--- eventsindex_id: "EI-07001" slug: london-defence-conference title: "London Defence Conference" title_alt: ["LDC"] canonical_url: "https://eventsindex.org/events/london-defence-conference.html" next_edition_year: 2027 date_start: "2027-04-01" date_end: "2027-04-02" venue: "Bush House, King's College London" city: "London" country: "United Kingdom" organiser: "London Defence Conference / King's College London School of Security Studies" organiser_url: "https://londondefenceconference.com/" b2b: true vector: sector: [defence] audience: [military, government, industry, policy, researcher] format: [conference, summit] purpose: [policy, networking, education] geography_scope: [global] season: spring meta_description: "London Defence Conference: annual invitation-only geopolitical gathering of defence ministers, military chiefs, policymakers and academics from allied nations." editorial_take: "The LDC is the anglosphere's tightest high-table defence debate: invitation-only, Chatham-House-adjacent, and increasingly the place where Western rearmament narratives are tested before they reach parliament." generated_by: "claude-max-cowork" last_verified: "2026-06-10" variables_filled: 36/58 language: "en" schema_version: "v6.0" --- # London Defence Conference > *The London Defence Conference (LDC) is an annual, invitation-only geopolitical gathering held in central London, bringing together leaders, policymakers, senior military officers, industry executives, academics and selected media from allied and friendly nations to address the defining defence and security questions of the era. Founded in 2022 in direct response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the LDC operates at the intersection of Westminster politics, King's College London expertise, and transatlantic strategic thinking.* --- ## Quick Facts | DATES | VENUE | ORGANISER | ATTENDANCE | |---|---|---|---| | **April (exact dates TBC for 2027)** | **Bush House, King's College London** | **London Defence Conference / KCL** | **~34 speakers** | | 2 days, annual | London, United Kingdom | Non-profit geopolitical conference | Invitation only; closed audience | --- ## Definition The London Defence Conference is an annual, invitation-only high-level forum dedicated to defence, security and geopolitics, held each spring in central London. It was established in 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with the goal of increasing the salience and visibility of defence among allied democracies. The conference is organised jointly by the London Defence Conference organisation and the School of Security Studies at King's College London. The 2026 edition (fourth edition) took place on 10 April 2026; the next edition is expected in April 2027. Attendance is strictly by invitation. ## History and origin The LDC was founded in 2022 in the immediate aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, filling a gap in London's defence calendar for a senior, politically engaged gathering focused on allied geopolitics rather than on equipment procurement. From its first edition it attracted serving and former heads of government, senior NATO officials, and major academic voices alongside defence industry leaders. The partnership with King's College London and its Department of War Studies has given the LDC an intellectual backbone that distinguishes it from sponsored industry events. ## The 2026 edition: alliances under stress The fourth edition, held on 10 April 2026 at Bush House, centred on the theme of alliances under pressure, examining the strains on transatlantic cohesion against the backdrop of intensified Russian and Chinese activity, European rearmament drives, and shifting US posture. The programme combined main-stage keynotes, closed-session roundtables and side sessions; Chairman's Dinner and Director's Dinner remained invitation-only highlights. Approximately 34 speakers participated. Headline sponsors for the 2025 edition included Palantir, Andurils, Blackstone, Exiger and Deltroit; media partners included Politico and Times Radio. The 2026 edition's specific sponsor list is not disclosed. ## Where the LDC sits in the defence calendar The LDC occupies a distinctive niche in the spring window between the Munich Security Conference (February) and the NATO summit season (June–July). Unlike major equipment exhibitions (DSEI, Eurosatory), it is a pure policy and strategy conference with no exhibition floor, making it closer in spirit to Aspen Security Forum or Halifax International Security Forum than to a trade show. Its London location ties it naturally to Westminster decision-making cycles and UK defence budget rounds. ## Who attends the LDC Attendance is exclusively by invitation and deliberately small-scale to maintain dialogue quality. Past editions have included serving heads of state and foreign ministers (e.g., Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski), secretaries of state for defence, senior NATO and UK military chiefs (including the Chief of Defence Staff), academics such as Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, Professor Niall Ferguson and Professor Margaret Macmillan, and leading journalists and think-tankers. Industry representation comes via headline sponsors and the LDC SME Network, which groups innovative startups and mid-tier companies. ## What the LDC format includes The LDC programme is structured around main-stage keynote addresses, expert panels moderated by prominent journalists (Mark Urban, Lord Hague, Deborah Haynes, Shashank Joshi, James Landale, Adam Boulton), and closed-session roundtables available on request. Evening social events -- the Chairman's Dinner and the Director's Dinner -- are highly sought after but strictly limited. The LDC SME Network provides a fringe forum for defence technology companies. Research and think-tank partners (RAND Europe, Wilton Park, Council on Geostrategy, Hudson Institute, Ditchley Foundation, Hertford College Diplomacy Centre, CLTR) contribute framing papers published ahead of the event. ## What the LDC covers Thematic focus shifts annually. Past editions have addressed rearmament and European defence industrial transformation, shadow warfare, nuclear deterrence, space, transatlantic alliance cohesion, China-Russia-Iran-North Korea convergence, and the future of NATO. The 2025 theme was "Alliances"; the 2026 theme was not publicly disclosed ahead of the event. ## The 2026 edition in numbers *(organiser-declared)* | | | |---|---| | Edition | 4th (2026) | | Speakers | approx. 