SelectScience
Join Free
NewsSpectroscopy

Top mass spectrometry launches at ASMS 2026

Major vendors unveil new instruments and workflow solutions, highlighting a continued focus on performance, integration, and data-driven analysis

11 Jun 2026
Lois Manton-O'Byrne, PhD
Executive Editor

Editorial article

ASMS 2026 highlighted a clear shift in mass spectrometry, with technologies and software focusing not just on higher performance, but on helping scientists handle complex data and make faster, more confident decisions across real-world workflows.

SelectScience Editor Olivia Long highlights key technology announcements from this year's conference, reporting live from the exhibition. Catch up on all ASMS 2026 coverage, including video interviews and product news, here >>

Key mass spectrometry launches

Thermo Fisher Scientific™ Orbitrap™ Tribrid™ Apex and Excedion™: next-generation high-resolution systems delivering higher sensitivity and faster multiomics workflows.

Direct Mass Technology mode on the Orbitrap Tribrid Apex Mass Spectrometers opens an exciting frontier to obtain deep sequence coverage for proteoform targets with unparalleled sensitivity. This technology is highly versatile, and it is the best proteoform sequencer I've seen in my 25 years in translational research.

Neil Kelleher, Ph.D., Director, Northwestern Proteomics Center of Excellence, Northwestern University  

Waters Xevo MRT P10 and Cyclic IMS P20: high-sensitivity LC-MS platforms designed for large-scale multiomics and advanced structural and spatial analysis.

My lab studies proteins involved in misfoldings that drive human disease, which are notoriously difficult to characterize. We leverage the advanced capabilities of Cyclic IMS P20 MS to perform complex tandem ion mobility experiments on low‑abundance forms of a key molecule involved in the pathogenesis of Type II diabetes. The increase in sensitivity delivered by the new functionality is truly remarkable. It stands to significantly accelerate our analyses, potentially by an order of magnitude, and enables us to probe critical low‑abundance species in far greater detail.

Kostas Thalassinos, Ph.D., Professor of Mass Spectrometry and Academic Lead, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London  

Bruker timsMRMS™: ultra high-resolution system combining ion mobility and magnetic resonance for complex sample analysis.

The new timsMRMS system combines the high spatial resolution qualities of the timsTOF fleX and the high spectral resolving power and dynamic range of the FT-ICR for a perfect pairing of high specificity molecular imaging for capturing spatial biology at cellular resolution.

Madeline E. Colley, Ph.D., Research Instructor, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA  

SCIEX ZenoTOF platform expansion: improved accurate mass platform enabling higher sensitivity and more confident proteomics and biopharma workflows.

Scanning DIA on the ZenoTOF 8600 system enables ultra-sensitive and quantitative proteomics from single cells to post-translational modifications in a compact platform.

Matthias Mann, Professor, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry  

Agilent 8890B GC and 8860B GC with GC assist, 9500 Triple Quadrupole ICP-MS, and MAM solutions: workflow-focused systems designed to simplify analysis and improve data reliability in routine and regulated labs.

The 8890 is wonderful - easy to use, easy to manage, and great results. I just bought 5 to upgrade from instruments from 80s-00s and the resolution is beautiful.

Lauren Jenkins, Air Liquide  

Shimadzu AI-enabled mass spectrometry workflows: automated, AI-supported systems designed to reduce manual analysis and increase efficiency in high-throughput labs, plus SICRIT Ion Source Technology.

The LCMS QTOF stands out for its exceptional high-resolution mass spectrometry, delivering accurate and sensitive results. Its intuitive interface and efficient workflow boost productivity, and its advanced data acquisition capabilities offer in-depth molecular analysis. It remains a valuable tool for complex research tasks.

Ameya Parkar, ICT  

Impacts felt by scientists in attendance

Scientists are dealing with more complex samples, larger datasets, and increasing pressure to deliver results quickly and confidently.

The latest systems launched at ASMS 2026 are designed to address these challenges by reducing the time spent interpreting data, improving confidence in results, and supporting a wider range of applications on fewer systems. In practice, this means scientists can move faster from data to insight, make better-informed decisions, and focus more on the science rather than the process.

Presenting the 2026 Scientists’ Choice Awards®

Presenting SCA for analytical science product of the year 2025

Lois Manton-O’Byrne presenting award to Shane Tichy Associate Vice President, LC/MS R&D at Agilent Technologies

Waters award ceremony for article of the year 2025

Olivia Long presenting award to Dr. Rowan Moore, Senior Director, Waters Corporation

Dr. Tom Spudich screenshot

Dr. Tom Spudich for Video of the Year (left) and Samantha Herbick, Restek for Webinar of the Year (right)

Thermo Fisher and Shimadzu award ceremony in analytical science

Lois Manton-O’Byrne presenting award to Jeff Elleraas, Principal Scientist at Pfizer (left) and to Shane Elliott, Vice President and General Manager LSMS, Thermo Fisher Scientific (right)

The Analytical Science winners were announced at ASMS, recognizing the most impactful technologies and content in analytical science, as voted for by scientists worldwide.

