RSNA 2026 dates, venue and Technical Exhibits hours — Chicago, Nov 29–Dec 3. Plus an imaging buyer's checklist for new vs refurbished MRI and CT.
Planning to attend RSNA 2026? This guide covers the dates, venue, Technical Exhibits hours and registration process — and goes further, turning the show into a high-value imaging sourcing trip: weighing refurbished vs. new on total cost of ownership, checking specifications on the floor, and continuing the comparison after the show closes.
Source policy: Dates, venue, hours and registration status are taken from RSNA's official channels. The organizer has not published registration fees on the main page (member and non-member rates differ), so check the official View Pricing page for costs. Confirm final details on the official page before you travel.
RSNA 2026 (the Radiological Society of North America annual meeting) runs November 29 – December 3 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, USA.1
RSNA is the most important annual event in medical imaging, covering MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-ray, mammography, nuclear medicine, imaging AI and software, PACS and imaging workflow. For anyone making an imaging purchase decision, it is the single highest-density information stop of the year.
Planning shows in other regions too? Our 2026 medical equipment trade shows calendar covers MEDICA, CMEF and Medical Fair Asia alongside RSNA.
The Technical Exhibits floor is where vendors showcase equipment and solutions:
| Day | Hours (CT) |
|---|---|
| Nov 29 – Dec 2 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
RSNA 2026 registration is open.1 The official page does not display registration fees directly (member and non-member rates differ) — use the official View Pricing page, and avoid third-party agencies.
Before you go:
RSNA is all about imaging. Here the floor is regrouped into the sourcing scenarios buyers most often arrive with.
| Sourcing scenario | What to look for |
|---|---|
| MRI & CT (incl. AI reconstruction) | Field strength, detector rows, DLR, dose management |
| Ultrasound & mammography | Premium systems, portable / POC, breast imaging |
| X-ray, nuclear medicine & imaging AI | Digital radiography, molecular imaging, AI workflow tools |
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging — imaging with magnetic fields and radio waves, no ionizing radiation) and CT (Computed Tomography — X-ray scanning at multiple angles, reconstructed into cross-sections) are RSNA's centerpiece modalities.
A major trend at recent RSNA editions is DLR (Deep Learning Reconstruction) — neural networks that rebuild images from low-dose raw data, cutting radiation while improving image quality. For vendor evaluation on the floor, DICOM (the standard format for exchanging medical images between systems) and PACS (the archive system hospitals use to store and read images) are two quick signals of how mature an offering is.
For what DLR actually changes — and whether it is worth paying for — see our deep learning image reconstruction (DLR) deep dive.
Want to compare available stock after the show? Search by brand, model and category on MedTrade and send inquiries directly — for example, browse MRI systems or browse CT systems and message verified suppliers.
Ultrasound is another large RSNA section, from premium full-body systems to portable and point-of-care units; breast imaging (mammography, breast ultrasound and tomosynthesis) is a consistent RSNA focus.
For detailed probe selection, see our ultrasound transducer buying guide.
After the show, you can search ultrasound systems by brand and model and send inquiries to verified suppliers.
Digital radiography, nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, plus imaging AI software and workflow tools, round out the floor. For buyers, the value of imaging AI software comes down to whether it plugs into your existing DICOM/PACS workflow — an "AI demo" that cannot integrate has no clinical reality.
At RSNA, buyers are making MRI/CT-class decisions. The floor's information density is high, but walking without a checklist hands your most expensive decision to the atmosphere of the show. This section gives you a working method.
The biggest trap in high-value imaging is looking only at the sticker price. Whether to buy refurbished or new comes down to TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) — installation, service, refurbishment depreciation and downtime on top of the purchase price.
For the full refurbished-vs-new MRI & CT ROI comparison, see our refurbished vs. new MRI & CT ROI buying guide.
At each booth, verify against a fixed sheet instead of just listening to the sales pitch:
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Field strength / detector rows / channels | Directly sets image quality and clinical range |
| DICOM & PACS compatibility | Whether it fits your existing imaging workflow |
| Dose management (CT) | Clinical compliance and patient safety |
| Warranty, service & downtime response | The hidden cost center of high-value equipment |
| Refurbished/used: FDA 510(k) or CE status | Determines clearance and legal use |
💡 Expert Insight: Imaging quotes vary enormously, but what decides long-term cost is warranty, service and downtime response — not the first payment. Getting the service scope written into the contract is worth more than haggling at the booth.
Turn your floor checklist into a table and send inquiries to several suppliers at once, comparing quotes, service and lead time. RSNA comes once a year; the valuable comparison happens after you leave.
⚠️ Watch Out: Refurbished prices look attractive, but always request the device's full service history and certification documents before committing. The platform does not certify refurbished equipment — refurbishment quality is the supplier's responsibility. Sort out service scope and parts availability before negotiating price.
The show is the starting point, not the end. Imaging purchases have long cycles; verification, quoting and comparison continue after you leave the hall.
After the show, continue your search on MedTrade — search medical equipment suppliers by brand, model and category, then send inquiries to suppliers carrying the Verified Supplier badge and compare the quotes you receive.
When you send an inquiry, include the model and quantity you need, your target country, the certifications you require (such as FDA 510(k), CE/MDR) and your expected lead time. Specific requests get useful replies.
If you already own equipment, factor maintenance into the plan — see our ultrasound transducer failure modes & repair guide for the most common probe faults and how to diagnose them.
When is RSNA 2026? November 29 – December 3, 2026, at McCormick Place, Chicago.1
What are the Technical Exhibits hours? November 29 – December 2, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (CT).1
Does RSNA 2026 registration cost money? Registration is open; the official page does not display fees directly — member and non-member rates differ, so check the official View Pricing page.1
What is the difference between RSNA and MEDICA? RSNA is the imaging specialty show — MRI, CT, ultrasound, mammography, nuclear medicine and imaging AI. MEDICA is Europe's broad medical technology show covering far more equipment categories.
Can I keep contacting exhibitors after the show? Yes. Organize your floor checklist, verify suppliers online and send inquiries. MedTrade lets you search by brand and model and contact verified suppliers directly.
https://www.rsna.org/annual-meeting — RSNA official annual meeting page: dates (Nov 29–Dec 3, 2026), registration open, hotel 30% savings, opening session (Nov 29, 4:00–5:30 PM CT); Technical Exhibits dates and hours (Nov 29–Dec 2, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM CT) from the official exhibitor FAQ. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7
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