ASCO 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, ASCO 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. ASCO draws 35,000 attendees with an estimated all-in 10×10 of $20,000-$35,000, 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.
| 9.6 ASCO | 10.0 ASTRO | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Buzzbox Score | 9.6 (Exceptional) | 10.0 (Exceptional) |
| Event Details | ||
| Dates | May 29 - June 2, 2026 (exhibits May 30 - June 1) | September 26-30, 2026 (Exhibits Sept 27-29) |
| Location | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL | Thomas M. Menino Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC), Boston, MA |
| Scale | mega | mega |
| Audience | ||
| Attendees | 35,000 | 11,000 |
| Exhibitors | n/a | 170 |
| Purchasing authority | ~35% | ~45% |
| Effective buyers | 12,250 | 4,950 |
| Costs | ||
| $/sqft | $94 | $49 |
| 10×10 space | $9,400 | $4,900 |
| All-in estimate | Est. $20,000-$35,000 | Est. $12,000-$20,000 |
| Cost per buyer | $2.24 | $3.23 |
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 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 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.
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.
ASCO 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 ASCO or ASTRO better for first-time exhibitors?
Both work, but ASTRO is the lower-budget pilot. An all-in 10×10 at ASTRO is estimated at $12,000 to $20,000, against $20,000 to $35,000 at ASCO. ASTRO 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 ASCO or ASTRO have more decision makers?
ASCO does, on our estimate: roughly 12,250 effective buyers against about 4,950 at ASTRO. 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 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 medical device advertising agency with over 15 years in medtech. See our conference marketing.