The Unofficial RSNA 2026 Survival Kit: 10 More Tips From Seasoned Attendees

There’s the RSNA you can plan for, and then there’s the RSNA you only get to know by being there.

After a few trips to Chicago, you start to understand the rhythms of RSNA: how to make the most of your time, when to leave room for the unexpected and, perhaps most importantly, how to take advantage of having so much of the radiology community together in one place.

Radineers know those rhythms well. Many members of our team have spent years working in radiology, attending RSNA and accumulating the kind of practical — and occasionally very specific — knowledge that comes with experience.

Last year, we turned some of that collective wisdom into our first unofficial RSNA survival kit. This year, we went back to our team for even more advice.

Here are 10 more tips from seasoned attendees for making the most of RSNA 2026.

1. It all starts with your shoes.

Yes, we covered shoes last year, but it was — by far — the most common piece of advice from Radineers, with recommendations ranging from rotating comfortable shoes throughout the week to compression socks, morning and evening stretching and always having a backup pair nearby.

“Footwear is either your friend or your foe. Choose wisely,” one Radineer told us.

And for those unwilling to abandon their heels, another offered a compromise: “ALWAYS have a comfy pair to swap into for the walk back and forth (or if I just need a break during the day).”

2. McCormick Place operates under different laws of geography.

First-timers can look at a map of McCormick Place and reasonably conclude that two places are near each other, but seasoned attendees know better.

“RSNA is like Vegas: something can look incredibly close and still be a 20-minute walk away,” one Radineer warned. “Build in more time than you think you need to get anywhere.”

That 15-minute gap between meetings might just be your entire commute, so give yourself plenty of time and get to know the different entrances to the exhibit hall, where choosing the right one can save you a surprisingly long walk.

3. Have a food strategy.

There are two kinds of people at RSNA: those who have a plan for lunch and those who suddenly realize at 4 p.m. that they haven’t eaten since breakfast.

Radineers recommend starting with a good breakfast, keeping snacks handy, staying hydrated and grabbing food when the opportunity presents itself, although whether you should actually sit down for lunch produced some disagreement. One Radineer called the sit-down lunch overrated; another defended it because it “forces more of a break” in an otherwise hectic day.

Regardless of which side of the debate you’re on, don’t forget to eat.

4. Saturday calls for an extra layer.

Chicago at the end of November is usually very cold, but what might be less obvious is that McCormick Place can be, too.

“It’s freezing on the show floor, especially during set up on Saturday,” one Radineer told us. “It gets better day by day throughout the week, but tends to stay pretty chilly.”

Don’t put too much faith in the forecast, either. One Radineer has experienced RSNA temperatures everywhere from the 70s to the 20s, with travel disruptions to match, so pack layers and, if you’re flying in, give yourself some breathing room in case Chicago weather decides to change your plans.

5. Getting out each day takes time, too.

The distances inside McCormick Place aren’t the only ones worth planning for, especially when thousands of attendees are trying to leave at roughly the same time.

“Buckle up for the Uber and transportation lines,” one Radineer told us. “Getting out of McCormick Place at the end of the day is an event unto itself.”

If you have evening plans, build in a buffer and take advantage of the RSNA shuttles because the end time on your final meeting isn’t necessarily the time you’ll actually be leaving McCormick Place.

6. Look up.

This might be the simplest advice we received — and some of the best.

“Look up when you’re walking the halls, even if on your way to the restroom,” one Radineer told us. “If you don’t look up and instead are looking down at your phone, you may miss running into an important networking opportunity.”

That’s part of what makes RSNA special. You can schedule meetings months in advance, but some of the best conversations happen because you recognize someone across the hall, bump into a former colleague or finally meet someone you’ve only known through email and Zoom.

Not every meaningful conversation needs a calendar invite.

7. Protect a little time each day.

There’s a powerful urge before RSNA to look at an open spot on your calendar and fill it, but a little free time can be just as valuable as another meeting.

One Radineer called “trying to pack every minute of every day” overrated while describing one of RSNA’s most underrated luxuries as “15 minutes to sit down, drink some water and reset. Your feet — and probably your coworkers — will thank you.”

8. Leave some room for discovery.

There’s a lot to see at RSNA. Don’t make your itinerary so rigid that you only see what you already knew you wanted to see. Radineers recommend leaving time to walk the exhibit floor, including checking out some of the smaller and more specialized companies you may not have planned to visit. 

9. Make time for Chicago, too.

For a few days every year, it’s easy for McCormick Place to become your entire universe, but part of the RSNA experience happens outside it.

“Make time for one really good dinner that has absolutely nothing to do with RSNA,” one Radineer recommends. “After a full day on the show floor, getting away from the convention center and actually enjoying Chicago is necessary.”

For our team, that might mean a Sunday morning workout, a favorite West Loop bar, dinner with people they only see once a year or, of course, pizza — although one Radineer specifically called Chicago-style pizza overrated.

(As a Chicagoland native, I’m staying out of that hot take).

10. Be open to the unexpected.

When we asked Radineers about their favorite RSNA memories, we heard about dinners and drinks with coworkers, reconnecting with people they hadn’t seen in years or watching a growing company suddenly feel like it had arrived. We even heard fond memories of the 2025 blizzard.

One Radineer summed it up well: “Embrace the experience and be flexible. No matter what, there’s always more to learn, so soak it up.”

One final piece of very specific advice: Visit the dogs.

See you in Chicago

For all the talk about AI, technology and what’s next for radiology, RSNA has always been about the people who make up the industry, too. If you’ll be in Chicago, schedule time to meet with a Radineer.