Glioma, one of the most common malignant tumors of the central nervous system, has long been a focus of and challenge for contemporary medical research. Due to its highly invasive nature and the complexity of treatment options, early diagnosis and accurate imaging play crucial roles in improving patient prognosis. Although traditional imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET) are widely used in clinical practice, they are limited in resolution, specificity, and sensitivity, making it difficult to meet the demands of precision medicine. In recent years, the rapid development of nanotechnology has provided new strategies for glioma imaging and treatment. Nanomaterials have demonstrated extremely high biomedical value due to their unique physicochemical properties, including small size effects, surface effects, and quantum size effects. In imaging particularly, nanomaterials can provide higher resolution and stronger signal intensity, enabling accurate detection of the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, the surfaces of nanomaterials can be modified with various functional groups, and specific targeting ligands can interact with particular molecules in tumor cells or the microenvironment, thereby achieving highly specific glioma imaging. While nanomaterials have shown great potential in glioma imaging, their research and application still face numerous challenges, including issues of biocompatibility, toxicity, and the need to improve targeting and imaging efficiency. Therefore, systematically reviewing and summarizing the research progress of nanomaterials in glioma imaging is not only significant for advancing scientific research in this field but also has practical value in guiding clinical practice and promoting the application of new imaging technologies.This article aims to review recent research progress in nanomaterials for glioma imaging, explore the characteristics, imaging mechanisms, and applications of different types of nanomaterials in glioma diagnosis, analyze the main challenges currently faced, and look ahead to future developments in the field.