The Opening Ceremony will take place Friday, March 27th from 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm.

Featuring Opening Remarks from AAD President Susan C. Taylor, MD, FAAD, president-elect candidate speeches, remarks from this year’s Gold Medal Award recipient, Henry W. Lim, MD, FAAD, and a fireside chat with our keynote, John Legend.

We’re honored to welcome John Legend—the EGOT-winning, critically acclaimed artist, producer, and activist—as the keynote speaker for the 2026 AAD Annual Meeting. With a career spanning music, film, and social impact, Legend continues to redefine what it means to blend art with purpose.

He has become one of the most celebrated voices in modern music, earning 13 Grammy® Awards, an Academy Award®, a Golden Globe® Award, a Tony® Award, four Emmy® Awards, and releasing 11 studio albums. Beyond his chart-topping performances, Legend leads Get Lifted Film Co. and Get Lifted Books, platforms that elevate dynamic storytelling across media. He also founded Loved01, a unisex skincare brand created to promote accessible, inclusive self-care. As an activist, Legend established FREEAMERICA in 2015 to transform the conversation surrounding criminal justice policies."

For more information, click here.