SSO 2026
By Buzzbox Media · Last reviewed August 3, 2026
What is SSO?
The premier US conference for surgical oncology. If you sell surgical devices, ablation systems, or oncology-specific surgical instruments, SSO delivers focused access to the surgeons who operate on cancer patients. Strong academic presence means KOL engagement is possible.
What are the key facts about SSO?
- Host organization: Society of Surgical Oncology
- Primary specialty: surgical oncology
- Scale: mid
- Geography: US
- International attendance: ~15%
- See all Oncology conferences
Which device categories fit SSO?
Which buyer stages does SSO fit?
What does SSO charge for booth space?
SSO publishes an exhibitor prospectus, and the figure below is an estimate read from it rather than a quote. View the prospectus ↗
What does an all-in 10×10 inline booth cost?
| Space rental | $5,500 |
| Estimated all-in total | $8,000-$16,000 |
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 SSO booth itself? Read our guide to medical conference booth design for booth types, union labor rules, and the corner upgrade.
Who attends SSO?
Leading-edge research, debate, and networking for surgical oncology professionals. Programming includes disease-site specific content, APP programming, resident/fellow tracks, and competitive events. Mix of academic and community surgical oncologists.
- Purchasing authority: ~65% of attendees
- Effective buyers: ~1,625
- Cost per effective buyer: $7.38 ($12,000 all-in ÷ 1,625 buyers)
- International attendance: ~15%
Where is SSO held?
- Venue: Phoenix Convention Center, West Building, Phoenix, AZ
- Management company: SSO (in-house)
Who else exhibits at SSO?
Exhibitor data coming soon for SSO.
Is SSO worth exhibiting?
Why Exhibit
The premier US conference for surgical oncology. If you sell surgical devices, ablation systems, or oncology-specific surgical instruments, SSO delivers focused access to the surgeons who operate on cancer patients. Strong academic presence means KOL engagement is possible.
Why Skip
Heavily pharma-dominated exhibit floor. Pure device companies may feel outnumbered. The audience is surgical oncology only. General surgery devices are better served at ACS Clinical Congress. Attendance is modest for a convention center show.
What should exhibitors know before SSO?
SSO is more pharma than device on the exhibit floor. This is changing as surgical oncology tools (fluorescence-guided surgery, robotic platforms) grow. Phoenix in March is pleasant weather, and the convention center is manageable. Good show for building KOL relationships.
What is the Buzzbox Score for SSO?
7.3 / 10 (Strong)
7.3 out of 10. A solid, dependable show for the right exhibitor. Carried by cost efficiency (9.2: $55/sqft, slightly above the $42.50 median and cost per qualified buyer runs ~$7.4). The lightest dimension is growth trajectory (7.4, mid-size with room to grow). The premier US conference for surgical oncology.
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.
Solid (7.4): 65% purchasing authority.
Standout (9.2): $55/sqft, slightly above the $42.50 median and cost per qualified buyer runs ~$7.4.
Strong (8.0): booth pricing published, exhibitor prospectus available, and attendee purchasing-authority data published.
Solid (7.7): society-run exhibits (in-house), non-union venue (simpler, cheaper move-in), and purpose-built convention venue.
Solid (7.6): honest "who should skip" guidance, the flagship / largest show in its niche, and broad device-category relevance.
Solid (7.4): mid-size with room to grow.
When are the SSO exhibitor deadlines?
Detailed deadlines not yet published for SSO. Check the official site for the application window.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a booth cost at SSO?
SSO publishes an exhibitor prospectus, and read from it an all-in 10×10 booth works out to roughly $8,000-$16,000, 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 SSO?
SSO draws approximately 2,500 attendees. Leading-edge research, debate, and networking for surgical oncology professionals. Programming includes disease-site specific content, APP programming, resident/fellow tracks, and competitive events. Mix of academic and community surgical oncologists.
When and where is SSO 2026?
SSO 2026 takes place March 5-7, 2026. The venue is Phoenix Convention Center, West Building, Phoenix, AZ. Society of Surgical Oncology hosts the meeting.
How many SSO attendees have purchasing authority?
About 65% of SSO attendees hold purchasing authority, which works out to roughly 1,625 effective buyers out of approximately 2,500 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 SSO?
SSO carries a Buzzbox Score of 7.3 out of 10 (Strong). 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 cost efficiency at 9.2 and the lowest is audience quality at 7.4.