Reimagined Sunday–Tuesday structure delivers ever-sharper, ever-stronger format for industry’s premier gathering

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) today announced an evolved format for its 2027 Annual Meeting, to be held April 18-20, 2027, in Palm Beach, Florida. The changes, unanimously approved by the NACDS Executive Committee earlier this month, reflect the Association's commitment to listening to members and delivering maximum value at the industry's premier gathering.

The 2027 Annual Meeting will transition from a Saturday-Tuesday structure to a Sunday-Tuesday format, concentrating Strategic Exchange Appointments into two full, high-impact, high-energy business days. This focused structure preserves the core Strategic Exchange model that members value most while intensifying meeting density, engagement, and productivity - directly reflecting how today's senior executives choose to connect, conduct business, and drive outcomes.

"The NACDS Annual Meeting stands as the gold standard of industry events, a distinction earned over decades through the engagement, input, and partnership of members. That status is not an accident, and it is not static. It has been built, and it must be continually renewed," said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson. "By acting on member input, we are delivering an ever-sharper and ever-stronger Annual Meeting that reflects where the industry is headed and how its leaders do business today."

"These decisions are grounded in years of attendee survey data and direct member input. These changes act on that input from a clear position of strength: the NACDS Annual Meeting is the premier gathering in our industry, and these enhancements are designed to extend and amplify that leadership," said NACDS Chair David B. Warner, President and CEO of KPH Healthcare Services. "NACDS has no greater commitment than ensuring it presents the right programming at the right time for retailer and supplier members, and this is another important move in support of that goal. This will help set the event and the industry up for success well into the future. We appreciate the input from members, and we appreciate their continued strong engagement which makes this event unmatched."

Key aspects of the schedule for the 2027 NACDS Annual Meeting include:

Sunday, April 18, 2027

12:00 Noon - Registration Opens

2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Meet the Industry Sessions

6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Opening Celebration

Monday, April 19, 2027

8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Chain Members Breakfast and NACDS-PAC Event

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Strategic Exchange Appointments

12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - The NACDS Luncheon

2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - NACDS Foundation Pharmacy Deans Forum

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Sponsors Reception

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - NACDS Foundation Scholarship Reception

Tuesday, April 20, 2027

8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Business Program

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Strategic Exchange Appointments

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - Board of Directors Reception

7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Board of Directors Dinner and Entertainment

Registration for the 2027 NACDS Annual Meeting will open July 15, 2026, at annual.NACDS.org.