<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Colleagues,<br><br>We are pleased to announce the <b>ESO conference “VLT beyond 2030”</b>.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br></b>Date: <b>26-30 January 2026</b><br>Location: ESO HQ (Garching near Munich, Germany) and online<br>Website: <a href="https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/Un8xC71R2NTZYYL9wiWhZioUrWx?domain=aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com" originalsrc="https://www.eso.org/sci/meetings/2026/VLT_beyond_2030.html" class="OWAAutoLink">https://www.eso.org/sci/meetings/2026/VLT_beyond_2030.html</a><br>Abstract deadline: 5 September 2025<br>Registration deadline: 21 November 2025<br><br>The conference will mark a new phase in the planning process for the future of the VLT/I by providing a forum to exchange ideas about new projects and instruments that will keep the VLT/I at the forefront of astrophysical research in the ELT era.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br>We invite contributions on topics relevant to the VLT/I in the next decade and beyond, including science, emerging technology, facilities, and operational opportunities.<br><br></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the conference, ESO will issue a call for white papers for new projects/instruments for the VLT/I with a deadline a year later (January 2027), marking the start of the assessment phase.<br><br>Best wishes from the SOC.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Celine Peroux, Antoine Merand, Martyna Chruslinska, Matthew Colless, Rebeca Garcia Lopez,Rebecca Jensen-Clem, Nial Tanvir, Aki Roberge, Jarle Brinchmann, Michele Cirasuolo, Thomas Klein, Suzanne Ramsay)</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></body></html>