The Complete Guide to U.S. Veterinary Conferences in 2027
Last updated: October 2026
Summary: This guide lists the major U.S. veterinary conferences for 2027 in calendar order, with dates, locations, and official links. It covers national shows like VMX, WVC, the AVMA Convention, and AAHA Con; practice management events like the VHMA Management Exchange and VHMA Annual Conference; specialty meetings like IVECCS and the FelineVMA Annual Conference; and regional favorites from Myrtle Beach to Honolulu. Where an organizer hasn't announced 2027 dates yet, we note it and tell you when the event usually runs. We'll keep this page updated as dates are confirmed. Conferences are also the best place to compare AI tools for vets side by side, so we close with a short checklist for evaluating the best veterinary AI scribe on the exhibit floor.
Still to Come in 2026
Looking for the rest of this year? These conferences are still ahead:
- Hawaii VMA Annual Conference: November 13–15, 2026 | Honolulu, HI (Sheraton Princess Kaiulani). Details
- Fetch Long Beach: December 3–5, 2026 | Long Beach, CA. Details
What's New for 2027
A few big changes are worth knowing before you book travel:
- WVC moves later. The WVC Annual Conference runs February 28 to March 3, 2027, about two weeks later than in 2026.
- AVMA heads to Minneapolis. The AVMA Convention moves from Anaheim to Minneapolis, July 16–20.
- Great Lakes leaves Mackinac Island. The Great Lakes Veterinary Conference moves to Boyne Mountain Resort in northern Michigan.
- Fetch reshuffles its lineup. dvm360 is merging its Charlotte and Nashville programs and adding Fetch Phoenix in November.
- FelineVMA goes to Chicago. The 2027 FelineVMA Annual Conference is in Chicago in November.
- SWVS moves to Dallas. The Southwest Veterinary Symposium heads to Dallas after San Antonio in 2026.
2027 Veterinary Conferences at a Glance
Events with 2027 dates still to be announced are covered in each season below.
Winter 2027 (January to March)
AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference (VLC)
January 7–9, 2027 | Chicago, ILThe AVMA's leadership conference at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk brings together association leaders, House of Delegates members, and emerging leaders for governance, advocacy, and leadership training.
VMX 2027
January 16–20, 2027 | Orlando, FLNAVC's VMX at the Orange County Convention Center is one of the largest veterinary conferences in the world, with clinical, management, and specialty CE plus hands-on labs and a massive exhibit hall.
Crossroads Veterinary Conference
January 28–30, 2027 | Noblesville, INThe Indiana VMA's Crossroads conference offers community-focused CE across small and large animal medicine, earlier in the year than in 2026.
Veterinary Orthopedic Society (VOS) Annual Conference
February 6–13, 2027 | Sun Valley, IDThe 54th VOS conference at Sun Valley Resort covers orthopedics, sports medicine, and rehabilitation, with the society's trademark mix of science and ski days.
Midwest Veterinary Conference (MVC)
February 18–20, 2027 | Columbus, OHThe Ohio VMA's regional conference covers companion animal, food animal, and exotics, with on-demand access from March through August. Dates are posted by the Ohio VMA and marked subject to change, so confirm before booking.
VHMA Management Exchange
February 18–20, 2027 | Austin, TXThe Veterinary Hospital Managers Association's Management Exchange at the Hilton Austin is a small-format event built for practice managers and administrators, with peer exchange on staffing, finance, operations, and technology. Exhibitors: only 9 booths are left.
WVC Annual Conference
February 28 to March 3, 2027 | Las Vegas, NVWVC at Mandalay Bay is one of the profession's biggest CE events, with deep tracks for veterinarians, technicians, and practice managers and extensive hands-on labs.
Oregon Veterinary Conference
2027 dates TBA | Corvallis, ORThe Oregon VMA's conference at Oregon State University usually runs in early March (March 7–9 in 2026).
Spring 2027 (April to May)
Fetch Nashville
April 2–3, 2027 | Nashville, TNdvm360's Fetch Nashville at the Music City Center delivers boutique-sized clinical, management, and wellness CE. For 2027, it absorbs the former Charlotte program.
AAVMC Catalyze 2027
April 12–17, 2027 | Washington, D.C.The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges annual meeting gathers veterinary education leaders, faculty, and administrators to discuss curriculum, workforce, and the future of the profession. The main conference program runs April 15–17 at the Grand Hyatt Washington, according to AAVMC's 2027 event page.
Mountain Veterinary Conference
2027 dates TBA | Cherokee, NCThis lecture, lab, and demonstration conference at Harrah's Cherokee usually runs in mid to late April (April 19–22 in 2026).
SDCVMA Spring Conference
2027 dates TBA | San Diego, CAThe San Diego County VMA hosts focused spring and fall weekend programs for general practitioners. Check its site for 2027 topics and dates.