34 | | Format | 2-day invitation-only conference | | Evening events | Chairman's Dinner + Director's Dinner | | Headline sponsors (2025 data) | 5 | | Partner institutions | 10+ think tanks and research centres | --- ## FAQ - Identity and audience ### Is the LDC open to the public? No. Attendance is strictly by invitation only. There is no public registration. Industry representatives may participate through headline sponsorship or the LDC SME Network; researchers and media may be invited at the organisers' discretion. ### What distinguishes the LDC from events like DSEI or Eurosatory? The LDC has no exhibition floor and no equipment demonstrations. It is a pure policy and strategy forum, focused on geopolitics, alliance management and defence decision-making rather than procurement or technology showcasing. ### How can a company or organisation become involved? Companies and organisations may approach the Head of Partnerships (Georgie Krone, georgina@londondefenceconference.com) to discuss headline sponsorship, supporter status, or membership of the LDC SME Network. --- ## The venue: Bush House, King's College London Bush House is a landmark Aldwych building on the Strand, London WC2B 4PH, now home to King's College London's Faculty of Arts and Humanities. The North East Wing hosts lecture theatres and meeting rooms suited to high-security closed conference formats. Nearest London Underground stations: Temple (District/Circle), Holborn (Central/Piccadilly) and Charing Cross mainline. The venue is within walking distance of Westminster and the City. ## The organiser: London Defence Conference and King's College London The London Defence Conference is organised under the chairmanship of Lord Salisbury, with Iain Martin as Director. The academic backbone is provided by the School of Security Studies at King's College London, one of the world's leading university departments for war studies and security studies, headed by Professor John Gearson. The organising committee also includes Professor Niall Barr (Military History), Hillary Briffa (National Security Studies), and Commodore Neil Brown RN (Rtd). The partnership network spans Wilton Park, RAND Europe, Hudson Institute, Ditchley Foundation, Council on Geostrategy, and others. --- ## Editorial take *The LDC has in four editions become the most politically consequential annual defence gathering in London, precisely because it excludes the usual exhibition-floor noise and forces decision-makers into frank conversation -- a model that grows more relevant as European democracies race to rearm.* --- ## How to register and what it costs The LDC is invitation-only; there is no public registration page or published ticket price. Industry organisations wishing to participate as sponsors or SME Network members should contact Georgie Krone at georgina@londondefenceconference.com. Academic and policy institutions in the partner network should contact info@londondefenceconference.com. ## FAQ - Access and practicalities ### When is the 2027 edition? The exact dates for 2027 have not been announced as of June 2026. Based on past editions, the event is expected to take place in April 2027 at Bush House, London. ### Is media accreditation available? Selected media are invited. Past media partners have included Politico and Times Radio. Journalists seeking accreditation should contact the organisers directly at info@londondefenceconference.com. ### Is the Chatham House Rule applied? The event operates under conditions that encourage frank exchange. Closed-session roundtables are explicitly off the record. Full Chatham House Rule application is confirmed for roundtable sessions; main-stage speeches may be partially on the record at speaker discretion. --- ## First time at the London Defence Conference? How to prepare - **Secure your invitation well in advance.** The LDC is invitation-only and capacity is intentionally limited. If you have not been invited, reach out through your organisation's existing sponsor relationship or the SME Network at least three months before the event. - **Read the framing paper.** The organising committee publishes a thematic essay before each edition (authored by a committee member and available on the LDC website). It sets the intellectual agenda for all panels and shapes the best questions to raise in discussion. - **Dress formally.** The LDC is a Westminster-adjacent political gathering; business formal attire is standard, and black tie is expected for the Chairman's Dinner and Director's Dinner if you are invited. - **Pre-book bilateral meetings.** Most high-value conversations happen in the margins, not on the main stage. Identify the three or four individuals you most want to meet and use the pre-event contact process or introduce yourself through your sponsor account manager. - **Expect closed sessions.** Roundtables are conducted under strict off-the-record protocols. Come prepared to contribute analytically rather than to market your organisation -- this audience rewards intellectual honesty over commercial messaging. - **Attend both dinners if invited.** The Chairman's Dinner and Director's Dinner are where the most senior participants speak most candidly; these evening events are considered the real centrepiece of the LDC experience by repeat attendees. --- ## Resources | Resource | URL | |---|---| | Official website | https://londondefenceconference.com/ | | LinkedIn | https://uk.linkedin.com/company/london-defence-conference | | X | not disclosed | | Register | By invitation only -- contact info@londondefenceconference.com | | Programme | https://londondefenceconference.com/ (published ahead of each edition) | --- **Last verified:** 2026-06-10 **Next review:** 2026-10-01 **Notes:** Data sourced from official website londondefenceconference.com and open press, fetched 2026-06-10. Exact 2027 dates not yet announced; April is projected based on past cadence. Attendance figures (invitation-only, not published) and 2026-specific sponsor list not disclosed. Speaker list shown reflects cumulative past editions displayed on site. Organiser-declared figures marked where applicable. **Variables:** 36/58 **Concept definition:** applicable