AAN 2026
By Buzzbox Media · Last reviewed August 3, 2026
What is AAN?
The world's largest neurology meeting with 15,000 attendees. If you sell neuro-diagnostic equipment, EEG/EMG systems, neuroimaging software, or neurology-focused pharma, this is the single largest concentrated audience. Four days of exhibit hall access with extended Monday hours.
What are the key facts about AAN?
- Host organization: American Academy of Neurology
- Primary specialty: neurology
- Scale: mega
- Geography: US National
- International attendance: ~20%
- See all Neurology & Neurosurgery conferences
Which device categories fit AAN?
Which buyer stages does AAN fit?
What does AAN charge for booth space?
Read from the AAN exhibitor prospectus published by American Academy of Neurology. These are the prices that document states. View the prospectus ↗
| Booth Type | $/sqft | 10×10 Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard booth (varies by size) | n/a | n/a |
What does an all-in 10×10 inline booth cost?
| Estimated all-in total | $15,000-$30,000 |
Buzzbox Media estimate covering space rental plus standard show services. Not a quote and not the organizer's number. Does not include travel, staffing, booth display, or marketing materials. Confirm current pricing with the organizer.
Planning the AAN booth itself? Read our guide to medical conference booth design for booth types, union labor rules, and the corner upgrade.
Who attends AAN?
~55% neurologists, ~15% residents/fellows, ~10% NPs/PAs, ~10% researchers, ~10% industry. 2025 AAN had 14,886 attendees (in-person + online). 2024 had 14,063 in Denver. World's largest neurology meeting.
- Purchasing authority: ~45% of attendees
- Effective buyers: ~6,750
- Cost per effective buyer: $3.33 ($22,500 all-in ÷ 6,750 buyers)
- International attendance: ~20%
Where is AAN held?
- Venue: McCormick Place West Building, Chicago, IL
- Management company: In-house (GES is general contractor)
Who else exhibits at AAN?
Exhibitor data coming soon for AAN.
Is AAN worth exhibiting?
Why Exhibit
The world's largest neurology meeting with 15,000 attendees. If you sell neuro-diagnostic equipment, EEG/EMG systems, neuroimaging software, or neurology-focused pharma, this is the single largest concentrated audience. Four days of exhibit hall access with extended Monday hours.
Why Skip
Neurology is heavily pharma-dominated. Device companies can feel overshadowed by major pharma booths. If your product is surgical (not diagnostic/monitoring), AANS is the better fit. Also, neurologists are notoriously deliberate purchasers. Expect long sales cycles.
What should exhibitors know before AAN?
AAN is a pharma-heavy show. Device companies that do well here bring live demonstrations and hands-on stations for EEG, EMG, and neuroimaging products. Monday extended hours (until 6 PM) are the busiest exhibit period.
What is the Buzzbox Score for AAN?
8.6 / 10 (Excellent)
8.6 out of 10. A top-tier show worth a serious line item. Carried by data transparency (9.4: booth pricing published and exhibitor prospectus available). The lightest dimension is cost efficiency (7.3, $37/sqft, right at the dataset median). The world's largest neurology meeting with 15,000 attendees.
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.
Strong (8.7): 45% purchasing authority (moderate), 50:1 attendee ratio, and mega-scale floor (15,000 attendees).
Solid (7.3): $37/sqft, right at the dataset median and union convention center (drayage / labor adds up).
Standout (9.4): booth pricing published, exhibitor prospectus available, and 1 booth options documented.
Solid (7.8): society-run exhibits (in-house) and mega-show logistics are well-rehearsed.
Strong (8.3): honest "who should skip" guidance, the flagship / largest show in its niche, and 300+ exhibitors (deep competitive intel).
Standout (9.4): mega-scale and stable, ~300 exhibitors, and 15,000 attendees.
When are the AAN exhibitor deadlines?
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Exhibitor Kit Available | Mid-January 2026 |
| General Contractor | GES |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a booth cost at AAN?
AAN publishes an exhibitor prospectus, and read from it an all-in 10×10 booth works out to roughly $15,000-$30,000, covering space rental plus standard show services. Travel, staffing, and booth display are additional. This is an estimate read from a published prospectus, not a quote, so confirm current pricing with the organizer.
How many people attend AAN?
AAN draws approximately 15,000 attendees. ~55% neurologists, ~15% residents/fellows, ~10% NPs/PAs, ~10% researchers, ~10% industry. 2025 AAN had 14,886 attendees (in-person + online). 2024 had 14,063 in Denver. World's largest neurology meeting.
When and where is AAN 2026?
AAN 2026 takes place April 18-22, 2026. The venue is McCormick Place West Building, Chicago, IL. American Academy of Neurology hosts the meeting.
How many AAN attendees have purchasing authority?
About 45% of AAN attendees hold purchasing authority, which works out to roughly 6,750 effective buyers out of approximately 15,000 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.
How does Buzzbox Media score AAN?
AAN carries a Buzzbox Score of 8.6 out of 10 (Excellent). The score weighs six factors: audience quality, cost efficiency, 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 data transparency at 9.4 and the lowest is cost efficiency at 7.3.