ACS vs ASTRO 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 ASTRO 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. ASTRO draws 11,000 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.
| 9.5 ACS | 10.0 ASTRO | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Buzzbox Score | 9.5 (Exceptional) | 10.0 (Exceptional) |
| Event Details | ||
| Dates | September 26-29, 2026 | September 26-30, 2026 (Exhibits Sept 27-29) |
| Location | Washington, DC (Walter E. Washington Convention Center) | Thomas M. Menino Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC), Boston, MA |
| Scale | mega | mega |
| Audience | ||
| Attendees | 11,000 | 11,000 |
| Exhibitors | n/a | 170 |
| Purchasing authority | ~50% | ~45% |
| Effective buyers | 5,500 | 4,950 |
| Costs | ||
| $/sqft | $44.5 | $49 |
| 10×10 space | $4,450 | $4,900 |
| All-in estimate | Est. $8,000-$15,000 | Est. $12,000-$20,000 |
| Cost per buyer | $2.09 | $3.23 |
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 ASTRO
The definitive conference for radiation oncology and medical physics. If you sell linear accelerators, proton therapy systems, treatment planning software, radiation protection, or brachytherapy equipment, ASTRO is where department-level purchasing decisions begin. Medical physicists, who heavily influence capital equipment selection, attend in force.
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 ASTRO
Very narrow audience. Non-radiation-oncology devices have no buyer here. The $49/sqft rate plus $2,000 island surcharge makes it expensive for the audience size. Capital equipment companies (Varian, Elekta, Accuray) dominate the floor.
ACS booth figures are estimates read from its published exhibitor prospectus ↗, not quotes. ASTRO 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 ASTRO 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 $12,000 to $20,000 at ASTRO. Both draw about 11,000 attendees, so budget rather than floor size is what separates them for a first outing. 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 ASTRO have more decision makers?
ACS does, on our estimate: roughly 5,500 effective buyers against about 4,950 at ASTRO. Effective buyers multiplies total attendance by the share of attendees who hold purchasing authority, so ACS works out to about 11,000 attendees at roughly 50% authority, and ASTRO to about 11,000 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 healthcare marketing agency with over 15 years in medtech. See our conference marketing.