MR imaging is essential in diagnosing viral encephalitis. Clinical features, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and pathogen confirmation by polymerase chain reaction can be supported by assessing imaging features. MR imaging patterns with typical locations can identify pathogens such as temporal lobe for herpes simplex virus type 1; bilateral thalami for Japanese encephalitis and influenza virus ; and brainstem for enterovirus and rabies. In this article, we have reviewed representative viral encephalitis and its MR imaging patterns. In addition, we also presented acute viral encephalitis without typical MR imaging patterns, such as dengue and varicella-zoster virus encephalitis.