NASS 2026
By Buzzbox Media · Last reviewed August 3, 2026
What is NASS?
The spine industry's most-attended event with an exhibitor-to-attendee ratio that makes competition fierce but access exceptional. 340 exhibitors means the industry takes this show seriously. Spine surgeons come to evaluate implants, biologics, and navigation tech hands-on.
What are the key facts about NASS?
- Host organization: North American Spine Society
- Primary specialty: spine
- Scale: large
- Geography: US National
- International attendance: ~20%
- See all Orthopedic conferences
Which device categories fit NASS?
Which buyer stages does NASS fit?
What does NASS charge for booth space?
Read from the NASS exhibitor prospectus published by North American Spine Society. These are the prices that document states. View the prospectus ↗
| Booth Type | $/sqft | 10×10 Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inline booth (10x10) | $41.50 | $4,150 | NASS publishes the 10x10 price directly. |
| Island booth | $41.50 | $4,150 | Plus a $2,000 island fee, which is what makes the effective rate fall from about $46.50/sqft at 20x20 to about $43.50/sqft at 20x50. |
| Corner fee | n/a | $300 | Per corner. |
Planning the NASS booth itself? Read our guide to medical conference booth design for booth types, union labor rules, and the corner upgrade.
Who attends NASS?
High-level decision-makers. NASS has 8,000+ global members; ~3,500 attend the annual meeting. Record 340 exhibitors in recent years. Heavily spine-industry oriented.
- Purchasing authority: ~60% of attendees
- Effective buyers: ~2,100
- International attendance: ~20%
Where is NASS held?
- Venue: San Antonio, TX (Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center)
- Product theater: Available
Who else exhibits at NASS?
Exhibitor data coming soon for NASS.
Is NASS worth exhibiting?
Why Exhibit
The spine industry's most-attended event with an exhibitor-to-attendee ratio that makes competition fierce but access exceptional. 340 exhibitors means the industry takes this show seriously. Spine surgeons come to evaluate implants, biologics, and navigation tech hands-on.
Why Skip
Exclusively spine-focused. If your product is not directly spine-related, you'll be invisible. The exhibitor-to-attendee ratio (~1:10) is very high, meaning intense competition for surgeon attention.
What should exhibitors know before NASS?
Highest exhibitor-to-attendee ratio in this batch. Spine industry treats NASS as a must-attend, so your competition will be there in force. Mobile Skills Labs are a differentiator, live product demos in a lab setting, not just a booth.
What is the Buzzbox Score for NASS?
8.9 / 10 (Excellent)
8.9 out of 10. A top-tier show worth a serious line item. Carried by exhibitor experience (9.7: non-union venue (simpler, cheaper move-in) and exhibitor-friendly host city). The lightest dimension is cost efficiency (7.7). The spine industry's most-attended event with an exhibitor-to-attendee ratio that makes competition fierce but access exceptional.
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): 60% purchasing authority, large-scale event, and hands-on / cadaver lab draws engaged clinicians.
Solid (7.7).
Strong (8.6): booth pricing published, 3 booth options documented, and exhibitor count disclosed.
Standout (9.7): non-union venue (simpler, cheaper move-in), exhibitor-friendly host city, and purpose-built convention venue.
Strong (8.0): "who should skip" note included, product-theater opportunity for thought leadership, and 340+ exhibitors (deep competitive intel).
Strong (8.8): large and well-established and ~340 exhibitors.
When are the NASS exhibitor deadlines?
Detailed deadlines not yet published for NASS. Check the official site for the application window.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a booth cost at NASS?
NASS publishes a booth rate we can link to: $4,150 for an entry 10×10 space. That is space rental only. We do not publish an all-in estimate for this show, so budget drayage, electrical, labor, and booth display on top, and confirm current pricing with the organizer.
How many people attend NASS?
NASS draws approximately 3,500 attendees. High-level decision-makers. NASS has 8,000+ global members; ~3,500 attend the annual meeting. Record 340 exhibitors in recent years. Heavily spine-industry oriented.
When and where is NASS 2026?
NASS 2026 takes place October 14-17, 2026. The venue is San Antonio, TX (Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center). North American Spine Society hosts the meeting.
How many NASS attendees have purchasing authority?
About 60% of NASS attendees hold purchasing authority, which works out to roughly 2,100 effective buyers out of approximately 3,500 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 NASS?
NASS carries a Buzzbox Score of 8.9 out of 10 (Excellent). 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 exhibitor experience at 9.7 and the lowest is cost efficiency at 7.7.
What types of products are best suited for NASS exhibitors?
NASS is ideal for spinal implant systems (fusion, motion preservation, artificial disc), intraoperative imaging and navigation for spine, robotic surgical systems for spinal procedures, biologics and bone graft substitutes, neuromonitoring equipment, and pain management devices for spinal applications.
How competitive is the NASS exhibit floor?
NASS hosts 340+ exhibitors for 3,500 attendees, giving a roughly 10:1 attendee-to-exhibitor ratio. Competition is high because virtually every spine device company exhibits here. Companies that treat NASS as a first impression to see and touch new products typically generate stronger booth engagement than those relying solely on handouts.