AONL 2026
Overview
The premier US conference for nursing leadership -- 3,700+ CNOs, nursing directors, and VPs of patient care. These leaders influence purchasing decisions for clinical technology, staffing solutions, patient monitoring, and workflow systems. At $39/sqft, pricing is reasonable for the audience quality. The 1,600+ acute care and 700+ health system attendees are direct decision-makers.
Key Facts
- Host organization: American Organization for Nursing Leadership
- Primary specialty: nursing leadership
- Scale: mid
- Geography: US
- International attendance: ~2%
Best For
Buyer Stage Fit
Booth Costs
| Booth Type | $/sqft | 10×10 Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard inline 10x10 | — | $3,900 | Includes standard booth drape, ID sign, 4 hall staff badges, 1 full-conference badge, app listing, marketing toolkit, exhibit hall cleaning and security. Does NOT include furniture, carpet, electricity, internet, or storage. |
All-In Cost Estimate (10×10 Inline)
| Space rental | $3,900 |
| Drayage | $1,200 – $2,500 |
| Electrical (20A) | $300 – $450 |
| Carpet/padding | $200 – $400 |
| Cleaning (3 days) | $150 – $250 |
| Lead retrieval (1 unit) | $400 – $900 |
| Wi-Fi | $500 – $1,500 |
| Estimated total | $7,000 – $12,000 |
Does not include travel, staffing, booth display, or marketing materials.
Audience
3,700+ nursing leaders. 1,600+ from acute care. 700+ from health systems. 5% industry partners. 50+ high-impact sessions. Attendees are decision-makers who influence clinical technology, staffing, and workflow purchases at the hospital/health system level.
- Purchasing authority: ~65% of attendees
- Effective buyers: ~2,405
- Cost per effective buyer: $3.95 ($9,500 all-in ÷ 2,405 buyers)
- International attendance: ~2%
Venue & Logistics
- Venue: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
- Management company: Trade Show Logic (exhibit sales); AONL (in-house)
Who Else Exhibits
Exhibitor data coming soon for AONL.
Our Take
Why Exhibit
The premier US conference for nursing leadership -- 3,700+ CNOs, nursing directors, and VPs of patient care. These leaders influence purchasing decisions for clinical technology, staffing solutions, patient monitoring, and workflow systems. At $39/sqft, pricing is reasonable for the audience quality. The 1,600+ acute care and 700+ health system attendees are direct decision-makers.
Why Skip
Nursing leaders influence purchases but often do not hold the final budget authority -- that sits with the C-suite or supply chain. If you sell devices used by bedside nurses (not leaders), this is the wrong show. The 2-day exhibit hall (total ~11 hours) limits booth exposure time. McCormick Place union costs add to budget.
Insider Tips
AONL overlaps dates with SHM Converge 2026 (also Nashville March 29 - April 1). Check for attendee crossover if you plan both. McCormick Place is Chicago's mega convention center -- reliable but expensive for labor and drayage. The 4 hall badges + 1 full-conference badge per booth is generous. Trade Show Logic manages exhibit sales (not AONL directly).
Buzzbox Score: 7.0 / 10 (Strong)
7.0 out of 10. A solid, dependable show for the right exhibitor. Carried by cost efficiency (8.6: $39/sqft, right at the dataset median and union convention center (drayage / labor adds up)). The lightest dimension is exhibitor experience (7.0, society-run exhibits (in-house)). The premier US conference for nursing leadership -- 3,700+ CNOs, nursing directors, and VPs of patient care.
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.
Solid (7.4): 65% purchasing authority.
Strong (8.6): $39/sqft, right at the dataset median and union convention center (drayage / labor adds up).
Solid (7.8): booth pricing published, attendee purchasing-authority data published, and all-in cost estimate available.
Solid (7.0): society-run exhibits (in-house).
Strong (8.1): solid exhibitor rationale, honest "who should skip" guidance, and the flagship / largest show in its niche.
Solid (7.4): mid-size with room to grow.
Key Deadlines
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Exhibit Hall Hours | [object Object] |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a booth cost at AONL?
An all-in 10×10 booth at AONL runs roughly $7,000–$12,000, including space rental, drayage, electrical, carpet, and basic services. Travel, staffing, and booth display are additional.
How many people attend AONL?
AONL draws approximately 3,700 attendees. 3,700+ nursing leaders. 1,600+ from acute care. 700+ from health systems. 5% industry partners. 50+ high-impact sessions. Attendees are decision-makers who influence clinical technology, staffing, and workflow purchases at the hospital/health system level.
When is AONL ?
AONL is scheduled for March 29 - April 1, 2026. Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL.
Is AONL worth exhibiting at?
The premier US conference for nursing leadership -- 3,700+ CNOs, nursing directors, and VPs of patient care. These leaders influence purchasing decisions for clinical technology, staffing solutions, patient monitoring, and workflow systems.