BIO International 2026: What you need to know

Maximising your time at BIO International Convention 2026 in San Diego

The BIO International Convention in the US is one of the few events that brings together the full biotech industry in one place. Last year, we found it to be a valuable opportunity to meet companies across development, manufacturing, investment and commercialisation, all within a few days.

For anyone attending this year's event in San Diego, preparation will be key. The BIO Partnering™ system is at the centre of the conference experience, allowing attendees to schedule one-to-one meetings in advance. Our advice would be to start booking now, if you have not secured catch up or meet ups already. The most in-demand companies and executives quickly fill their schedules, and a well-planned diary makes it much easier to get the most from the week.

The conference programme is also worth making time for. Alongside the business meetings, BIO offers sessions covering topics such as biomanufacturing, cell and gene therapy, regulatory developments, AI in healthcare and investment trends. For those working in CMC, the manufacturing and regulatory sessions are often the most relevant, providing useful insight into the challenges companies are facing as products move through development.

One of the things we enjoyed most last year was spending time on the exhibition floor. It offered a good overview of the industry, with biotech companies, CDMOs, technology providers, consultants and regional biotech organisations all represented. Even without a formal meeting scheduled, it was easy to start conversations and make useful connections.

The networking opportunities extend beyond the convention centre. As you may expect, many of us will arrange informal meetings over coffee, lunches or evening events, and these can often be just as productive as the meetings booked through the partnering platform.

For first-time attendees, it's worth leaving some space in your schedule. While it's tempting to fill every available slot, some of the best conversations happen when nothing is planned. A cancelled meeting or chance introduction when getting coffee can easily lead to a discussion that wasn't on your original agenda. It also gives you an opportunity for rest time if you need it.

From a CMC perspective, BIO remains a useful event for understanding where companies are encountering manufacturing, analytical and regulatory challenges. It's also an opportunity to hear directly from organisations preparing for key development milestones and commercial launch activities.

Furthermore, in a year of inconsistent investment, this can be a genuine opportunity to get your face and organisation in front of investors.

If you're attending BIO in San Diego this year, expect a busy few days, plenty of networking and no shortage of interesting conversations. Planning beforehand will go a long way towards making the event worthwhile and give you the best bang for your buck.