Alma North America expands Alma Academy with clinical training, culture and entertainment

Alma North America has unveiled faculty, programming and entertainment for Alma Academy 2026, set for Oct. 15-18 at the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa. The event expands the company’s flagship education gathering with clinical training, business strategy, beauty-media voices and two evening showcases aimed at creating a more immersive experience for practitioners.

Why it matters: - Alma Academy 2026 is designed to pull together clinical education, business strategy and culture in one place. - The broader format could help physicians and aesthetic practitioners connect treatment decisions with media trends, patient behavior and practice growth. - Registration is limited to the Alma North America network in the U.S. and Canada, making the event an exclusive community touchpoint.

What happened: - Alma North America announced the faculty, programming and entertainment lineup for Alma Academy 2026. - The event will take place Oct. 15-18, 2026, at the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa. - Alma said the 2026 edition marks an evolution of its flagship educational event into a more modern, connected and experience-driven platform. - The four-day program will bring together physicians, aesthetic practitioners, beauty executives, directors, editors and other industry leaders.

The details: - The faculty list includes Dr. Tess Mauricio, Dr. Howard Sobel, Dr. Lady Dy, Dr. Todd Hobgood, Dr. Richard Eller, Dr. Jeffrey J. Hsu, Dr. Carolyn DeLucia, Dr. Francisco Cardona, Dr. Bumjun Ko, Dr. Pina Panchal, Dr. Lyndsay Shipp, Dr. Rishi Chopra, Dr. Christina Pantazopoulos and Dr. Sage Wheeler. - The faculty also includes Jamie Sherrill, RN; Kimberlee Smith, FNP-C; Andrea Hunter, RN, FNP-C; Christie Kidd, PA-C; Wilhene Zwanepoel; Joanna Vargas, LE; and Erin Larson, ACLS, LE. - The program will cover clinical best practices, aesthetic insights, emerging technologies, individualized treatment planning, interactive experience stations, digital marketing, patient acquisition, business strategy and practice development. - Dr. Bumjun Ko of South Korea will discuss the K-Beauty philosophy and treatment techniques influencing aesthetic trends globally. - Ko’s session will include TitaniumLift, a treatment that originated in South Korea and is gaining momentum across North America, followed by a live product demonstration. - Beauty and media voices joining the program include Jenna Rosenstein of Harper’s BAZAAR, Hannah Baxter of Marie Claire, Kate Sandoval Box of Oprah Daily, Kathleen Hou, Marisa Petrarca of NEWBEAUTY, Elise Tabin and Ann Krisha Buenaobra, formerly of TikTok. - The program will also feature “The Beauty Forecast: What’s Now, What’s Next,” a keynote interview with Gloss Angeles co-hosts Kirbie Johnson and Sara Tan. - The interview will focus on trends, digital behaviors and cultural moments shaping beauty and aesthetics. - The event will include two evening experiences centered on recognition, entertainment and connection. - On Friday, Oct. 16, The Almies Awards Gala will recognize the people and practices that support Alma North America. - Mario Lopez will host the gala, and Brandi Cyrus will DJ the event. - On Saturday, Oct. 17, Alma Y2K Live will spotlight early-2000s music, fashion and culture. - Performers will include MIMS, Baby Bash, Ying Yang Twins and Fat Joe.

Between the lines: - Alma is positioning Alma Academy as more than a training conference. - The addition of editors, beauty directors and social media strategists suggests Alma wants attendees to think about aesthetics as both a clinical field and a consumer-facing cultural category. - The evening programming also signals a push to make the event feel differentiated enough to justify several days away from practice. - Spencer Detter said the event’s long-time physician and practitioner community remains central to the experience. - Sheldon Larson said Alma wants the event to go beyond the traditional aesthetics ecosystem and include people shaping beauty, media, social platforms and culture.

What's next: - Alma Academy 2026 will run Oct. 15-18 at the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa. - Alma North America will continue registration through its U.S. and Canadian network. - The company is using the event to preview how it wants future education and community-building experiences to look.

The bottom line: - Alma Academy 2026 is being built as a hybrid of conference, showcase and cultural event, with clinical education still at the center.