decera Clinical Education in partnership with CLL Society, AstraZeneca, BeOne Medicines, and Lilly
- Integrating HER2-Directed ADCs Across Early and Metastatic Breast Cancer: Practical Strategies for Testing, Sequencing, and Patient-Centered Care
- 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Hilton Chicago, 720 S Michigan Ave
- Sponsor: Clinical Care Options, LLC dba Decera Clinical Education, AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai Inc., Exelixis, Inc., and Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.
- The MoD Squad in Multiple Myeloma
- 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Hilton Chicago, Boulevard Room (Second Floor), 720 S Michigan Ave
- Sponsor: HealthTree Foundation for Multiple Myeloma
- Powering Up First-Line Treatment in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: How Antibody-Drug Conjugates and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Are Changing the Game
- 6 PM
Hilton Chicago, Room: Waldorf, Third Floor, 720 S Michigan Ave
- Sponsor: PRIME Education
Saturday, May 30
- Canadian Night at ASCO 2026
- 6 – 8 PM
JW Marriott Chicago – Burnham Ballroom, 4th Floor, 151 W Adams St
- Sponsor: Breast Cancer Canada
- HER2-Mutated NSCLC Dinner Symposium
- 6:15 – 7:45 PM
Hilton Chicago, 720 S Michigan Ave, Room: International Ballroom South (2nd Floor)
- Sponsor: Medscape
- Verana Health Reception at ASCO
- 5:15 – 8:15 PM
- 133 E Cermak Rd
- Sponsor: Verana Health
- Medical Crossfire®: Precision Oncology in NSCLC: Translating HER2 and TROP2 Innovation into Practice-Changing Care
- 6 – 8 PM
- Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. 301 E North Water St
- Sponsor: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.; and Gilead Sciences, Inc.
- Myeloma Masterclass: Adopting the Latest Guidelines for Evidence-Based, Equitable Care
- 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Hilton Chicago, 720 S Michigan Ave
- Sponsor: NCCN in collaboration with Decera Clinical Education, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, Clinical Care Options, LLC dba Decera Clinical Education
- The Next Frontier for CDK4/6 Inhibitors in Breast Cancer: Expert Strategies for Applying the Latest Guidelines and Advances in Practice
- 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Hilton Chicago, 720 S Michigan Ave
- Sponsor: NCCN in collaboration with Decera Clinical Education, Lilly, Novartis
- Beyond Resistance: Integrating Next-Generation SERDs Into Community Management of ER-Positive/HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer
- 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Hilton Chicago, 720 S Michigan Ave
- Sponsor: National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) in collaboration with Decera Clinical Education, Lilly, Novartis
Sunday, May 31
- STARTS Client Reception at ASCO 2026
- 6 – 9 PM
Chicago Winery, 739 North Clark St
- Sponsor: START
- NTRK Fusion-Positive Cancers Dinner
- 6:30 – 8 PM
Hilton Chicago, 720 S Michigan Ave, Room: International Ballroom South (2nd Floor)
- Sponsor: Medscape
- Multiple Myeloma (CD38) Case-Based Guide
- 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Hilton Chicago, 720 S Michigan Ave, Room: International Ballroom South (2nd Floor)
- Sponsor: Medscape
This list only scratches the surface of what’s happening during ASCO week. Prioritize the sessions that align with your clinical or research focus, leave some buffer for travel between venues, and don’t forget to step outside and enjoy the city.
We at HDMZ are proud to call Chicago home and even prouder to support the oncology community year-round. If you’re in town and want to connect, reach out! We’d love to say hello.
Safe travels, productive meetings, and here’s to meaningful progress against cancer.
