AACR 2026
By Buzzbox Media · Last reviewed August 3, 2026
What is AACR?
The world's largest cancer research conference: 23,000 attendees, 600 exhibitors, 141 countries. If you make diagnostic instruments, genomics/sequencing platforms, liquid biopsy tests, or research reagents, AACR is where the global cancer research community sees your technology. The 6-day format gives more time for meaningful booth conversations than typical 3-day shows.
What are the key facts about AACR?
- Host organization: American Association for Cancer Research
- Primary specialty: oncology
- Scale: mega
- Geography: International (US-hosted)
- International attendance: ~45%
- See all Oncology conferences
Which device categories fit AACR?
Which buyer stages does AACR fit?
What does AACR charge for booth space?
Cost not published
American Association for Cancer Research does not publish booth pricing for AACR that we can link to, so we do not list a figure here. We would rather show nothing than an estimate you cannot check. Ask them directly on the AACR exhibitor page ↗.
Planning the AACR booth itself? Read our guide to medical conference booth design for booth types, union labor rules, and the corner upgrade.
Who attends AACR?
23,000+ attendees from 141 countries, 600 exhibitors, 730 speakers. The largest cancer research meeting in the world. Heavily research-oriented: more basic science and translational research than clinical oncology (ASCO fills that role). Six-day meeting format is longer than most. Pharma and biotech dominate the exhibit floor. Map Your Show platform for booth management.
- Purchasing authority: ~20% of attendees
- Effective buyers: ~4,600
- International attendance: ~45%
Where is AACR held?
- Venue: San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA
- Management company: AACR (in-house, Map Your Show for booth management)
- Product theater: Available
Who else exhibits at AACR?
Approximately 600+ exhibitors typically attend AACR. Your competitors are here.
Is AACR worth exhibiting?
Why Exhibit
The world's largest cancer research conference: 23,000 attendees, 600 exhibitors, 141 countries. If you make diagnostic instruments, genomics/sequencing platforms, liquid biopsy tests, or research reagents, AACR is where the global cancer research community sees your technology. The 6-day format gives more time for meaningful booth conversations than typical 3-day shows.
Why Skip
AACR is a research conference, not a clinical buying show. Purchasing authority is low (~20%) because the audience is predominantly academic researchers and scientists, not practicing oncologists with capital budgets. If you need same-quarter device sales, ASCO or ASH is a better fit. The exhibit floor also competes with 730 speaker sessions for attendee attention.
What should exhibitors know before AACR?
Research-audience show. Your booth staff should be PhD-level or clinical scientists who can discuss peer-reviewed data, not sales reps. San Diego in April is perfect weather for client dinners.
What is the Buzzbox Score for AACR?
9.1 / 10 (Exceptional)
9.1 out of 10. One of the strongest exhibiting opportunities in our index. Carried by exhibitor experience (10.0: society-run exhibits (in-house) and non-union venue (simpler, cheaper move-in)). The lightest dimension is audience quality (7.0, low purchasing authority (20%)). The world's largest cancer research conference: 23,000 attendees, 600 exhibitors, 141 countries.
How we score
Six weighted factors, each scored on a 0 to 100 rubric then normalized to a 7.0 to 10.0 band. Every show on this list cleared a relevance bar to be included, so 7.0 is the floor; the number tells you how far the leaders pull ahead. A factor we cannot source is left unscored rather than estimated, and the overall score above was set before any figure behind it was withdrawn.
Solid (7.0): low purchasing authority (20%), 38:1 attendee ratio, and mega-scale floor (23,000 attendees).
Not scored on cost: this organizer publishes no booth price we can link to.
Strong (8.5): exhibitor count disclosed.
Standout (10.0): society-run exhibits (in-house), non-union venue (simpler, cheaper move-in), and exhibitor-friendly host city.
Standout (10.0): solid exhibitor rationale, honest "who should skip" guidance, and the flagship / largest show in its niche.
Standout (9.6): mega-scale and stable, 600+ exhibitors signals strong demand, and 23,000 attendees.
When are the AACR exhibitor deadlines?
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Full Payment Due | September 15, 2025 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a booth cost at AACR?
AACR does not publish booth pricing we can link to, so we do not list a cost for this show. Rather than estimate one, we point you at the organizer's exhibitor page to request current rates directly.
How many people attend AACR?
AACR draws approximately 23,000 attendees. 23,000+ attendees from 141 countries, 600 exhibitors, 730 speakers. The largest cancer research meeting in the world. Heavily research-oriented: more basic science and translational research than clinical oncology (ASCO fills that role). Six-day meeting format is longer than most. Pharma and biotech dominate the exhibit floor. Map Your Show platform for booth management.
When and where is AACR 2026?
AACR 2026 takes place April 17-22, 2026. The venue is San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA. American Association for Cancer Research hosts the meeting.
How many AACR attendees have purchasing authority?
About 20% of AACR attendees hold purchasing authority, which works out to roughly 4,600 effective buyers out of approximately 23,000 attendees. Effective buyers multiplies total attendance by the share of attendees who hold purchasing authority. Both inputs are estimates drawn from organizer reporting and our own exhibitor research, so read the figure as directional rather than exact.
Who exhibits at AACR?
Approximately 600+ exhibitors typically attend AACR. The device categories that fit this floor are diagnostics, genomics sequencing, liquid biopsy, companion diagnostics, lab instruments, flow cytometry, imaging systems, and research reagents.
How does Buzzbox Media score AACR?
AACR carries a Buzzbox Score of 9.1 out of 10 (Exceptional), with one caveat on this record: cost efficiency is not scored, because American Association for Cancer Research publishes no booth price we can link to, and the overall score was set before that figure was withdrawn. The factors still scored are audience quality, data transparency, exhibitor experience, editorial value, and growth trajectory. Each factor is scored on a 0 to 100 rubric then normalized to a 7.0 to 10.0 band, and every conference in our index cleared a relevance bar to be listed, so 7.0 is the floor. On this record the highest is exhibitor experience at 10.0 and the lowest is audience quality at 7.0.