We are thrilled to welcome you to San Diego, California, for DC2026, taking place October 11-14, 2026, at the beautiful Kona Kai Resort on Shelter Island. With ocean breezes, palm-lined paths, and panoramic marina views, Kona Kai offers an inspiring retreat setting for science, connection, and collaboration. The resort will be exclusively reserved for DC2026 attendees, creating an immersive environment where spontaneous conversations and informal networking can flourish, all just minutes from San Diego International Airport and major attractions.

The International Dendritic Cell Symposium is the original and flagship meeting of the DC community — the scientific forum where new ideas take shape and where major advances in DC biology have historically been unveiled. Founded by Ralph Steinman and colleagues in 1990, the symposium has grown into the premier global gathering for DC research and the biennial scientific home for investigators advancing every facet of DC biology, from development, tissue specialization, and antigen presentation to systems immunology and therapeutic translation.

DC2026 holds special significance, marking 15 years since Dr. Steinman received the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking discovery of dendritic cells — a discovery that continues to drive modern immunology, vaccinology, and immune-based therapies— and since his passing. To commemorate his legacy, the symposium will return to the United States for the first time in 28 years and will feature a special agenda that includes a Symposium in Honor of Ralph Steinman and a Translational Symposium highlighting emerging efforts to bring DC biology toward therapeutic impact.

The scientific program will include plenary lectures, symposia, workshops, and poster sessions representing the full breadth and depth of dendritic cell biology. Because DCs cannot be understood in isolation from the broader mononuclear phagocyte system, we warmly welcome research on monocytes, macrophages, and related lineages. We also aim to strengthen collaborations with industry partners, reflecting the growing importance of DC-based platforms in vaccines, cancer immunotherapy, infectious disease, and beyond. In keeping with Dr. Steinman’s commitment to supporting emerging scientists, DC2026 will place a strong emphasis on trainees and early-career researchers, including opportunities for career development, enhanced participation, and travel awards.

We look forward to welcoming you to San Diego for what promises to be a truly exceptional, field-defining DC Symposium — one that brings together the global dendritic cell community at a pivotal moment in the history of DC science.

Juliana Idoyaga, Max Krummel, and Elina Zúñiga

The DC2026 Organizing Committee