5 RSNA Trends Set to Redefine Radiology in 2026
By now, the snow boots are back in the closet, delayed flights are a distant memory and most RSNA attendees have finally forgiven their feet. Getting to Chicago this year was an adventure in itself, but once the weather cleared and the meeting began, RSNA 2025 quickly reminded everyone why the trek is worth it.
Beyond the packed halls and robust agendas, this year’s conference delivered something more lasting than sore calves and cold hands. Under the theme “Imaging the Individual,” RSNA surfaced a set of ideas that feel less like future speculation and more like near-term reality.
From how AI actually fits into clinical workflows, to how imaging can be more personal, more sustainable and more humane for the people who practice it, there was a lot to digest across the entire conference. Here are the five trends from RSNA 2025 that stand out from our perspective as the ones most likely to shape radiology in 2026.
1. AI Becomes Radiology’s Co-Pilot (no, not that one…)
If RSNA had a headline act, it was AI finally growing up and moving past flashy demos and into day-to-day clinical reality. With more than 1,000 FDA-cleared AI tools now available in radiology, the question is no longer if AI belongs in the reading room, but how it fits.
At RSNA 2025, AI showed up as a practical partner. Algorithms that flag urgent cases. Tools that surface subtle findings a human eye might miss. Systems that draft parts of reports so radiologists can focus on interpretation, not typing. Generative AI and visual language models sparked big discussions too, especially around accuracy, trust and responsibility.
The consensus was refreshingly grounded. AI is here to reduce friction, catch errors earlier, and give clinicians back time. In 2026, AI will feel less like a novelty and more like a trusted partner.
2. Precision Imaging: One Size Fits Nobody
“Imaging the Individual” was more than a theme. It was a philosophy. Radiology is increasingly using scans not just to diagnose today’s problem, but to predict tomorrow’s risk.
RSNA highlighted how routine imaging exams can reveal far more than their original purpose. Mammograms that flag cardiovascular risk. Chest CTs that help predict future cardiac events. AI models that extract new insights from existing images without additional scans.
This is precision imaging in action. The same scan, more value and more personalized care. In 2026, imaging will continue to move upstream, helping clinicians identify risk earlier and tailor care more precisely to each patient.
3. Next-Gen Scanners: Better Images, Less Burden
The RSNA exhibit floor is always a glimpse into the future, and 2025 did not disappoint. Next-generation imaging systems promise clearer images, faster exams, and lower patient burden.
Photon-counting CT scanners are leading the charge, delivering ultra-high resolution images while reducing radiation dose. MRI systems are evolving too, including helium-light or helium-free designs that reduce reliance on scarce resources and simplify installation. Ultra-low-dose CT protocols and advanced ultrasound technologies are pushing the limits of what smaller, faster systems can do.
For patients, this means safer scans and more comfortable experiences. For providers, it means better diagnostic confidence with fewer tradeoffs. In 2026, many of these innovations will move from prototype to practice.
4. Innovation That’s Built to Stick
RSNA 2025 made one thing clear: the bar for innovation is rising. It is no longer enough to be new. It has to be useful, durable and realistic.
That mindset showed up in the growing attention on sustainability. Green radiology was treated less like a side project and more like a responsibility. Conversations focused on energy use, waste and equipment design that takes the long view. Technologies that reduce environmental impact — from more efficient scanners to MRI systems that rely on less helium — were framed as smart choices, not compromises.
It also showed up in how people talked about commercialization. RSNA Ventures is a massive step in RSNA leading the way alongside industry to create impactful innovation. The partnership with Rad AI reflected that approach, prioritizing integration into existing workflows over yet another standalone solution.
Taken together, these signals point to a shift in expectations. In 2026, innovation in radiology will be judged less by how impressive it looks on the show floor and more by whether it earns a permanent place in practice.
5. Care for the Caregivers: A Healthier Workforce
Technology may dominate headlines, but RSNA 2025 kept the human side of radiology front and center. Burnout, workforce shortages and rising imaging volumes are real challenges, and the field is no longer pretending otherwise.
Leaders spoke candidly about workload, fatigue, and the limits of “self-care” as a solution. The focus is shifting toward systemic change. Smarter workflows, better staffing models and technology that genuinely reduces cognitive load instead of adding to it.
AI has a role here too, especially when used to automate repetitive tasks and support clinical decision-making. In 2026, success will be measured not just by throughput or accuracy, but by whether radiology teams can sustainably do their best work.
When the Booth Lights Turned Off
RSNA 2025 did not feel like a conference chasing the next shiny thing. It felt like a field taking stock of what actually works and what needs to change.
The biggest shifts were not about speed or scale alone. They were about fit.
As we move through 2026 perhaps much of this will be invisible to patients. The scan will feel routine. The report will arrive on time. The radiologist reading it may have better support and fewer distractions. But those small differences are the result of real changes taking shape now.
Radiology is not reinventing itself overnight. It is evolving deliberately, guided by what clinicians, patients, and systems actually need. And if RSNA 2025 was any indication, the next year will be less about bold promises and more about meaningful progress.
