Traditionally, radiotherapy has been a mainstay in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) particularly in the locally advanced stages IIIa and IIIb. Recently published data from studies confirmed the role of concurrent chemoradiotherapy as the standard treatment of these locally advanced tumors. Results could be improved further by modern radiotherapy techniques; however, the limitations of this concept under the current technical circumstances could also be recognized. In the future, advances could be achieved by inclusion of information on metabolic characteristics of tumors in radiotherapy planning (such as hypoxia) or by combination with novel modalities, e. g. immunotherapy; however, currently these concepts are predominantly still in the stage of clinical research. In contrast, progress has been made concerning the utilization of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy. Formerly, unfortunately often regarded by many as a niche technology, stereotactic body radiotherapy has evolved not only into a routine clinical option for inoperable patients but also into an alternative treatment option probably equivalent to surgery. Furthermore, stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy is emerging as an important component of multimodal treatment concepts in metastatic stages. This article gives an overview of recent advances, current standards and emerging developments in the radiotherapy of NSCLC.