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IDLS2026 General Information


The International Data Links Symposium 2026 (IDLS2026) will be held at the International Congress Center in Dresden, Germany, from 27 to 29 October 2026. The Training Day will precede the Symposium on 26 October 2026.


The International Data Links Symposium

The International Data Links Symposium has been held annually since 2001. It originated as a Tactical Data Link User’s group sponsored by the US Navy and US Air Force Link 16 program offices in co-operation with the UK Ministry of Defence. As Link 16 proliferated, the Symposium rapidly grew beyond the scope of a program office sponsored conference and in 2004 the International Data Link Society (IDLSoc) was chartered as a non-profit organisation to provide a forum for the Tactical Data Link (TDL) community and to facilitate the annual event.

The annual Symposium is held in various locations throughout the world to facilitate participation by the international community. The society’s charter is:

  • To provide a Government-Industry forum to inform each other of accomplishments, trends and developments in military and civil data link technology
  • To further interoperability
  • To further the effectiveness of digital information exchange
  • To create a framework of co-operation across nations
  • To share lessons learned and best practices
  • The identification and promotion of key issues relating to the successful application of data links worldwide.
The key features of the International Data Links Symposium are:

Technical Expertise: The exhibition stands and demonstration areas at IDLS are staffed by technical experts and marketing and sales teams. This ensures that attendees, regardless of their technical background, can engage meaningfully with the showcased solutions.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with professionals, exchange ideas, and build valuable relationships within the data link community.

Long-standing Impact: With over twenty years of successful operation, IDLS has created an unparalleled environment for enhancing interoperability across systems and countries. Benefit from the wealth of experience and connections established over the years.

Discover Future Trends: Gain valuable insights into the latest technological advancements and emerging industry trends, presented by a diverse lineup of expert speakers.

Join us at IDLS2026 for an enriching experience that goes beyond the traditional Symposium. Your participation contributes to the continual improvement of data link systems worldwide.



Programme

Masterclass and 101 Courses – Thursday 22nd, Friday 23rd and Monday 26th October 2026

  • The Masterclass and 101 Courses will be announced from March 2026. Full details will be published in the IDLSoc Newsletter and on IDLS2026.org.

Two Day Training Course – Thursday 22ndand Friday 23rd October 2026

  • This year there will be a Two Day Training Course held before the start of the Symposium. Full details will be published in the IDLSoc Newsletter and on IDLS2026.org.

Training Day – Monday 26th October 2026

  • The training day courses will be announced from March 2026. Full course details will be published in the IDLSoc Newsletter and on IDLS2026.org.

Symposium – Tuesday 27th October – Thursday 29th October 2026

  • Details of the programme will be made available at the end of August 2026.

Exhibiting at IDLS2026

The exhibit stands are exhibitors’ venues-within-the-venue to showcase their capabilities and products. They are also the anchor meeting places for all delegates for three uninterrupted days.

Standard, Bronze, Bronze Plus, Silver, Silver Plus and Gold packages are available at IDLS2026. For more details about exhibiting, visit the Exhibitor page on this website.