DDW 2026
By Buzzbox Media · Last reviewed August 3, 2026
What is DDW?
The mega-event for GI. 13,000+ attendees from 4 major societies makes DDW the single largest gathering of digestive disease professionals globally. Named one of the fastest-growing shows in the US. McCormick Place is a world-class venue. Strong international draw at 25%.
What are the key facts about DDW?
- Host organization: AGA / AASLD / ASGE / SSAT (Joint sponsorship)
- Primary specialty: gastroenterology
- Scale: mega
- Geography: International
- International attendance: ~25%
- See all Gastroenterology conferences
Which device categories fit DDW?
Which buyer stages does DDW fit?
What does DDW charge for booth space?
Read from the DDW exhibitor prospectus published by AGA / AASLD / ASGE / SSAT (Joint sponsorship). The rates are the organizer’s own; the 10×10 totals are our arithmetic on them. View the prospectus ↗
| Booth Type | $/sqft | 10×10 Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inline | $37.00 | $3,700 | Min 100 sqft |
| Island/Corner | n/a | n/a | Min 400 sqft |
What does an all-in 10×10 inline booth cost?
| Space rental | $3,700 |
| Estimated all-in total | $7,000-$13,000 |
Buzzbox Media estimate covering space rental plus standard show services. Not a quote and not the organizer's number. Does not include travel, staffing, booth display, or marketing materials. Confirm current pricing with the organizer.
Planning the DDW booth itself? Read our guide to medical conference booth design for booth types, union labor rules, and the corner upgrade.
Who attends DDW?
13,000+ digestive disease professionals. Joint meeting of 4 societies: AGA (American Gastroenterological Association), AASLD (liver), ASGE (endoscopy), SSAT (surgery). Named one of the fastest-growing shows in the US.
- Purchasing authority: ~45% of attendees
- Effective buyers: ~5,850
- Cost per effective buyer: $1.71 ($10,000 all-in ÷ 5,850 buyers)
- International attendance: ~25%
Where is DDW held?
- Venue: Chicago, IL (McCormick Place Convention Center)
Who else exhibits at DDW?
Exhibitor data coming soon for DDW.
Is DDW worth exhibiting?
Why Exhibit
The mega-event for GI. 13,000+ attendees from 4 major societies makes DDW the single largest gathering of digestive disease professionals globally. Named one of the fastest-growing shows in the US. McCormick Place is a world-class venue. Strong international draw at 25%.
Why Skip
GI-only audience. If your device is for general surgery or non-GI specialties, this is the wrong show. The 4-society structure means attendees are spread across gastro, hepatology, endoscopy, and surgery. Your target buyer may be a fraction of the 13K total.
What should exhibitors know before DDW?
New exhibitors have a 400 sqft minimum, no small 10x10 starters. This is a barrier for small companies but also means the floor is more premium. $37/sqft inline rate is among the lowest for a mega-show. Full payment due Oct 31 of prior year: plan cash flow accordingly.
What is the Buzzbox Score for DDW?
9.7 / 10 (Exceptional)
9.7 out of 10. One of the strongest exhibiting opportunities in our index. Carried by growth trajectory (10.0: mega-scale and stable and one of the fastest-growing shows in the space). The lightest dimension is exhibitor experience (8.2, purpose-built convention venue). The mega-event for GI.
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.
Strong (8.7): 45% purchasing authority (moderate), 43:1 attendee ratio, and mega-scale floor (13,000 attendees).
Strong (8.8): $37/sqft, right at the dataset median and union convention center (drayage / labor adds up).
Standout (9.8): booth pricing published, exhibitor prospectus available, and 2 booth options documented.
Strong (8.2): purpose-built convention venue, mega-show logistics are well-rehearsed, and reputation for smooth operations.
Standout (9.3): honest "who should skip" guidance, the flagship / largest show in its niche, and momentum / record-setting growth.
Standout (10.0): mega-scale and stable, one of the fastest-growing shows in the space, and growing year over year.
When are the DDW exhibitor deadlines?
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Full Payment Due | 2025-10-31 |
| Cancel No Fee | Before 2025-10-31 |
| Cancel 50pct Fee | 2025-10-31 to 2026-01-09 |
| Cancel 100pct Fee | After 2026-01-09 |
| Late Applications | Full payment due within 30 days of submission |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a booth cost at DDW?
DDW publishes an exhibitor prospectus, and read from it an all-in 10×10 booth works out to roughly $7,000-$13,000, covering space rental plus standard show services. Travel, staffing, and booth display are additional. This is an estimate read from a published prospectus, not a quote, so confirm current pricing with the organizer.
How many people attend DDW?
DDW draws approximately 13,000 attendees. 13,000+ digestive disease professionals. Joint meeting of 4 societies: AGA (American Gastroenterological Association), AASLD (liver), ASGE (endoscopy), SSAT (surgery). Named one of the fastest-growing shows in the US.
When and where is DDW 2026?
DDW 2026 takes place May 2-5, 2026 (Exhibits May 3-5). The venue is Chicago, IL (McCormick Place Convention Center). AGA / AASLD / ASGE / SSAT (Joint sponsorship) hosts the meeting.
How many DDW attendees have purchasing authority?
About 45% of DDW attendees hold purchasing authority, which works out to roughly 5,850 effective buyers out of approximately 13,000 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 DDW?
DDW carries a Buzzbox Score of 9.7 out of 10 (Exceptional). The score weighs six factors: audience quality, cost efficiency, 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 growth trajectory at 10.0 and the lowest is exhibitor experience at 8.2.