🎒 First Time at ESMRMB? Tips & Tricks for Getting the Most Out of the 2026 Annual Meeting in Girona

So, you’re going to the 2026 ESMRMB meeting in Girona, perfect! This is your chance to dive into the vibrant, sometimes overwhelming, but always inspiring world of MR conferences.

Whether you’re making your in-person conference debut or you’re already experienced and just looking for fresh tips, this guide will help you navigate it all, with advice collected from conference veterans, past webinars, and early career researchers like you.

If you’d like an even smoother start, we’d love to see you at the ECR Committee’s precongress workshop, “Magnetic North: Your Guide to Navigating ESMRMB.” This full-day, in-person event takes place just before the conference and is designed to help you feel at home before the main meeting begins. It’s a great opportunity to meet fellow first timers, reconnect with familiar faces, and get to know experienced MR researchers who are eager to share their insights, answer your questions, and help you make the most of your time at ESMRMB.

🎯 Before the Conference: Set Yourself Up for Success

💡 Know the conference structure
The meeting has three focus topics, i.e. Future of MR machines, Future of MR in clinical practice and Future of MR in society, and two educational tracks, i.e. Building together & Broadening the horizon, to help you find coherent themes.

🔎 Explore the program early
Start by browsing the program for your topics of interest, don’t try to see everything. Prioritize sessions, speakers, and abstracts that excite you.

📅 Build your own schedule
Some prefer digital tools, others like to scribble on printouts, do what works best for you. Add buffer time! Some sessions are far apart, and spontaneous hallway chats are often the best moments.

🤝 Make a list of people to meet
Reach out to potential collaborators, researchers whose work you admire, or people you’ve only met online. A quick “Hey, are you attending ESMRMB?” message goes a long way.

🍷 Know your social schedule
From the Welcome Reception on Thursday, the Poster Drinks on Friday, to the Networking Dinner on Saturday (be sure to book it explicitly), every day during the ESMRMB meeting is full of informal chances to connect. Ask around,there are always institution-specific events and spontaneous meetups.

🧠 During the Conference: Make It Yours

🎓 Make the most of the program
Check session contents, not just titles. Focus on what’s most relevant to your current projects or learning gaps. Be sure to check out session types such as educationals, hot-topic debates, and member initiated sessions beyond the classic scientific sessions.

📌 Find your conference style
Some love talks, others thrive in poster sessions or short lighting talks. Don’t force yourself into every session block, poster halls and coffee corners can be just as valuable.

📝 Take notes,your future self will thank you
Decide beforehand how you’ll keep track (notebook, app, OneNote, etc.). Label clearly for easier post-conference review.

🙋 Network without pressure
Not into cold networking? Start with sessions by people you’re curious about. Prepare 1–2 questions in advance. It’s a smooth way to start a conversation. The ESMRMB community is a friendly and welcoming crowd, always open to meeting new people,so don’t hesitate to reach out.

💬 You know someone ‘from the literature’ but are afraid to talk to them?
Send an email to suggest meeting at their poster for a short chat or tell a colleague/friend who knows them to get you introduced. Or just be brave and say hi at their poster session. It’s okay to say you are new to the MR world and guaranteed people will be kind to you.

🧲 Want to attract people to your poster? 

Add some fun frills that people can ask you about or mini-print-outs or little objects that can help to explain your research in layman’s terms. You can also participate in the GAP award to further promote your abstract and have a chance of winning up to 200 €.

🛠️ Looking to build skills that will strengthen your research career?

Join our Early Career Researchers session, “Make Your Research Future-Proof!”. Learn from Francesco Santini, Omer Faruk Gulban, and Christophe Phillips as they discuss reproducibility in MR research and share practical approaches to developing robust, well-documented analysis workflows and reusable datasets.

⏸ Take breaks, skip guilt-free
FOMO is real, but burnout is worse. Schedule in time to eat, rest, and discover the city, especially with Girona’s sun calling outside! Perhaps this would be a good time to try out the MR board game! 

🎤 Presenters: Own Your Moment

💬 Don’t panic if you don’t know the answer
It’s okay to say, “That’s a great question,I’d love to follow up afterward.” Stay after your session,there’s now dedicated time to meet speakers!

📇 Be approachable
You don’t need business cards, but make sure your name and contact info are findable (e.g., QR codes, LinkedIn, email on your last slide).

✨ Don’t overcomplicate your presentation.
Keep it simple and clear,don’t rush through it. It’s always better to say a bit less and deliver a strong, memorable message, rather than overload your talk with too much information.

💡 Feeling nervous? You’re not alone.
If you feel like throwing yourself in front of a bus to avoid presenting, know that most speakers recognize that feeling (even the experienced ones!). It’s totally normal to be stressed. You’ll do great!

🤔 Not Sure How to Mingle? Try This:

✅ Compliment someone’s poster or talk – it’s a natural conversation starter.
✅ Ask what they’ve enjoyed at the conference so far – everyone has a favorite moment!
✅ Say you’re new – it’s relatable and instantly lowers the barrier.

🔁 After the Conference: Don’t Let It End

📚 Review & share your notes
Consider organizing a wrap-up meeting with your group. Summarize your highlights and discuss what you learned.

📨 Follow up
Send short, friendly messages to people you met or whose work inspired you. Mention something specific from your interaction, or share a related paper.

💡 Stay connected
Follow ESMRMB on social media. Watch for ECRC highlights and future events to keep the momentum going.

Missed something?

Check ESMRMB’s YouTube channel for some of the previous years’ educational talks!

💬 Final Thoughts

Conferences can feel like a whirlwind, especially the first time. You won’t see everything, and that’s okay. Let yourself explore, make space for serendipity, and, most importantly, enjoy the ride.

If you want a first-timer’s perspective, listen to our ECRC podcast with Annelie Haek (Ghent University) on preparing a power pitch, navigating nonstop socializing, and turning nerves into momentum. 🎧 Play the episode on Spotify

Welcome to the ESMRMB community. See you in Girona!