Annual Meeting Frequently Asked Questions

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The 2026 AAN Annual Meeting will take place April 18−22, 2026, in Chicago at the McCormick Place West Building (2301 S. Indiana Ave) and online. 

Both registration types include access to the Annual Meeting mobile app and online platform during the live conference dates through May 20, 2026 (Adding on demand to registration extends access to recordings through March 1, 2027). Full registration is the only way to have full access to the meeting in Chicago, including the exhibit hall, Annual Meeting Party, networking events, and more. 

Annual Meeting registrants can upgrade their registration to include Annual Meeting On Demand, which extends access to session recordings through March 1, 2027, at up to 55% off the regular On Demand price. To upgrade at this lower rate, contact the AAN Registration & Housing Support Center by May 20, 2026. Annual Meeting On Demand recordings will be available to purchasers via the AAN Online Learning Center starting May 21, 2026.  

The following complimentary services will be provided at the McCormick Place West Building: 

• ATMs
• Basic wireless internet
• Coat and luggage check
• FedEx
• First aid
• Lactation room
• Prayer room 

The 2026 Annual Meeting in Chicago takes a digital-first approach to all promotional communications, reducing the use of single-use materials—like signs—on-site and using recyclable/compostable materials and environmentally friendly inks wherever possible for remaining single-use materials. The AAN also looks for opportunities to repurpose materials from past meetings to reduce waste. McCormick Place is committed to sustainability through partnership with contractors and vendors. Learn more.  

The skills workshops will appear as an option you can select when registering for full conference registration. The skills workshops are available with full conference registration only and take place in person only. They will not be available as recordings. There is an additional registration fee for each workshop, and space is limited.

The deadline to complete evaluations to get your CME credits is May 20, 2026 (or March 1, 2027, with Annual Meeting On Demand). Transcripts will be available upon evaluation submission. AAN members can also access their transcript via NeuroTracker^™.

Yes. You are not required to attend in Chicago in order to access the online session recordings. If you are interested in only the conference recordings, you may choose online-only conference registration, which will give you access to sessions from Chicago in the online platform.

Yes. Members from low- and lower-middle-income countries (as defined by the World Bank) automatically receive waived or discounted registration when they log in with a Member ID associated with one of the countries listed.

Access resources related to traveling to the meeting, including a letter of announcement.

For questions regarding your registration or the meeting, contact the AAN Registration & Housing Support Center.

Full / full + On Demand registration cancellation 
You may cancel your full registration for a full refund through January 22, 2026. Cancellations of full registrations requested January 23 through March 19, 2026, will be refunded less a $100 cancellation fee. No refunds will be granted for cancellations March 20, 2026, and after.

You may change from full registration or full + On Demand registration to an online registration for the difference in rates at any time through Friday, April 10, 2026. No refunds will be granted for changes April 11, 2026, and after.  

Cancellations and change requests must be made in writing through the AAN Registration & Housing Support Center.

Full registrations are non-transferable to another individual.

Additional program cancellation
Registrations for skills workshops, Annual Meeting Party guest tickets, and the Run/Walk can be canceled for no penalty and receive a full refund through April 10, 2026. No refunds will be granted for any additional program cancellations April 11, 2026, and after.

Online / online + On Demand registration cancellation 
You may change from online or online + On Demand registration to a full registration for the difference in rates at any time. Cancellation of online or online + On Demand registrations are not allowed. All sales for online programs, including online conferences are final, non-refundable, and non-transferable to another individual.  

The Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and the Marriott Marquis Chicago are the co-headquarter hotels for the 2026 Annual Meeting. They are both connected to McCormick Place via enclosed walkway.

Convention Management Resources, Inc. (CMR), the official housing vendor of the AAN Annual Meeting, is available to assist you with your housing reservation and/or online registration at the AAN Registration & Housing Support Center or by phone at 1 (800) 676-4226 (US/Canada) and (415) 979-2283 (international).

Thursday, March 19, 2026. However, we encourage you to book early, as availability is limited and hotels fill up quickly.

Hotel rates are in US dollars. Taxes of 17.4% will be added to your room rate. The AAN receives a portion of the hotel rate per night (included in the room rate) to offset the expense of the meeting.

Hotel reservations made through the AAN/CMR must be canceled at least 7 days in advance of the arrival date by contacting the AAN Registration & Housing Support Center.

