AANS 2026
By Buzzbox Media · Last reviewed August 3, 2026
What is AANS?
The premier gathering for neurosurgeons in North America. If you sell cranial navigation, spinal instrumentation, neuro-monitoring equipment, or surgical robotics, this is where the decision-makers practice and evaluate new technology. Concentrated, high-value audience of 4,000+ neurosurgeons.
What are the key facts about AANS?
- Host organization: American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- Primary specialty: neurosurgery
- Scale: large
- Geography: US National
- International attendance: ~15%
- See all Neurology & Neurosurgery conferences
Which device categories fit AANS?
Which buyer stages does AANS fit?
What does AANS charge for booth space?
Read from the AANS exhibitor prospectus published by American Association of Neurological Surgeons. The rates are the organizer’s own; the 10×10 totals are our arithmetic on them. View the prospectus ↗
| Booth Type | $/sqft | 10×10 Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 inline | n/a | n/a | Min 100 sqft |
What does an all-in 10×10 inline booth cost?
| Space rental | $4,200 |
| Estimated all-in total | $15,000-$25,000 |
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 AANS booth itself? Read our guide to medical conference booth design for booth types, union labor rules, and the corner upgrade.
Who attends AANS?
~60% neurosurgeons (attending + residents/fellows), ~15% international, ~10% allied health, ~15% industry/other. AANS has 12,000+ members worldwide. AANS2025 was a record-breaking year per their social media.
- Purchasing authority: ~60% of attendees
- Effective buyers: ~2,400
- Cost per effective buyer: $8.33 ($20,000 all-in ÷ 2,400 buyers)
- International attendance: ~15%
Where is AANS held?
- Venue: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, TX
- Management company: In-house
- Move-in: April 28 - May 1, 2026
- Move-out: May 3 (2:30-8 PM) and May 4 (8 AM-12 PM), 2026
Who else exhibits at AANS?
Exhibitor data coming soon for AANS.
Is AANS worth exhibiting?
Why Exhibit
The premier gathering for neurosurgeons in North America. If you sell cranial navigation, spinal instrumentation, neuro-monitoring equipment, or surgical robotics, this is where the decision-makers practice and evaluate new technology. Concentrated, high-value audience of 4,000+ neurosurgeons.
Why Skip
Very niche audience: if your device is not neurosurgery-specific, attendance is too small to justify the cost. General surgery, cardiology, and non-neuro imaging vendors are wasted here.
What should exhibitors know before AANS?
AANS exhibits sell out and priority points matter. Breaking down early costs future booth placement. The 'Sip, Savor and Showcase' reception on Friday evening is the highest-traffic exhibit hall moment.
What is the Buzzbox Score for AANS?
8.5 / 10 (Excellent)
8.5 out of 10. A top-tier show worth a serious line item. Carried by data transparency (9.6: booth pricing published and exhibitor prospectus available). The lightest dimension is editorial value (7.3, "who should skip" note included). The premier gathering for neurosurgeons in North America.
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 (8.5): 60% purchasing authority and large-scale event.
Solid (7.3): $42/sqft, right at the dataset median and cost per qualified buyer runs ~$8.3.
Standout (9.6): booth pricing published, exhibitor prospectus available, and 1 booth options documented.
Standout (9.0): society-run exhibits (in-house), non-union venue (simpler, cheaper move-in), and exhibitor-friendly host city.
Solid (7.3): "who should skip" note included, the flagship / largest show in its niche, and ~200 exhibitors to scout.
Strong (8.8): large and well-established and ~200 exhibitors.
When are the AANS exhibitor deadlines?
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Cancellation 50pct Refund Before | 2025-10-25 |
| Deposit 50pct Due | 2026-08-15 |
| Final Payment Due | 2026-10-01 |
| No Refund After | 2025-10-25 |
| Space Must Be Claimed By | 2026-05-01T12:00 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a booth cost at AANS?
AANS publishes an exhibitor prospectus, and read from it an all-in 10×10 booth works out to roughly $15,000-$25,000, 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 AANS?
AANS draws approximately 4,000 attendees. ~60% neurosurgeons (attending + residents/fellows), ~15% international, ~10% allied health, ~15% industry/other. AANS has 12,000+ members worldwide. AANS2025 was a record-breaking year per their social media.
When and where is AANS 2026?
AANS 2026 takes place May 1-4, 2026. The venue is Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, TX. American Association of Neurological Surgeons hosts the meeting. Exhibitor move-in is listed as April 28 - May 1, 2026.
How many AANS attendees have purchasing authority?
About 60% of AANS attendees hold purchasing authority, which works out to roughly 2,400 effective buyers out of approximately 4,000 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 AANS?
AANS carries a Buzzbox Score of 8.5 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 9.6 and the lowest is cost efficiency at 7.3.