Every year, the ASCO Annual Meeting becomes the epicenter of oncology. Tens of thousands of physicians, scientists, industry leaders, advocates, and trainees gather to discuss the newest advances that will shape cancer care worldwide.
Yet scientific presentations are only one part of what drives progress.
Innovation grows through conversations. Collaborations begin over shared ideas. Young oncologists find mentors. Researchers meet future partners. Leaders inspire the next generation. Communities become stronger when they come together.
At ASCO 2026, OncoDaily created exactly those spaces.
Across four major events – the Yvonne Awards Ceremony, the OncoDaily Party, the AI in Oncology Grand Rounds, and the Sarcoma Grand Rounds – thousands of members of the international oncology community gathered not simply to celebrate achievements, but to exchange ideas, discuss emerging science, and strengthen the relationships that continue long after the congress ends.
A Night that United Oncology
The Yvonne Awards 2026
Held on May 29 at Park West in Chicago, the Yvonne Awards Ceremony recognized individuals whose work is transforming oncology through research, leadership, mentorship, humanitarian efforts, community oncology, artificial intelligence, and global impact.
The ceremony, held before the OncoDaily Party, was supported by Natera, the exclusive partner of the Yvonne Awards Ceremony and OncoDaily Reception.
The program was co-chaired by Miriam Mutebi and Philip Kantoff, leading an international nomination committee representing every major oncology discipline.
The Recipients of 2026 Yvonne Awards Ceremony:
- Eduardo Cazap – Lifetime Achievement
- Charles Balch – Lifetime Achievement
- Syed Nabeel Zafar – Global Oncology
- Herbert Loong – Leadership
- Adrienne Waks – Mentorship
- Samvel Bardakhchyan – Mentorship
- Caroline Chung – AI in Oncology
- Abhishek D. Garg – AI in Oncology
- Emmanuella-Faith Amoako – Pediatric Oncology
- Mohammad I.M. Hojouj – Humanitarian Award
- Hannatu Ayuba Usman – Community Oncology
- Joanna Metzner-Sadurski – Community Oncology
- Hasmukh Jain – Breakthrough Research
- Nickhill Bhakta – Challenging the Status Quo
- Ana Velazquez-Manana – Challenging the Status Quo
- Amol Akhade – Voice of Oncology
OncoDaily Party 2026
Immediately following the awards, Park West transformed into one of ASCO week’s largest networking gatherings.
The OncoDaily Party 2026, co-chaired by Yelena Janjigian and Gevorg Tamamyan, with more than 1,000 registered attendees along with the Yvonne Awards Ceremony, brought together clinicians, researchers, industry leaders, fellows, advocates, entrepreneurs, and friends from every corner of the oncology community.
While conferences often end when the sessions close, this evening demonstrated that some of the most meaningful conversations happen outside lecture halls. New collaborations were initiated, old colleagues reunited, and professionals who had known one another only through social media finally met in person.
“Some people are addicted to TikTok, some to Instagram, I am addicted to OncoDaily.” – Dr Humaid El Shamsi, CEO of Burjeel Cancer Institute (BCI) Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The evening embodied one of OncoDaily’s defining principles: oncology progresses fastest when knowledge is shared through genuine human connection.
AI in Oncology Grand Rounds
On May 30, OncoDaily shifted the conversation toward one of oncology’s fastest-evolving frontiers.
The AI in Oncology Grand Rounds, held at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, attracted more than 500 attendees, reflecting the rapidly growing interest in artificial intelligence across cancer care.
With ZS serving as the exclusive partner, the event explored how AI is reshaping clinical practice, research, diagnostics, workflow optimization, and personalized medicine.
The program brought together internationally recognized experts who discussed not only the promise of AI, but also the practical challenges of implementation, ethics, regulation, and equitable access.
Rather than treating AI as a distant future, the discussions emphasized that artificial intelligence is already becoming an integral part of modern oncology practice.
Sarcoma Grand Rounds
Earlier during ASCO, OncoDaily dedicated an entire Grand Rounds session to one of oncology’s most challenging disease areas.
Held on May 29 at the Hilton Chicago, the Sarcoma Grand Rounds gathered nearly 200 participants for an in-depth discussion of advances in sarcoma diagnosis and treatment.
The session was co-chaired by Sandra D’Angelo and Herbert Loong, with joined speakers Javier Martín-Broto and Robin Jones, support from Eli Lilly and Company as the Foundational Partner and US WorldMeds as the Bronze Sponsor.
Experts explored emerging targeted therapies, biomarker-driven treatment strategies, immunotherapy combinations, T-cell receptor therapies, antibody-drug conjugates, and other novel therapeutic approaches, providing attendees with practical insights into a rapidly evolving field.
More Than Events
“OncoDaily has really become a part of our daily life” – Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, UICC President-Elect of 2024-2026, Founder and CEO of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation.
Taken individually, each event served a distinct purpose.
The Yvonne Awards celebrated excellence.
The OncoDaily Party strengthened relationships.
The AI Grand Rounds explored the technologies that will shape the future of oncology.
The Sarcoma Grand Rounds advanced discussion in one of the most complex areas of cancer medicine.
Together, however, they reflected something larger.
Across four events and well over 1,700 registered participants, OncoDaily created opportunities for recognition, education, networking, mentorship, and collaboration that extended far beyond the official scientific program of ASCO.
As oncology becomes increasingly global, multidisciplinary, and technology-driven, platforms that connect people across specialties and borders are becoming just as important as the science itself.
“OncoDaily makes it so easy for us to connect in this increasingly enlarging world…” – Dr Yelena Janjigian, Chief of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
At ASCO 2026, OncoDaily demonstrated that advancing oncology means not only sharing knowledge – but also building the community that transforms knowledge into better care for patients worldwide.