AAOS vs NASS 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, AAOS and NASS 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. AAOS draws 30,000 attendees with no booth pricing published by the organizer. NASS draws 3,500 attendees with no booth pricing published by the organizer. Below is the side-by-side data plus our editorial take on which conference fits which kind of exhibitor.
| 10.0 AAOS | 8.9 NASS | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Buzzbox Score | 10.0 (Exceptional) | 8.9 (Excellent) |
| Event Details | ||
| Dates | March 3-7, 2026 (exhibit hall March 3-5) | October 14-17, 2026 |
| Location | Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL | San Antonio, TX (Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center) |
| Scale | mega | large |
| Audience | ||
| Attendees | 30,000 | 3,500 |
| Exhibitors | 500 | n/a |
| Purchasing authority | ~50% | ~60% |
| Effective buyers | 15,000 | 2,100 |
| Costs | ||
| $/sqft | $40 | $41.5 |
| 10×10 space | $4,000 | $4,150 |
| All-in estimate | n/a | n/a |
| Cost per buyer | n/a | n/a |
Why exhibit at AAOS
Global capital of orthopedic implant and instrument vendors. If you sell to ortho surgeons, you must be here. Cadaver labs and live surgical demos are the differentiator.
Why exhibit at NASS
The spine industry's most-attended event with an exhibitor-to-attendee ratio that makes competition fierce but access exceptional. 340 exhibitors means the industry takes this show seriously. Spine surgeons come to evaluate implants, biologics, and navigation tech hands-on.
Why skip AAOS
Non-orthopedic devices are wasted here. Competition is brutal. Stryker, Zimmer, DePuy, Smith & Nephew own the floor.
Why skip NASS
Exclusively spine-focused. If your product is not directly spine-related, you'll be invisible. The exhibitor-to-attendee ratio (~1:10) is very high, meaning intense competition for surgeon attention.
AAOS booth figures are estimates read from its published exhibitor prospectus ↗, not quotes. NASS 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 AAOS or NASS have more decision makers?
AAOS does, on our estimate: roughly 15,000 effective buyers against about 2,100 at NASS. Effective buyers multiplies total attendance by the share of attendees who hold purchasing authority, so AAOS works out to about 30,000 attendees at roughly 50% authority, and NASS to about 3,500 at roughly 60%. 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 medical device marketing agency with over 15 years in medtech. See our conference marketing.