CNS vs AANS 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, CNS and AANS 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. CNS draws 4,500 attendees with no booth pricing published by the organizer. AANS draws 4,000 attendees with an estimated all-in 10×10 of $15,000-$25,000, 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.
| 7.7 CNS | 8.5 AANS | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Buzzbox Score | 7.7 (Strong) | 8.5 (Excellent) |
| Event Details | ||
| Dates | October 31 - November 4, 2026 | May 1-4, 2026 |
| Location | Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC | Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, TX |
| Scale | large | large |
| Audience | ||
| Attendees | 4,500 | 4,000 |
| Exhibitors | n/a | n/a |
| Purchasing authority | ~60% | ~60% |
| Effective buyers | 2,700 | 2,400 |
| Costs | ||
| $/sqft | n/a | $42 |
| 10×10 space | n/a | $4,200 |
| All-in estimate | n/a | Est. $15,000-$25,000 |
| Cost per buyer | n/a | $8.33 |
Why exhibit at 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.
Why exhibit at AANS
The premier gathering for neurosurgeons in North America. If you sell cranial navigation, spinal instrumentation, neuro-monitoring equipment, or surgical robotics, this is where the decision-makers practice and evaluate new technology. Concentrated, high-value audience of 4,000+ neurosurgeons.
Why skip CNS
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.
Why skip AANS
Very niche audience: if your device is not neurosurgery-specific, attendance is too small to justify the cost. General surgery, cardiology, and non-neuro imaging vendors are wasted here.
CNS publishes no booth pricing we can link to, so no cost is listed for it. See the official CNS site ↗ for exhibitor details. AANS 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
Does CNS or AANS have more decision makers?
CNS does, on our estimate: roughly 2,700 effective buyers against about 2,400 at AANS. Effective buyers multiplies total attendance by the share of attendees who hold purchasing authority, so CNS works out to about 4,500 attendees at roughly 60% authority, and AANS to about 4,000 at roughly 60%. 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.