The European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2026 transformed Vienna and the Austria Center Vienna into a walk-in world of radiology this March. Scientific excellence, technological innovation and international encounters were not only presented, but also staged in a spatial setting as an immersive congress experience.
ECR 2026 attracted 22,418 participants from 121 countries and 220 exhibitors.
The conference offered cinematic-quality content, turning learning into a multisensory experience. In addition, the congress motto ‘Rays of Knowledge’ was brought to life throughout the building and designed as a continuous experience.
“ECR 2026 surpassed itself once again in its overall staging. Arriving at the congress often feels like stepping into a world of its own,” said Susanne Baumann-Söllner, director of the Austria Center Vienna. “What convinces international guests is the on-site experience. The more compelling it is, the higher the attendance – benefiting not only the congress itself, but Vienna as a business and scientific location.”
The Austria Center Vienna – with its five interconnected levels, flexible halls and rooms – enabled an immersive visitor journey throughout the congress, resulting in a series of flowing thematic areas in which exhibition spaces, networking zones and scientific content blended into a cohesive experiential landscape.
A spectacular Opening Ceremony ‘LIGHT’ included live performances by internationally renowned artists, while the Plenary Lectures showcased cutting-edge scientific research on a grand stage.
A central element of the spatial dramaturgy was the polySTAGE in the entrance hall. Its 52 LED panels, along with additional LED surfaces, served as a striking visual anchor point and shaped the staging in the congress’s central arrival area
