ACC vs AHA 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, ACC and AHA 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. ACC draws 18,000 attendees with no booth pricing published by the organizer. AHA draws 17,000 attendees with an estimated all-in 10×10 of $12,000-$20,000, read from the published exhibitor prospectus. Below is the side-by-side data plus our editorial take on which conference fits which kind of exhibitor.
| 10.0 ACC | 10.0 AHA | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Buzzbox Score | 10.0 (Exceptional) | 10.0 (Exceptional) |
| Event Details | ||
| Dates | March 28-30, 2026 (Expo) | November 6-9, 2026 |
| Location | Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA | McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, IL |
| Scale | large | mega |
| Audience | ||
| Attendees | 18,000 | 17,000 |
| Exhibitors | 300 | 200 |
| Purchasing authority | ~50% | ~45% |
| Effective buyers | 9,000 | 7,650 |
| Costs | ||
| $/sqft | $46.5 | $48 |
| 10×10 space | $4,650 | $4,800 |
| All-in estimate | n/a | Est. $12,000-$20,000 |
| Cost per buyer | n/a | $2.09 |
Why exhibit at ACC
Anchor cardiology conference for general cardiologists. Critical for pacemaker, stent, imaging, and cardiac AI vendors. Late-breaking trials drive traffic.
Why exhibit at AHA
AHA is the broadest cardiology show in the US, spanning interventional, EP, stroke, heart failure, vascular, and basic science. At $48/sqft with no island or corner surcharges, it is one of the most fairly priced mega shows in cardiology. Late-breaking trials and 5,000+ presentations generate enormous foot traffic.
Why skip ACC
Pure interventional-cath audiences are better served by TCT. EP-focused vendors get more value at HRS.
Why skip AHA
The audience is broad, which means it is less targeted than TCT (interventional) or HRS (EP). If you sell to a very specific cardiology sub-specialty, the dilution may hurt ROI. AHA is also heavily research/academic. Pure commercial exhibitors may find the buyer density lower than ACC.
ACC booth figures are estimates read from its published exhibitor prospectus ↗, not quotes. AHA 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 ACC or AHA have more decision makers?
ACC does, on our estimate: roughly 9,000 effective buyers against about 7,650 at AHA. Effective buyers multiplies total attendance by the share of attendees who hold purchasing authority, so ACC works out to about 18,000 attendees at roughly 50% authority, and AHA to about 17,000 at roughly 45%. 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.