Veterinary Laser Surgery Symposium (VLSS)
May 14–15, 2027 | Nashville, TNVLSS moves to the Hilton Nashville Downtown for two days of CO2 laser surgery technique and case review.
Sun 'n Fun Veterinary Conference
May 16–19, 2027 | Myrtle Beach, SCSun 'n Fun at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort pairs solid CE with a family-friendly beach setting.
UC Davis AggieVET Conference
May 22–23, 2027 | Davis, CA (and live on Zoom)AggieVET at UC Davis's Gladys Valley Hall offers multi-species, wellness, and behavior tracks, with a virtual option for remote attendees.
Emerald Coast Veterinary Conference
2027 dates TBA | Miramar Beach, FLCo-hosted by the Georgia and Alabama VMAs, the Emerald Coast conference at Sandestin usually runs in late May (May 27–31 in 2026).
Summer 2027 (June to August)
Pacific Veterinary Conference (PacVet)
June 3–6, 2027 | San Diego, CAThe California VMA's PacVet moves from Sacramento to San Diego, with clinical and practice management CE for the whole team.
Great Lakes Veterinary Conference (GLVC)
June 13–15, 2027 | Boyne Mountain, MIThe Michigan VMA's GLVC trades Mackinac Island for Boyne Mountain Resort, keeping its regional, multi-species CE format.
Worth crossing the border: ACVIM Forum
June 24–26, 2027 | Montréal, Québec, CanadaThe 2027 ACVIM Forum is in Canada this year, but it remains the top meeting for internal medicine specialists and referral practices. The Specialty Symposium is June 23.
AVMA Convention
July 16–20, 2027 | Minneapolis, MNThe AVMA Convention covers the full profession: clinical CE, leadership, policy, wellbeing, and one of the year's best exhibit halls for veterinary AI news and product launches.
Fred Scott Feline Symposium
2027 dates TBA | Ithaca, NY (hybrid)Cornell's feline symposium traditionally runs the last full weekend in July (July 24–26 in 2026).
VETgirl U
August 4–8, 2027 | Scottsdale, AZVETgirl U at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale delivers case-based, practical CE, with lectures and exhibits August 6–8.
Fetch Kansas City
August 20–22, 2027 | Kansas City, MOFetch Kansas City at the Kansas City Convention Center offers dvm360's clinical, management, and wellness tracks for Midwest teams.
WVC Nashville
August 21–24, 2027 | Nashville, TNWVC's regional Nashville conference at the Music City Center brings WVC-quality CE and hands-on labs in a smaller format.
Fall 2027 (September to November)
VHMA Annual Conference
September 8–11, 2027 | Orlando, FLVHMA's annual conference at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is the flagship event for veterinary practice managers, covering leadership, HR, finance, operations, and how to evaluate the technology your team runs on, from your veterinary PIMS to AI tools.
IVECCS
September 9–13, 2027 | Grapevine, TXThe International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium at the Gaylord Texan is the top meeting for ER and critical care teams.
AAHA Con 2027
September 16–18, 2027 | National Harbor, MDAAHA Con at the Gaylord National focuses on small animal practice quality, culture, and management, with strong content for practice owners and managers.
VetForum USA (Texas)
September 22–23, 2027 | Irving, TXVetForum isn't a CE conference. It's an invite-only business forum at the Omni Las Colinas that connects leaders of veterinary groups with vendors through pre-arranged meetings.
Pacific Northwest Veterinary Conference (PNWVC)
September 24–26, 2027 | Washington (venue TBA)The PNWVC offers regional clinical, business, and public health CE. The 2026 event was held at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center.
SDCVMA Fall Conference
2027 dates TBA | San Diego, CAThe SDCVMA fall program typically runs in late September.
Southwest Veterinary Symposium (SWVS)
September 30 to October 3, 2027 | Dallas, TXSWVS at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center offers multi-track clinical and management CE for the whole hospital team.
New York State Veterinary Conference
2027 dates TBA | Ithaca, NYCornell and the NYSVMS host this multi-species conference in early to mid October (October 9–11 in 2026), with live online and on-demand options.
FelineVMA Annual Conference
November 4–7, 2027 | Chicago, ILThe Feline Veterinary Medical Association's 2027 conference at the Hilton Chicago is the go-to event for cat-friendly practice and feline medicine.
Fetch Phoenix
November 11–13, 2027 | Phoenix, AZNew for 2027, Fetch Phoenix at the Phoenix Convention Center brings dvm360's CE format to the Southwest.
Hawaii VMA Annual Conference
November 2027, dates TBA | Honolulu, HIThe Hawaii VMA conference is held in Waikiki each November (November 13–15 in 2026). Watch the HVMA site for 2027 details.
Also on the calendar
- Fetch National Harbor: dvm360 hasn't posted 2027 dates yet. Check the event page for updates.
