The 2026 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, a premier global event for oncology professionals, took place from January 8-10, 2026, both in-person at Moscone West in San Francisco, CA, and online. Organized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the symposium brought together leading experts to share cutting-edge research and foster collaborations aimed at advancing GI cancer patient care. Key highlights from the symposium included dedicated sessions on the growing challenge of managing early-onset gastrointestinal cancers, addressing their specialized needs from diagnosis to survivorship. Another significant area of focus was the integration and harnessing of artificial intelligence (AI) in GI oncology, exploring its potential to augment clinical care and streamline clinical trial matching. The symposium featured crucial updates from various clinical trials. The ILUSTRO and HERIZON-GEA-01 trials presented new targeted therapies for gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, emphasizing biomarker-defined treatment strategies. For colorectal cancer, results from the Phase 3 BREAKWATER trial indicated higher response rates with targeted therapy combinations for BRAF V600E–mutated metastatic disease. Furthermore, the COMMIT clinical trial demonstrated that a triple combination therapy significantly extended progression-free survival in deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) metastatic colorectal cancer, a finding highlighted by Dr. Vishwanath Sathyanarayanan from Apollo Hospitals, Bengaluru, India, as a potential new treatment option. Indian experts like Dr. Amol Akhade from Fortis Hospitals Mumbai also actively contributed to discussions and analyses of late-breaking abstracts and major multidisciplinary sessions, underscoring the global relevance and direct impact of the symposium's findings on cancer care in India. The overall theme emphasized translating innovative science into practical, solution-oriented strategies for immediate clinical application.