Surgery Residencies Generate High Interest, Fill Rates in 2026 Match

Friday, March 20, US medical students learned where they matched. Once again breaking the previous year’s record, an all-time high 53,373 applicants registered in the 2026 Main Resident Match—a 1.6% increase.

While US MD seniors remain the largest applicant group, the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) reported a milestone year for US DO seniors, who achieved their highest record PGY-1 match rate at 93.2%. Additionally, US citizen international medical graduates (IMGs) saw a decrease in applicants, but an increase in match rate; while non-US citizen IMGs saw an increase in applicants, but a decrease in match rates.

The Match included 6,809 certified program tracks, an all-time high, and 41,482 PGY-1 and PGY-2 training positions were filled. The fill rate for all training positions offered (44,344) was 93.5%  across certified programs.

Surgery Specialties Remain Highly Competitive

Match data show that residencies in the surgical specialties are highly desirable, with fill rates of at least 99.1%, and drew significant interest from applicants.

Other surgical disciplines represented by The House of Surgery had their residency matches take place separately from the NRMP Main Residency Match. The Urology Residency Match in February saw 417 urology residents matched to programs, with only two positions unfilled, representing a 99.5% match rate. 

In addition, the Ophthalmology Residency Match took place earlier in 2026, and while individuals know their results, the overall data have not yet been publicly released by the SF Match.

General Surgery and Specialties Grow

Match Day 2026 shows that available and filled positions for all surgical disciplines continue to grow. Available general surgery positions also continued their strong growth over time, increasing 11% from 2022, when 1622 positions were offered, to 1807 positions offered in 2026. 

In terms of year-over-year increases, vascular surgery, neurological surgery, and plastic surgery (integrated) saw the largest percentage increase in positions offered, at 7.8%, 4.4%, and 4.1%, respectively.

ACS Residency Readiness Course Supports New Matched Residents

Residents of all surgical disciplines are invited and encouraged to participate in the new Residency Readiness Course, June 15–17 in Chicago, Illinois, which combines hands-on skills training with focused sessions centered on preparing new interns with just-in-time additional preparation for the professional and clinical expectations of residency.