AHA 2026
By Buzzbox Media · Last reviewed August 3, 2026
What is 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.
What are the key facts about AHA?
- Host organization: American Heart Association
- Primary specialty: cardiology
- Scale: mega
- Geography: US National
- International attendance: ~30%
- See all Cardiology conferences
Which device categories fit AHA?
Which buyer stages does AHA fit?
What does AHA charge for booth space?
Read from the AHA exhibitor prospectus published by American Heart Association. The rates are the organizer’s own; the 10×10 totals are our arithmetic on them. View the prospectus ↗
| Booth Type | $/sqft | 10×10 Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard inline (on-site renewal rate) | $44.00 | $4,400 | Min 100 sqft |
| Standard inline (standard rate) | $48.00 | $4,800 | Min 100 sqft |
| Public service (subject to availability) | $30.00 | $3,000 | Min 100 sqft |
| Island (no additional island fee) | $48.00 | $4,800 | Min 400 sqft |
| Corner (no additional corner fee) | $48.00 | $4,800 | Min 100 sqft |
What does an all-in 10×10 inline booth cost?
| Space rental | $4,800 |
| Estimated all-in total | $12,000-$20,000 |
Buzzbox Media estimate covering space rental plus standard show services. Not a quote and not the organizer's number. Does not include travel, staffing, booth display, or marketing materials. Confirm current pricing with the organizer.
Planning the AHA booth itself? Read our guide to medical conference booth design for booth types, union labor rules, and the corner upgrade.
Who attends AHA?
~15,535 physicians and cardiology professionals, ~1,716 research scientists (2025 data). 5,000+ presentations across 21 specialties. Attendees from 100+ countries. Broader than ACC: includes stroke, vascular, basic science.
- Purchasing authority: ~45% of attendees
- Effective buyers: ~7,650
- Cost per effective buyer: $2.09 ($16,000 all-in ÷ 7,650 buyers)
- International attendance: ~30%
Where is AHA held?
- Venue: McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, IL
- Management company: Ascend Event Media (exhibit sales), AHA (in-house)
- Product theater: Available
- Move-in: November 3-6, 2026 (large booths 20x20+ start Nov 3)
- Move-out: November 9, 2026 (after exhibit close at 3pm)
Who else exhibits at AHA?
Approximately 200+ exhibitors typically attend AHA. Your competitors are here.
Is AHA worth exhibiting?
Why Exhibit
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
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.
What should exhibitors know before AHA?
McCormick Place is a union venue. Budget for drayage at $110-180/CWT and union labor at $100-150/hr. The no-island-surcharge policy is genuinely unusual and makes AHA one of the better deals for 20x20+ islands. The Health Innovation Pavilion is good for startups.
What is the Buzzbox Score for AHA?
10.0 / 10 (Exceptional)
10.0 out of 10. One of the strongest exhibiting opportunities in our index. Carried by data transparency (10.0: booth pricing published and exhibitor prospectus available). The lightest dimension is cost efficiency (7.9, $48/sqft, slightly above the $42.50 median). AHA is the broadest cardiology show in the US, spanning interventional, EP, stroke, heart failure, vascular, and basic science.
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.
Standout (9.3): 45% purchasing authority (moderate), 85:1 attendee ratio, and mega-scale floor (17,000 attendees).
Solid (7.9): $48/sqft, slightly above the $42.50 median and union convention center (drayage / labor adds up).
Standout (10.0): booth pricing published, exhibitor prospectus available, and 5 booth options documented.
Standout (9.4): society-run exhibits (in-house), purpose-built convention venue, and 5 booth configurations.
Standout (9.4): solid exhibitor rationale, honest "who should skip" guidance, and product-theater opportunity for thought leadership.
Standout (9.4): mega-scale and stable, ~200 exhibitors, and 17,000 attendees.
When are the AHA exhibitor deadlines?
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Onsite Renewal Deadline | 2026-01-16 |
| Standard Rate Begins | 2026-01-19 |
| Exhibit Dates | 2026-11-07 to 2026-11-09 |
| Exhibit Hours Sat | 9:00am-4:30pm CST |
| Exhibit Hours Sun | 9:00am-4:30pm CST |
| Exhibit Hours Mon | 9:00am-3:00pm CST |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a booth cost at AHA?
AHA publishes an exhibitor prospectus, and read from it an all-in 10×10 booth works out to roughly $12,000-$20,000, covering space rental plus standard show services. Travel, staffing, and booth display are additional. This is an estimate read from a published prospectus, not a quote, so confirm current pricing with the organizer.
How many people attend AHA?
AHA draws approximately 17,000 attendees. ~15,535 physicians and cardiology professionals, ~1,716 research scientists (2025 data). 5,000+ presentations across 21 specialties. Attendees from 100+ countries. Broader than ACC: includes stroke, vascular, basic science.
When and where is AHA 2026?
AHA 2026 takes place November 6-9, 2026. The venue is McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, IL. American Heart Association hosts the meeting. Exhibitor move-in is listed as November 3-6, 2026 (large booths 20x20+ start Nov 3).
How many AHA attendees have purchasing authority?
About 45% of AHA attendees hold purchasing authority, which works out to roughly 7,650 effective buyers out of approximately 17,000 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.
Who exhibits at AHA?
Approximately 200+ exhibitors typically attend AHA. The device categories that fit this floor are implants, digital health, diagnostics, patient monitoring, capital equipment, and pharmaceuticals.
How does Buzzbox Media score AHA?
AHA carries a Buzzbox Score of 10.0 out of 10 (Exceptional). 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 data transparency at 10.0 and the lowest is cost efficiency at 7.9.
What is the all-in booth cost at AHA Scientific Sessions?
AHA 2026 booth space runs approximately $48/sqft, with no surcharges for island or corner locations. All-in 10x10 booth costs including drayage, electrical, lead retrieval, and services are estimated at $12,000-$20,000, making AHA one of the more cost-efficient large cardiology conferences.
What cardiology specialties attend AHA Scientific Sessions?
AHA draws the broadest cardiology audience of any US conference: interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, heart failure specialists, stroke neurologists, vascular surgeons, preventive cardiologists, and cardiovascular researchers. This breadth makes it more versatile than ACC for companies with multi-specialty cardiology product lines.