If you cancel your registration or change to online registration, you must also cancel your hotel reservation. The hotel reservation will not automatically be canceled when you change your registration.

Group accommodations are blocks of 10 or more sleeping rooms. Submit your housing request through the AAN Registration & Housing Support Center to be contacted by an AAN Housing Consultant. For international groups, AAN International Group Housing is the official provider.

All of the hotels in the AAN official housing block are available for trainees to reserve. However, we have set aside a limited number of rooms at two of our more affordable hotels specifically for students and trainees. Make reservations in this block through the link at the top of the housing reservations page.

Shuttle service will be provided only for hotels within the AAN housing block that are located one mile or further from the convention center. The list of hotels is available on the Hotels and Shuttles page and indicated in the hotel's listing in the official hotel map.

Shuttles will run at peak times at the beginning and end of the conference day. Service will also be provided for the Annual Meeting party on Sunday, April 19. See shuttle schedule for additional details. The AAN Conferences mobile app will also have information regarding shuttle service closer to the start of the meeting.

Shuttle ride length can vary depending on the day and time of day and your hotel. However, it is recommended that you allow yourself at least 30-45 minutes to commute prior to your first commitment of the day.

Wheelchair-accessible shuttles are available upon advance request and are based on availability. A toll-free number and email to schedule service will be available prior to the Annual Meeting. If you are in need of mobility assistance throughout the meeting, please note that on the registration form and/or send us an email.

You will be able to earn up to 378 CME credits. This quantity is accurate as of January 2026 and is subject to change as the program is updated.

The deadline to claim CME is May 20, 2026, for regular conference registration. If you add Annual Meeting On Demand, you will have until March 1, 2027, to claim CME.

The AAN strives to make our conferences accessible. The AAN is committed to building and sustaining an inclusive organization that respects and values the diversity of our membership and the communities we serve. We are continually improving our on-site offerings and digital assets to comply with current best practices and accessibility guidelines. Registrants may request accommodation through the registration process. If you have questions regarding the accessibility of the in-person or online experience and associated content, please contact Member Services at (800) 879-1960, memberservices@aan.com, or conference staff. 

The daily attendee lunch always includes one option that is vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free, and one vegetarian option. Kosher and halal meals must be special-ordered. The deadline to order these meals has passed. Contact registration@aan.com with questions. 

The McCormick Place Chicago ADA Accessibility page includes information about parking, restrooms, elevators, and more. Limited wheelchairs and scooters will be available for use within McCormick Place West for a single day for any unexpected mobility concerns. Additional information and access to equipment are available at Meeting Info & Tech Support at the West Concourse Concierge Desk and the Central Concourse. Wheelchairs and scooters can be rented from the vendors below if needed for several days: 

Scootaround Mobility Solutions 
888-441-7575 
info@mobility-source.com
Scootaround/Chicago

Other accommodations include:

Seating: There is reserved seating in front of W375de for the plenary session. For other programs, if you need assistance finding a seat near the front of the room, please ask a course monitor. Monitors will be stationed near the door of the room and have a white ribbon indicating that they are the monitors.

Streaming and Recordings: Livestreaming and program recordings will be available in the online platform and the mobile app. Recordings will be available within 48 hours of the end of the program. Closed captioning is provided through Wordly but not offered in the room.

Hotels: All hotels in the AAN room block are accessible. If you booked within the block, there was an option to indicate if you needed an accessible room, roll-in shower, etc., on the form. If you are unsure of your booking, please contact registration.

Annual Meeting Party: The Annual Meeting party on Sunday, April 19, will be held at Chicago’s Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.

• Free transportation to and from the event will be provided for hotels within the AAN housing block, with the final shuttle departing at 10:30 p.m. CT. For additional transportation assistance or to request a wheelchair-accessible transfer, please contact Rhode Transportation. Prior to the meeting aantransportation@rhodeplaning.com; onsite (312)-566-7996 during regularly scheduled shuttle hours, and reservations should be made at least 20 minutes in advance of desired pick-up time.

Navigation: Please plan to download the AAN conferences mobile app for the best navigation experience. The type in the room locator is very small, but accessing on the mobile app will allow you to zoom in and adjust the text size for better readability. 

Please contact registration@aan.com with questions. 

The following accommodations are available for those with visual impairment: 

Presentations and Materials: Presenters at the AAN are directed to ensure their slides are high contrast for easy readability. Program materials will also be available for download online and on the app, assuming the presenter chooses to share the slides.