Best New Analytical Science Product of 2025:

The InfinityLab Pro iQ Series Mass Detector by Agilent Technologies and the TLC Explorer by Merck.

The runners up for this category include:

Article of the Year:

'CSIR-IITR leads India’s national PFAS monitoring push' and features technology from Waters.

Video of the Year:

Speeding up forensics with advanced spectroscopy tools, Dr. Tom Spudich, Professor of Analytical Chemistry, Southern Illinois University in collaboration with Shimadzu. 

Webinar of the Year:

Why biphenyl is replacing C18 in HPLC, in collaboration with Restek Corp. 

eBook of the Year:

‘A practical guide to navigating water testing demands', in collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific.

We also presented the award for the 2026 Life Sciences Video of the Year: 'Pfizer drives cancer research breakthroughs with supercritical fluid chromatography' featuring Shimadzu technology.

Catch up on all ASMS 2026 coverage, including video interviews and product news, here >>

Frequently asked questions

What is ASMS?

The American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) is a professional organization dedicated to advancing the science and application of mass spectrometry. The annual ASMS conference is one of the largest global meetings in the field, bringing together researchers, instrument developers, and industry professionals to share new data, technologies, and applications.

What is the ASMS 2026 conference?

The 74th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics is the 2026 annual meeting of the society. The program includes oral presentations, poster sessions, award lectures, workshops, networking events, and a large exhibition featuring instrument vendors and technology providers.

Where is ASMS 2026 being held?

ASMS 2026 is being held in San Diego, California, at the San Diego Convention Center, a large waterfront venue that hosts the conference’s multiple parallel sessions, exhibition halls, and poster areas. The program references spaces within the convention center such as Hall D, Grand Ballroom suites, Pacific Ballroom rooms, and the Exhibit–Poster Hall, which are all part of the convention center complex.

Who attends ASMS?

The conference attracts a global audience including academic researchers, industry scientists, instrument manufacturers, software developers, and students, all working in areas where mass spectrometry plays a role, such as proteomics, metabolomics, clinical analysis, environmental science, and drug development.

How are the Scientists’ Choice Awards selected each year?

The Scientists’ Choice Awards are chosen through a global voting process in which researchers and laboratory professionals recognize the technologies and scientific content that have had the greatest impact on their work. Rather than being selected by a panel, the awards reflect the real‑world experiences and preferences of scientists across analytical science.

Each year, thousands of scientists nominate and vote for standout innovations, from instruments to editorial articles, videos, webinars and eBooks that support their research. Winners are announced at major scientific conferences, such as ASMS, and often highlight broader industry trends.

Related content

Tags

Mass SpectrometryMass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful analytical technique used to identify and quantify molecules based on the mass-to-charge ratio of gas-phase ions. It provides detailed information about the structure, composition, and properties of compounds and is widely used across fields such as environmental monitoring, materials science, drug discovery and development, food and beverage testing, and wider chemical research. Key MS techniques include tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LS-MS) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS). Choosing from these wide range of techniques and technologies can be a daunting task, so keep up to date with scientific applications, performance expectations, and customer reviews here all in one place. Visit our product directory to receive quotes direct from the manufacturer. ProteomicsProteomics is the systemic bioinformatics study of proteins and amino acids, including their structure, size, function and identification. Tools used in proteomics include chromatography, blotting and gels, protein arrays, mass spectrometry and ELISA and associated analysis software. Analyzers and proteomic systems should be sensitive, high resolution, fast and may be automated for high-throughput.MetabolomicsMetabolomics is the study of small metabolites (the intermediates and products of metabolism). It involves the identification and quantification of cellular metabolites using analytical technologies such as GC, HPLC, NMR, and LC/MS.ASMSThe American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) is an organization dedicated to advancing the science and application of mass spectrometry. ASMS supports professionals through events, publications, and research initiatives, promoting innovation in areas like proteomics, metabolomics, and environmental analysis. ICP-MSInductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a powerful analytical technique used to determine the concentrations of elements and their isotopes in a variety of samples, including water, soil, and biological tissues. It involves ionizing elements in the samples with extremely high-temperature Argon (Ar) plasma and then using a mass spectrometer to measure the number of ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). Explore ICP-MS systems in our peer-reviewed product directory; compare products, check reviews, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.Elemental AnalysisElemental analysis involves determining the elemental composition of a sample, often used in environmental, pharmaceutical, and material sciences. Techniques like ICP-MS, X-ray fluorescence, and atomic absorption spectroscopy allow precise quantification of elements such as metals and nonmetals in complex matrices. Browse our peer-reviewed product directory to find the best elemental analysis tools, compare products, check reviews, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.

Related articles