Compare ACC vs AHA
| 7.9 ACC | 7.4 AHA | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Buzzbox Score | 7.9 (Strong) | 7.4 (Strong) |
| Event Details | ||
| Dates | March 28-30, 2026 (Expo) | November 6-9, 2026 |
| Location | Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA | McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, IL |
| Scale | large | mega |
| Audience | ||
| Attendees | 18,000 | 17,000 |
| Exhibitors | 300 | 200 |
| Purchasing authority | ~50% | ~45% |
| Effective buyers | 9,000 | 7,650 |
| Costs | ||
| $/sqft | — | $48 |
| 10×10 space | — | $4,800 |
| All-in estimate | $12,000 – $18,000 | $12,000 – $20,000 |
| Cost per buyer | $1.67 | $2.09 |
Why exhibit at ACC
Anchor cardiology conference for general cardiologists. Critical for pacemaker, stent, imaging, and cardiac AI vendors. Late-breaking trials drive traffic.
Why exhibit at 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.
Why skip ACC
Pure interventional-cath audiences are better served by TCT. EP-focused vendors get more value at HRS.
Why skip AHA
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.