Seating: There is reserved seating in the front of room W375de for the plenary session. For other programs, if you need assistance finding a seat near the front of the room, please ask a course monitor. Monitors will be stationed near the door of the room and have a white ribbon indicating that they are the monitor.

Streaming and Recordings: Livestreaming and program recordings will be available in the online platform and the mobile app. Recordings will be available within 48 hours of the end of the program. Closed captioning is provided through Wordly but not offered in the room.

Navigation: Please plan to download the AAN conferences mobile app for the best navigation experience. The type in the room locator is very small, but accessing on the mobile app will allow you to zoom in and adjust the text size for better readability. 

The following accommodations are available for those with auditory impairment: 

Microphones: All programming rooms and Hubs have microphones on stage that presenters are instructed to speak into.

Presentations and Materials: Presenters at the AAN are directed to ensure their slides are high contrast for easy readability. Program materials will also be available for download online and on the app, assuming the presenter chooses to share the slides.

Seating: There is reserved seating in the front of room W375de for the plenary session. For other programs, if you need assistance finding a seat near the front of the room, please ask a course monitor. Monitors will be stationed near the door of the room and have a white ribbon indicating that they are the monitor.

Streaming and Recordings: Livestreaming and program recordings will be available in the online platform and the mobile app. Recordings will be available within 48 hours of the end of the program. Closed captioning is provided through Wordly but not offered in the room.

The lactation room is room W191 at McCormick Place West and will be available with a changing station, private nursing/pumping areas, and a refrigerator. 

Yes, the designated prayer room is W177 at McCormick Place West.

The AAN has partnered with KiddieCorp to offer attendee-paid on-site childcare at McCormick Place West during the core hours of the Annual Meeting. The childcare room is W181a. Learn more. 

If you provided your pronouns when registering for the meeting, this information will be printed on your badge. If you would like to have your pronouns printed on your badge, you may do so by visiting Assisted Registration or by adding a pronoun sticker available near registration. 

The official language of AAN conferences is English, except for content specifically developed in a different language. The AAN is offering easy-to-use, live AI translation for 60+ languages, making the Annual Meeting more accessible and engaging than ever before! Translation will be available for all registration types at the 2025 Annual Meeting. Learn more.

There is a private “Family Restroom” near each set of restrooms in McCormick Place West.

Chicago's two main airports are O'Hare International Airport (ORD), a major hub for international and long-distance flights, and Midway International Airport (MDW), which is a smaller, more convenient airport for domestic and regional travel and offers quicker access to the city center. 

Yes. Flight discounts are available if you fly Delta Air Lines or United Airlines to Chicago: 

Delta Air Lines: Delta Air Lines is pleased to offer special discounts for the American Academy of Neurology. Visit Delta to book your flights.

You may also call Conferences and Events^® at 1.800.328.1111* Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.– 8:00 p.m. EST and refer to Meeting Event Code:  NY48P 
*Please note there is no service fee for reservations booked and ticketed via our reservation 800 number. 

United Airlines: To make flight reservations online, please use the discount code: ZRPE229161. MileagePlus^® members earn miles for their travel when using the United Meetings^℠ discount code.

You may also call United Meetings Reservation Desk from 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. CT, Monday–Friday (closed for major US holidays) at (800) 426-1122 for booking assistance or visit United Meetings Travel and enter the code above. 

Booking fees are waived for United Meetings reservations. International customers may contact their local United^® Reservation Desk. 

Document requirements for entering the US vary based on your country of origin, citizenship, purpose of visit, and intended length of stay. Please plan ahead to ensure you meet the visa and travel requirements to enter the United States. It is strongly encouraged to apply for your visa as soon as possible, as there may be long wait times for visa processing and interviews. The AAN offers a Letter of Announcement that you may include as part of your visa application to attend the AAN’s Annual Meeting. View more visa resources. 

In April, Chicago will be in Central Daylight Time (GMT-5), which is two hours ahead of Los Angeles, one hour behind New York City, six hours behind London, and 14 hours behind Tokyo. 

Choose Chicago has a wealth of information about dining, entertainment, and more. If it’s your first time in the city, be sure to check out the can’t-miss items for your first-time visit! 

Information brochures from Choose Chicago will also be available on Level 1 of McCormick Place at the Transportation Center.