CNS 2026
By Buzzbox Media · Last reviewed August 3, 2026
What is CNS?
CNS draws 4,500 neurosurgeons to a convention center venue that supports large exhibits and live demos. The younger attendee profile (more residents and early-career surgeons) makes it ideal for technology adoption and long-term brand building. Washington DC is easy to reach from most US cities.
What are the key facts about CNS?
- Host organization: Congress of Neurological Surgeons
- Primary specialty: neurosurgery
- Scale: large
- Geography: US
- International attendance: ~20%
- See all Neurology & Neurosurgery conferences
Which device categories fit CNS?
Which buyer stages does CNS fit?
What does CNS charge for booth space?
Cost not published
Congress of Neurological Surgeons does not publish booth pricing for CNS that we can link to, so we do not list a figure here. We would rather show nothing than an estimate you cannot check. Ask them directly on the CNS exhibitor page ↗.
Planning the CNS booth itself? Read our guide to medical conference booth design for booth types, union labor rules, and the corner upgrade.
Who attends CNS?
Billed as 'Neurosurgery's Premier Event.' ~4,500 attendees including practicing neurosurgeons, residents, fellows, and allied health professionals. CNS skews younger than AANS (more residents and early-career surgeons). Strong technology showcase component.
- Purchasing authority: ~60% of attendees
- Effective buyers: ~2,700
- International attendance: ~20%
Where is CNS held?
- Venue: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
- Management company: CNS (in-house)
- Product theater: Available
Who else exhibits at CNS?
Exhibitor data coming soon for CNS.
Is CNS worth exhibiting?
Why Exhibit
CNS draws 4,500 neurosurgeons to a convention center venue that supports large exhibits and live demos. The younger attendee profile (more residents and early-career surgeons) makes it ideal for technology adoption and long-term brand building. Washington DC is easy to reach from most US cities.
Why Skip
If your product is primarily spine-focused, NASS may be a more targeted audience. CNS and AANS (the other major neurosurgery meeting) have significant attendee overlap, so exhibiting at both delivers diminishing returns. Pricing is not publicly available. Requires direct outreach to gauge value.
What should exhibitors know before CNS?
Convention center venue in DC is a plus, allows real booth builds. Pair CNS (younger audience, tech adoption) with AANS (established surgeons, purchasing authority) for complete neurosurgery coverage. Contact corporatedevelopment@cns.org early.
What is the Buzzbox Score for CNS?
7.7 / 10 (Strong)
7.7 out of 10. A solid, dependable show for the right exhibitor. Carried by exhibitor experience (9.0: society-run exhibits (in-house) and non-union venue (simpler, cheaper move-in)). The lightest dimension is data transparency (7.2, ). CNS draws 4,500 neurosurgeons to a convention center venue that supports large exhibits and live demos.
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. A factor we cannot source is left unscored rather than estimated, and the overall score above was set before any figure behind it was withdrawn.
Strong (8.0): 60% purchasing authority and large-scale event.
Not scored on cost: this organizer publishes no booth price we can link to.
Solid (7.2): attendee purchasing-authority data published, and all-in cost estimate available.
Standout (9.0): society-run exhibits (in-house), non-union venue (simpler, cheaper move-in), and purpose-built convention venue.
Solid (7.7): honest "who should skip" guidance, product-theater opportunity for thought leadership, and broad device-category relevance.
Strong (8.2): large and well-established.
When are the CNS exhibitor deadlines?
Detailed deadlines not yet published for CNS. Check the official site for the application window.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a booth cost at CNS?
CNS does not publish booth pricing we can link to, so we do not list a cost for this show. Rather than estimate one, we point you at the organizer's exhibitor page to request current rates directly.
How many people attend CNS?
CNS draws approximately 4,500 attendees. Billed as 'Neurosurgery's Premier Event.' ~4,500 attendees including practicing neurosurgeons, residents, fellows, and allied health professionals. CNS skews younger than AANS (more residents and early-career surgeons). Strong technology showcase component.
When and where is CNS 2026?
CNS 2026 takes place October 31 - November 4, 2026. The venue is Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC. Congress of Neurological Surgeons hosts the meeting.
How many CNS attendees have purchasing authority?
About 60% of CNS attendees hold purchasing authority, which works out to roughly 2,700 effective buyers out of approximately 4,500 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.
How does Buzzbox Media score CNS?
CNS carries a Buzzbox Score of 7.7 out of 10 (Strong), with one caveat on this record: cost efficiency is not scored, because Congress of Neurological Surgeons publishes no booth price we can link to, and the overall score was set before that figure was withdrawn. The factors still scored are audience quality, 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 exhibitor experience at 9.0 and the lowest is data transparency at 7.2.