AACR vs ASTRO 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 ASTRO 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. ASTRO draws 11,000 attendees with an estimated all-in 10×10 of $12,000-$20,000, read from the published exhibitor prospectus. Below is the side-by-side data plus our editorial take on which conference fits which kind of exhibitor.
| 9.1 AACR | 10.0 ASTRO | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Buzzbox Score | 9.1 (Exceptional) | 10.0 (Exceptional) |
| Event Details | ||
| Dates | April 17-22, 2026 | September 26-30, 2026 (Exhibits Sept 27-29) |
| Location | San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA | Thomas M. Menino Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC), Boston, MA |
| Scale | mega | mega |
| Audience | ||
| Attendees | 23,000 | 11,000 |
| Exhibitors | 600 | 170 |
| Purchasing authority | ~20% | ~45% |
| Effective buyers | 4,600 | 4,950 |
| Costs | ||
| $/sqft | n/a | $49 |
| 10×10 space | n/a | $4,900 |
| All-in estimate | n/a | Est. $12,000-$20,000 |
| Cost per buyer | n/a | $3.23 |
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 ASTRO
The definitive conference for radiation oncology and medical physics. If you sell linear accelerators, proton therapy systems, treatment planning software, radiation protection, or brachytherapy equipment, ASTRO is where department-level purchasing decisions begin. Medical physicists, who heavily influence capital equipment selection, attend in force.
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 ASTRO
Very narrow audience. Non-radiation-oncology devices have no buyer here. The $49/sqft rate plus $2,000 island surcharge makes it expensive for the audience size. Capital equipment companies (Varian, Elekta, Accuray) dominate the floor.
AACR publishes no booth pricing we can link to, so no cost is listed for it. See the official AACR site ↗ for exhibitor details. ASTRO booth figures are estimates read from its published exhibitor prospectus ↗, not quotes. Confirm current pricing with each organizer before committing a budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AACR or ASTRO have more decision makers?
ASTRO does, on our estimate: roughly 4,950 effective buyers against about 4,600 at AACR. Effective buyers multiplies total attendance by the share of attendees who hold purchasing authority, so ASTRO works out to about 11,000 attendees at roughly 45% 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 healthcare marketing agency with over 15 years in medtech. See our conference marketing.