HLTH vs HIMSS for Exhibitors
Side-by-side data and our editorial take on which conference is the right exhibit investment for your medical device.
If you exhibit medical devices, HLTH and HIMSS 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. HLTH draws 12,000 attendees with an estimated all-in 10×10 of TBD. HIMSS draws 35,000 attendees at $15,000–$22,000 all-in. Below is the side-by-side data plus our editorial take on which conference fits which kind of exhibitor.
| 9.3 HLTH | 9.7 HIMSS | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Buzzbox Score | 9.3 (Exceptional) | 9.7 (Exceptional) |
| Event Details | ||
| Dates | November 15-18, 2026 | March 9-12, 2026 |
| Location | The Venetian Expo & Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV | Las Vegas, NV (Venetian Expo + Convention Center) |
| Scale | mega | mega |
| Audience | ||
| Attendees | 12,000 | 35,000 |
| Exhibitors | — | 1,200 |
| Purchasing authority | ~50% | ~50% |
| Effective buyers | 6,000 | 17,500 |
| Costs | ||
| $/sqft | — | — |
| 10×10 space | — | — |
| All-in estimate | — | $15,000 – $22,000 |
| Cost per buyer | — | $1.06 |
Why exhibit at HLTH
The dominant US healthcare innovation conference with 12,000+ senior decision-makers, investors, and digital health executives. Turnkey booths with AV included reduce logistical burden. If you are a digital health, AI, or health IT company seeking enterprise health system or payer customers, this is where deals start.
Why exhibit at HIMSS
The #1 show for selling digital health, EHR-integrated products, and patient monitoring to hospital IT and admin buyers. Where enterprise deals start.
Why skip HLTH
Extremely expensive -- minimum booth is 10x20 (no 10x10 option), and turnkey pricing with no publicly listed rates suggests $30k+ entry point. Heavily skewed toward digital health and payer innovation, not traditional medical devices. Clinician presence is minimal compared to clinical conferences.
Why skip HIMSS
Wrong audience for clinician-first devices (surgical instruments, implants). Pure clinical audiences are thin here.