AACR vs ASH for Exhibitors
Side-by-side data and our editorial take on which conference is the right exhibit investment for your medical device.
By Buzzbox Media · Last reviewed August 3, 2026
If you exhibit medical devices, AACR and ASH are likely both on your shortlist. Both serve overlapping clinical buyers, but the audience composition, booth economics, and exhibit floor experience differ in ways that materially affect ROI. AACR draws 23,000 attendees with no booth pricing published by the organizer. ASH draws 27,000 attendees with no booth pricing published by the organizer. Below is the side-by-side data plus our editorial take on which conference fits which kind of exhibitor.
| 9.1 AACR | 9.6 ASH | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Buzzbox Score | 9.1 (Exceptional) | 9.6 (Exceptional) |
| Event Details | ||
| Dates | April 17-22, 2026 | December 12-15, 2026 |
| Location | San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA | Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA |
| Scale | mega | mega |
| Audience | ||
| Attendees | 23,000 | 27,000 |
| Exhibitors | 600 | 275 |
| Purchasing authority | ~20% | ~35% |
| Effective buyers | 4,600 | 9,450 |
| Costs | ||
| $/sqft | n/a | n/a |
| 10×10 space | n/a | n/a |
| All-in estimate | n/a | n/a |
| Cost per buyer | n/a | n/a |
Why exhibit at 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.
Why exhibit at ASH
The world's largest hematology meeting: 27,000 attendees from 110+ countries. Late-breaking clinical trial data makes this the single most important event for hematology drug and diagnostic launches. If you sell flow cytometers, coagulation analyzers, cell/gene therapy products, or molecular diagnostics for blood disorders, ASH is the anchor show of your annual conference calendar.
Why skip AACR
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.
Why skip ASH
Booth pricing is opaque and expensive (pharma dominates with massive booths). The audience is heavily academic and research-oriented, so pure diagnostic device companies may find more actionable buyers at CAP (pathology) or AABB (blood banking). December in New Orleans also means holiday scheduling conflicts for booth staff and potential weather disruptions.
AACR publishes no booth pricing we can link to, so no cost is listed for it. See the official AACR site ↗ for exhibitor details. ASH publishes no booth pricing we can link to, so no cost is listed for it. See the official ASH site ↗ for exhibitor details. Confirm current pricing with each organizer before committing a budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AACR or ASH have more decision makers?
ASH does, on our estimate: roughly 9,450 effective buyers against about 4,600 at AACR. Effective buyers multiplies total attendance by the share of attendees who hold purchasing authority, so ASH works out to about 27,000 attendees at roughly 35% authority, and AACR to about 23,000 at roughly 20%. Both inputs are estimates drawn from organizer reporting and our own exhibitor research, so read the gap as directional rather than exact.
Want to add a third conference to this comparison?
Compare these conferences in our interactive tool →Other conferences you might consider
Buzzbox Media is a medical device advertising agency with over 15 years in medtech. See our conference marketing.