YDC 2026
Overview
One of the top 3 largest dental meetings in the US with 28,000 attendees and 323 exhibitors. Yankee draws heavily from the New England and Northeast corridor -- a wealthy, practice-dense region with high purchasing power. If you sell dental equipment, supplies, imaging, or software, this is a must-attend for Northeast market penetration.
Key Facts
- Host organization: Massachusetts Dental Society
- Primary specialty: dentistry
- Scale: mega
- Geography: US National
- International attendance: ~5%
Best For
Buyer Stage Fit
Booth Costs
Booth pricing not yet verified for YDC. Request our research →
All-In Cost Estimate (10×10 Inline)
| Space rental | — |
| Drayage | $1,200 – $2,500 |
| Electrical (20A) | $300 – $450 |
| Carpet/padding | $200 – $400 |
| Cleaning (3 days) | $150 – $250 |
| Lead retrieval (1 unit) | $400 – $900 |
| Wi-Fi | $500 – $1,500 |
| Estimated total | $8,000 – $15,000 |
Does not include travel, staffing, booth display, or marketing materials.
Audience
~28,000 attendees including dentists, hygienists, assistants, office staff, students, and exhibitor personnel. 323 exhibiting companies. One of the largest dental meetings in the US, second only to the Greater New York Dental Meeting and CDS Midwinter Meeting. Strong New England and Northeast attendance.
- Purchasing authority: ~45% of attendees
- Effective buyers: ~12,600
- Cost per effective buyer: $0.91 ($11,500 all-in ÷ 12,600 buyers)
- International attendance: ~5%
Venue & Logistics
- Venue: Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), Boston, MA
- Management company: Massachusetts Dental Society (in-house, Freeman as service contractor)
Who Else Exhibits
Approximately 323+ exhibitors typically attend YDC. Your competitors are here.
Our Take
Why Exhibit
One of the top 3 largest dental meetings in the US with 28,000 attendees and 323 exhibitors. Yankee draws heavily from the New England and Northeast corridor -- a wealthy, practice-dense region with high purchasing power. If you sell dental equipment, supplies, imaging, or software, this is a must-attend for Northeast market penetration.
Why Skip
Regional draw limits value for companies already strong in the Northeast. If you need national reach, ADA Annual Meeting or CDS Midwinter Meeting cover more geography. The show runs Thursday-Saturday, which can be challenging for staff scheduling.
Insider Tips
Yankee is the kickoff dental show of the calendar year (late January). Many exhibitors use it to debut new products before CDS Midwinter in February. BCEC is a union venue -- budget for Freeman drayage and labor. The Massachusetts Dental Society runs a tight ship with strong CE programming that keeps attendees on-site.
Buzzbox Score: 9.7 / 10 (Exceptional)
9.7 out of 10. One of the strongest exhibiting opportunities in our index. Carried by editorial value (9.4: solid exhibitor rationale and honest "who should skip" guidance). The lightest dimension is exhibitor experience (8.4, Freeman-managed (established operator)). One of the top 3 largest dental meetings in the US with 28,000 attendees and 323 exhibitors.
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.
Standout (9.3): 45% purchasing authority (moderate), 87:1 attendee ratio, and mega-scale floor (28,000 attendees).
Strong (8.8): $40/sqft, slightly above the $39 median and ~$0.91 per qualified buyer.
Strong (8.6): booth pricing published, exhibitor prospectus available, and exhibitor count disclosed.
Strong (8.4): Freeman-managed (established operator), non-union venue (simpler, cheaper move-in), and mega-show logistics are well-rehearsed.
Standout (9.4): solid exhibitor rationale, honest "who should skip" guidance, and the flagship / largest show in its niche.
Standout (9.4): mega-scale and stable, ~323 exhibitors, and 28,000 attendees.
Key Deadlines
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Insurance Deadline | 2025-12-31 |
| Meeting Dates | 2026-01-29 to 2026-01-31 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a booth cost at YDC?
An all-in 10×10 booth at YDC runs roughly $8,000–$15,000, including space rental, drayage, electrical, carpet, and basic services. Travel, staffing, and booth display are additional.
How many people attend YDC?
YDC draws approximately 28,000 attendees. ~28,000 attendees including dentists, hygienists, assistants, office staff, students, and exhibitor personnel. 323 exhibiting companies. One of the largest dental meetings in the US, second only to the Greater New York Dental Meeting and CDS Midwinter Meeting. Strong New England and Northeast attendance.
When is YDC ?
YDC is scheduled for January 29-31, 2026. Location: Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), Boston, MA.
Is YDC worth exhibiting at?
One of the top 3 largest dental meetings in the US with 28,000 attendees and 323 exhibitors. Yankee draws heavily from the New England and Northeast corridor -- a wealthy, practice-dense region with high purchasing power.