AAOS Annual Meeting 2026

• DatesFebruary 24–28, 2026
• VenueOrange County Convention Center
• LocationOrlando, FL, United States
• CategoryHealthcare
• Official websiteaaos.org

About AAOS Annual Meeting 2026

AAOS Annual Meeting 2026 is a healthcare conference that took place February 24–28, 2026 at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, United States. It ran for five days, from Tuesday to Saturday.

Shows like this one typically draw clinicians, hospital administrators, practice managers, procurement and supply chain leaders, and health IT teams. For registration, exhibitor packages and the floor plan, go to the official website, aaos.org.

ShowFloorTips is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the organizer. Dates, venues and rules can change, so confirm the details with the organizer before you book.

What to expect at AAOS Annual Meeting 2026

Healthcare shows combine education sessions with an exhibit hall, so traffic peaks in the breaks between sessions. Visitors are time-poor and careful, and any product claim will be questioned against evidence and regulation.

Over five days, traffic usually peaks on the first two days and thins out on the last one. The quieter final day is a good time for longer conversations, visiting other stands and meeting suppliers. At events like this, expect most visitors to be clinicians and their colleagues, often with a short list of suppliers they want to see.

How exhibitors should prepare for AAOS Annual Meeting 2026

Planning for the next edition (dates expected, not yet confirmed), here is a working timeline counted back from March 2, 2027:

1. 16 weeks before (Nov 10, 2026)
   Confirm your booth space and read the exhibitor manual. Book hotels near Orange County Convention Center while rates are still normal.
2. 8 weeks before (Jan 5, 2027)
   Order booth services (power, internet, furniture, cleaning) before the early-rate deadlines, and send graphics to print.
3. 4 weeks before (Feb 2, 2027)
   Ship freight to the advance warehouse if the organizer offers one. Book meetings with the visitors you most want to see. Set up lead capture and train the team on it.
4. One week before (Feb 23, 2027)
   Confirm freight arrived, share the staffing schedule, charge every device, and test your lead capture app with Wi-Fi turned off.

Preparation tips for healthcare shows

• Check the show's rules on product claims, samples and promotional items before you print anything.
• Bring evidence in a format a clinician can scan in a minute: outcomes, studies or a one-page summary.
• Plan staffing around the session schedule so your strongest people are at the booth during breaks.

Booth tips for AAOS Annual Meeting 2026

• Keep conversations short and specific; many visitors only have a few minutes between sessions.
• Offer a quiet corner for longer conversations with administrators or buyers.
• Never ask visitors to share patient information. Collect only professional contact details.
• Walk the hall at Orange County Convention Center during move-in to see which entrances and aisles carry the most traffic, and set up your booth so it faces that flow.
• Plan shifts of three to four hours. Standing and talking for five days wears people out, and tired staff let good leads walk past.
• Capture every conversation the moment it ends: scan the badge or card, add a one-line note about what the visitor needs, and rate the lead hot, warm or cold. Notes written that evening are already half forgotten.

For a full list of what to bring, use the free booth checklist, and plan the money side with the trade show ROI calculator.

Following up leads after AAOS Annual Meeting 2026

Most of the value of a trade show is created after it closes. Healthcare purchases go through committees and budgets, so expect a longer cycle and keep follow-up useful rather than frequent.

1. Within 24 hours
   Send a short personal email to every hot lead, mentioning one detail from your conversation.
2. Within 3 days
   Send what you promised at the booth and log every lead in your CRM with its rating and notes.
3. After two weeks
   Make a second, useful touch: a case study, a short video or an answer to their question.
4. After a month
   Review results: meetings booked, cost per lead, and whether the show is worth repeating.

Ready-to-edit messages for each step are in our trade show follow-up email templates.

Getting to Orlando

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is about 20 to 30 minutes by car from International Drive, home of the Orange County Convention Center. Many hotels on International Drive are within walking distance or a short ride of the convention center. International visitors should check whether they need a visa or an ESTA before booking travel.

Hotels closest to the venue sell out first during show week, and many organizers offer discounted room blocks that close weeks before the show, so book early. Our city travel guides cover hotels, transport and budgeting for the busiest show cities.

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