- MClub by Midwest Veterinary Supply: MClub hosts free, members-only evening business sessions. 2026 stops included Bloomington, MN (September 9) and Tampa, FL (October 15). Watch for the 2027 schedule.
How to Choose the Right Conferences for Your Team
Match the event to the role. Practice managers get the most from VHMA, AAHA Con, and the management tracks at VMX and WVC. Specialists should prioritize IVECCS, ACVIM, VOS, or FelineVMA. Regional shows deliver strong CE with lower travel costs for technicians and associates.
Send your technicians. Veterinary technician burnout is a retention problem, and CE is one of the most visible ways to invest in your team. A JAVMA study found work-life balance was the strongest predictor of lower burnout, so pair conference time with real changes back home, like cutting after-hours charting.
Register early. Big shows sell out hotel blocks and popular labs months ahead. Early-bird pricing usually ends in the fall before winter conferences.
Plan your exhibit hall time. Block out time to compare vendors, not just walk the floor. Bring a short list of problems you want to solve.
Veterinary AI News: What to Watch on the 2027 Exhibit Floor
AI is now standard conference fare. Half of North American practices have at least one staff member using an AI scribe, according to the Companion Animal Veterinary Software Guide, Part VII. In 2026, the category also consolidated fast: Instinct Science acquired ScribbleVet and IDEXX acquired CoVet. Expect plenty of AI tools for vets in every booth aisle, and plenty of questions about who owns them.
How to Find the Best Veterinary AI Scribe at a Conference
A booth demo is the fastest way to compare the best veterinary AI scribe software side by side. Bring these questions:
- Does it write back to our veterinary PIMS? Ask to see a finished SOAP note land in your actual system, whether that's Cornerstone, AVImark, ezyVet, or another veterinary EMR software platform. Copy and paste doesn't count.
- Is the note structured the way we chart? If someone asks what does SOAP stand for, the answer is Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan. Ask for a SOAP note example that follows your own veterinary SOAP template and SOAP charting style.
- Is it trained on veterinary medicine? Drug names, species, and clinical shorthand separate real veterinary soap notes from generic transcription.
- What's the virtual scribe workflow? Ask how the scribe pulls appointments, records the exam, and hands off the note for review.
- Who owns it? After 2026's acquisitions, ask whether the scribe is independent or tied to a PIMS vendor. Read Who Owns Your Veterinary AI Scribe? for why it matters.
- How is data secured? Look for independent proof like SOC 2 Type II certification.
HappyDoc checks every box. It's an independent, US-based AI assistant for veterinary medicine that writes structured vet notes straight back into the top-rated veterinary EMR solutions practices already use, including Cornerstone, AVImark, ezyVet, and more. It's trained on more than 2 million real veterinary appointments, SOC 2 Type II certified, and priced for unlimited users. For a broader comparison, see our 5 Best Veterinary AI Scribes Expert Guide and What Makes a Good Veterinary SOAP Note.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest veterinary conference in 2027? VMX (January 16–20, Orlando) and the WVC Annual Conference (February 28 to March 3, Las Vegas) are the largest. The AVMA Convention (July 16–20, Minneapolis) is the profession's flagship association event.
What are the best 2027 conferences for practice managers? The VHMA Management Exchange (February 18–20, Austin), the VHMA Annual Conference (September 8–11, Orlando), and AAHA Con (September 16–18, National Harbor) are built for managers and administrators. VMX and WVC also have strong management tracks.
Where is the 2027 AVMA Convention? Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 16–20, 2027.
When is the 2027 FelineVMA conference? November 4–7, 2027, at the Hilton Chicago.
Which 2027 conferences haven't announced dates yet?A s of this update: the Oregon Veterinary Conference, Mountain Veterinary Conference, SDCVMA spring and fall conferences, Emerald Coast, Fred Scott Feline Symposium, New York State Veterinary Conference, Fetch National Harbor, and the Hawaii VMA conference. We'll update this guide as they're announced.
Can I earn CE online in 2027? Yes. AggieVET, the New York State Veterinary Conference, and the Fred Scott Feline Symposium have offered virtual or hybrid options, and the Midwest Veterinary Conference offers on-demand access after the live event.
What's the best veterinary AI scribe to look at during conference season? Look for a scribe with two-way PIMS integration, veterinary-trained accuracy, structured SOAP notes, independent ownership, and SOC 2 Type II security. HappyDoc offers all five.
Make the Most of 2027
Conferences give your team new skills, fresh energy, and a chance to see what's next in veterinary medicine. But the hours you save after you get home matter just as much. If documentation is still eating your evenings, HappyDoc can give your doctors 1.5 to 3 hours back per day.
Book a demo to see why practices call HappyDoc the best veterinary AI scribe, before your next conference or after it.
Dates and locations are confirmed from each organizer's official website as of October 2026 and may change. Always confirm details with the organizer before registering or booking travel.
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