AAO 2026
By Buzzbox Media · Last reviewed August 3, 2026
What is AAO?
The largest ophthalmology meeting in the Western hemisphere. If you sell ophthalmic equipment (OCT, fundus cameras, slit lamps, IOLs, surgical instruments, lasers, diagnostics), AAO is mandatory. The concurrent AAOE program attracts practice administrators who influence purchasing. Subspecialty Day expands the audience to retina, glaucoma, cornea, and oculoplastics specialists.
What are the key facts about AAO?
- Host organization: American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Primary specialty: ophthalmology
- Scale: mega
- Geography: US National
- International attendance: ~25%
- See all Ophthalmology conferences
Which device categories fit AAO?
Which buyer stages does AAO fit?
What does AAO charge for booth space?
AAO publishes an exhibitor prospectus, and the figure below is an estimate read from it rather than a quote. View the prospectus ↗
What does an all-in 10×10 inline booth cost?
| Estimated all-in total | $18,000-$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 AAO booth itself? Read our guide to medical conference booth design for booth types, union labor rules, and the corner upgrade.
Who attends AAO?
20,000-32,000 attendees depending on year and location. Full spectrum of ophthalmology sub-specialties. AAO runs concurrently with AAOE (American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives) for practice management. Co-located Subspecialty Day adds retina, glaucoma, cornea, oculoplastics specialists.
- Purchasing authority: ~45% of attendees
- Effective buyers: ~11,250
- Cost per effective buyer: $2.13 ($24,000 all-in ÷ 11,250 buyers)
- International attendance: ~25%
Where is AAO held?
- Venue: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA
- Management company: AAO (in-house)
- Product theater: Available
Who else exhibits at AAO?
Approximately 450+ exhibitors typically attend AAO. Your competitors are here.
Is AAO worth exhibiting?
Why Exhibit
The largest ophthalmology meeting in the Western hemisphere. If you sell ophthalmic equipment (OCT, fundus cameras, slit lamps, IOLs, surgical instruments, lasers, diagnostics), AAO is mandatory. The concurrent AAOE program attracts practice administrators who influence purchasing. Subspecialty Day expands the audience to retina, glaucoma, cornea, and oculoplastics specialists.
Why Skip
Non-ophthalmic devices have zero audience here. The show competes with ASCRS (which is more commercially oriented for anterior segment). AAO is more education-focused, so pure booth-driven sales can be slower than ASCRS.
What should exhibitors know before AAO?
AAO and ASCRS split the ophthalmology market: AAO is broader and more educational, ASCRS is narrower and more commercially intense. If budget allows only one, cataract/refractive device companies should choose ASCRS; full-spectrum ophthalmic companies need both. New Orleans venue is well-liked by attendees, which helps booth traffic.
What is the Buzzbox Score for AAO?
9.5 / 10 (Exceptional)
9.5 out of 10. One of the strongest exhibiting opportunities in our index. Carried by editorial value (9.8: solid exhibitor rationale and honest "who should skip" guidance). The lightest dimension is cost efficiency (7.2, $40/sqft, right at the dataset median). The largest ophthalmology meeting in the Western hemisphere.
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), 56:1 attendee ratio, and mega-scale floor (25,000 attendees).
Solid (7.2): $40/sqft, right at the dataset median.
Standout (9.0): booth pricing published, exhibitor prospectus available, and exhibitor count disclosed.
Standout (9.7): society-run exhibits (in-house), non-union venue (simpler, cheaper move-in), and exhibitor-friendly host city.
Standout (9.8): solid exhibitor rationale, honest "who should skip" guidance, and the flagship / largest show in its niche.
Standout (9.4): mega-scale and stable, ~450 exhibitors, and 25,000 attendees.
When are the AAO exhibitor deadlines?
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Exhibit Sales Open | 2026-02 to 2026-04 (5 priority groups) |
| Expo Dates | 2026-10-10 to 2026-10-12 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a booth cost at AAO?
AAO publishes an exhibitor prospectus, and read from it an all-in 10×10 booth works out to roughly $18,000-$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 AAO?
AAO draws approximately 25,000 attendees. 20,000-32,000 attendees depending on year and location. Full spectrum of ophthalmology sub-specialties. AAO runs concurrently with AAOE (American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives) for practice management. Co-located Subspecialty Day adds retina, glaucoma, cornea, oculoplastics specialists.
When and where is AAO 2026?
AAO 2026 takes place October 9-12, 2026 (Expo Oct 10-12). The venue is Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA. American Academy of Ophthalmology hosts the meeting.
How many AAO attendees have purchasing authority?
About 45% of AAO attendees hold purchasing authority, which works out to roughly 11,250 effective buyers out of approximately 25,000 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 AAO?
Approximately 450+ exhibitors typically attend AAO. The device categories that fit this floor are capital equipment, imaging equipment, surgical instruments, diagnostics, implants, digital health, and pharmaceuticals.
How does Buzzbox Media score AAO?
AAO carries a Buzzbox Score of 9.5 out of 10 (Exceptional). 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 editorial value at 9.8 and the lowest is cost efficiency at 7.2.