AAO-HNS 2026
By Buzzbox Media · Last reviewed August 3, 2026
What is AAO-HNS?
The definitive ENT meeting with 5,000 attendees and 250 exhibitors. 80% exhibitor satisfaction rate (goal achievement). Excellent for hearing devices, sinus instruments, head-and-neck surgical tools, and navigation systems.
What are the key facts about AAO-HNS?
- Host organization: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation
- Primary specialty: otolaryngology
- Scale: large
- Geography: US National
- International attendance: ~15%
- See all ENT / Otolaryngology conferences
Which device categories fit AAO-HNS?
Which buyer stages does AAO-HNS fit?
What does AAO-HNS charge for booth space?
Read from the AAO-HNS published exhibitor pricing page published by American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. These are the prices that document states. View the published rates ↗
| Booth Type | $/sqft | 10×10 Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linear | $40.00 | $4,000 | AAO-HNS publishes the 10x10 price directly: $4,000. |
| Island | $44.00 | $4,400 | 20x20 is $17,600. |
| Non-profit | $11.00 | $1,100 | Capped at a 10x20 footprint. Non-profit documentation required. |
| Corner booth fee | n/a | $250 | Per corner, additional. |
Planning the AAO-HNS booth itself? Read our guide to medical conference booth design for booth types, union labor rules, and the corner upgrade.
Who attends AAO-HNS?
Over 5,000 surgeons, physicians, and medical professionals in otolaryngology. 80% of surveyed exhibitors report achieving business goals. ~250 companies represented annually.
- Purchasing authority: ~50% of attendees
- Effective buyers: ~2,500
- International attendance: ~15%
Where is AAO-HNS held?
- Venue: Los Angeles, CA
Who else exhibits at AAO-HNS?
Exhibitor data coming soon for AAO-HNS.
Is AAO-HNS worth exhibiting?
Why Exhibit
The definitive ENT meeting with 5,000 attendees and 250 exhibitors. 80% exhibitor satisfaction rate (goal achievement). Excellent for hearing devices, sinus instruments, head-and-neck surgical tools, and navigation systems.
Why Skip
Exclusively ENT. If your device doesn't fit otolaryngology, there's no crossover audience here. 5,000 attendees is modest compared to ACS (11K) or ASA (14K), so total lead volume will be lower.
What should exhibitors know before AAO-HNS?
The 80% exhibitor satisfaction stat is strong proof-of-ROI data for internal budget justification.
What is the Buzzbox Score for AAO-HNS?
7.5 / 10 (Strong)
7.5 out of 10. A solid, dependable show for the right exhibitor. Carried by cost efficiency (8.8). The lightest dimension is editorial value (7.0, "who should skip" note included). The definitive ENT meeting with 5,000 attendees and 250 exhibitors.
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.
Solid (7.3): 50% purchasing authority (moderate) and large-scale event.
Strong (8.8).
Strong (8.6): booth pricing published, 4 booth options documented, and exhibitor count disclosed.
Solid (7.8): non-union venue (simpler, cheaper move-in) and 4 booth configurations.
Solid (7.0): "who should skip" note included, ~250 exhibitors to scout, and broad device-category relevance.
Strong (8.8): large and well-established and ~250 exhibitors.
When are the AAO-HNS exhibitor deadlines?
Detailed deadlines not yet published for AAO-HNS. Check the official site for the application window.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a booth cost at AAO-HNS?
AAO-HNS publishes a booth rate we can link to: $4,000 for an entry 10×10 space. That is space rental only. We do not publish an all-in estimate for this show, so budget drayage, electrical, labor, and booth display on top, and confirm current pricing with the organizer.
How many people attend AAO-HNS?
AAO-HNS draws approximately 5,000 attendees. Over 5,000 surgeons, physicians, and medical professionals in otolaryngology. 80% of surveyed exhibitors report achieving business goals. ~250 companies represented annually.
When and where is AAO-HNS 2026?
AAO-HNS 2026 takes place October 17-20, 2026. The venue is Los Angeles, CA. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation hosts the meeting.
How many AAO-HNS attendees have purchasing authority?
About 50% of AAO-HNS attendees hold purchasing authority, which works out to roughly 2,500 effective buyers out of approximately 5,000 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 AAO-HNS?
AAO-HNS carries a Buzzbox Score of 7.5 out of 10 (Strong). 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 cost efficiency at 8.8 and the lowest is editorial value at 7.0.