ACS vs ASCO 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, ACS and ASCO 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. ACS draws 11,000 attendees with an estimated all-in 10×10 of $8,000-$15,000, read from the published exhibitor prospectus. ASCO draws 35,000 attendees with an estimated all-in 10×10 of $20,000-$35,000, 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.
| 9.5 ACS | 9.6 ASCO | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Buzzbox Score | 9.5 (Exceptional) | 9.6 (Exceptional) |
| Event Details | ||
| Dates | September 26-29, 2026 | May 29 - June 2, 2026 (exhibits May 30 - June 1) |
| Location | Washington, DC (Walter E. Washington Convention Center) | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL |
| Scale | mega | mega |
| Audience | ||
| Attendees | 11,000 | 35,000 |
| Exhibitors | n/a | n/a |
| Purchasing authority | ~50% | ~35% |
| Effective buyers | 5,500 | 12,250 |
| Costs | ||
| $/sqft | $44.5 | $94 |
| 10×10 space | $4,450 | $9,400 |
| All-in estimate | Est. $8,000-$15,000 | Est. $20,000-$35,000 |
| Cost per buyer | $2.09 | $2.24 |
Why exhibit at ACS
The largest general surgery meeting in North America. 80% surgeon audience gives unmatched access to the people who choose instruments, energy devices, and capital equipment for ORs nationwide. High-value face time with department chairs and residency directors.
Why exhibit at ASCO
The single largest oncology meeting in the world with 35,000+ attendees. If you sell radiation therapy equipment, oncology diagnostics, precision medicine platforms, or cancer imaging solutions, this is where global oncology leaders converge. Late-breaking clinical trial data drives massive foot traffic.
Why skip ACS
If your device is specialty-specific (spine, urology, ENT), you'll be lost among 200 exhibitors targeting general surgeons. Smaller specialty meetings deliver more concentrated buyer access for niche products.
Why skip ASCO
Overwhelmingly pharma-dominated: the biggest booths and budgets belong to Pfizer, Roche, Merck, BMS, AstraZeneca. Device companies can feel invisible without $100k+ investment. Booth space at $94/sqft (inline) is among the most expensive in medical conferences.
ACS booth figures are estimates read from its published exhibitor prospectus ↗, not quotes. ASCO 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
Is ACS or ASCO better for first-time exhibitors?
Both work, but ACS is the lower-budget pilot. An all-in 10×10 at ACS is estimated at $8,000 to $15,000, against $20,000 to $35,000 at ASCO. ACS also puts you on the smaller floor, with about 11,000 attendees against roughly 35,000 at ASCO, so a modest first booth is less likely to get lost. Both ranges are Buzzbox Media estimates built from public prospectuses and exhibitor kits, covering space, drayage, electrical, carpet, and basic services but not travel, staffing, or the booth build. Confirm current pricing with each organizer before you commit a budget.
Does ACS or ASCO have more decision makers?
ASCO does, on our estimate: roughly 12,250 effective buyers against about 5,500 at ACS. Effective buyers multiplies total attendance by the share of attendees who hold purchasing authority, so ASCO works out to about 35,000 attendees at roughly 35% authority, and ACS to about 11,000 at roughly 50%. 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.