The NATO’s Future Seminar 2026 is inviting applications from students, researchers and young professionals interested in the future of European defence, transatlantic security and NATO policy.

Organised by YATA Germany, the seminar will take place from 6–8 November 2026 in Berlin, Germany, bringing together approximately 30 emerging security professionals from NATO and Partnership for Peace (PfP) member countries for three days of intensive dialogue, expert exchange, strategic thinking and collaborative learning.

The 2026 edition will focus on the question of Europe’s contribution to NATO and the balance between transatlantic security guarantees and greater European strategic responsibility.

Against the backdrop of the 2026 NATO Summit and continuing debates about European defence capabilities, burden-sharing, deterrence, Russia’s war against Ukraine and the future of transatlantic relations, the seminar will provide participants with an opportunity to examine some of the most important security questions facing the Alliance.

The application deadline is 6 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST.

About NATO’s Future Seminar 2026

NATO’s Future Seminar is an intensive learning and networking programme designed to engage the next generation of professionals working or studying in security, defence, international relations and related fields.

Each year, YATA Germany brings together around 30 students, researchers and young professionals from NATO and PfP member countries.

The seminar provides an environment where participants can interact with:

• Policymakers
• Military practitioners
• Academics
• Security experts
• International representatives
• Young professionals
• Researchers
• Other emerging leaders in transatlantic security

Rather than being a traditional academic conference based exclusively on lectures, the seminar combines expert presentations, panel discussions, interactive workshops and strategic foresight exercises.

Participants are expected to contribute actively to discussions and collaborate with other attendees throughout the programme.

2026 Seminar Theme

The overarching theme of the 2026 seminar is:

“Europe’s Contribution to NATO: Between Transatlantic Security Guarantees and Greater Strategic Responsibility.”

The theme reflects a major question facing NATO and its European members: how can Europe assume greater responsibility for its own security while preserving the transatlantic partnership that remains central to NATO?

The seminar will explore questions such as:

• How can European countries strengthen their contribution to NATO?
• What military capabilities are required to improve collective defence?
• How can European Allies close existing defence capability gaps?
• How can NATO members improve burden-sharing?
• What role should Europe play in maintaining credible deterrence?
• How can European countries strengthen military readiness?
• How should NATO respond to an increasingly complex security environment?
• How can European Allies sustain long-term support for Ukraine?
• How can NATO address hybrid threats?
• How can Europe become a stronger pillar within the Alliance without weakening the transatlantic relationship?

These questions will provide the foundation for discussions and workshops throughout the seminar.

Why the Seminar Is Particularly Relevant in 2026

The 2026 seminar takes place during a period of significant discussion about the future direction of European and transatlantic security.

European countries are facing increasing pressure to strengthen defence capabilities, improve military readiness and assume greater responsibility for collective security.

At the same time, NATO continues to address:

• Russia’s war against Ukraine
• Conventional military threats
• Hybrid threats
• Cybersecurity challenges
• Defence capability gaps
• Burden-sharing
• Military interoperability
• Long-term support for Ukraine
• The future of transatlantic cooperation

The seminar therefore gives young professionals and researchers an opportunity to examine these issues from multiple perspectives.

Participants will not simply learn about current security challenges. They will also be encouraged to think about future scenarios and possible responses.

What Will Participants Gain?

NATO’s Future Seminar 2026 offers participants several academic, professional and networking benefits.

1. Direct Interaction With Security Experts

Participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with policymakers, military practitioners, academics and other international experts.

This provides exposure to perspectives from people working directly within the security and defence environment.

2. Strategic Foresight Experience

Strategic foresight will be an important element of the seminar.

Participants will use foresight methods to examine potential future security scenarios and consider how Europe and NATO could respond to changing circumstances.

This can help participants develop skills in:

• Scenario analysis
• Strategic thinking
• Risk assessment
• Long-term planning
• Policy analysis
• Future-oriented decision-making

3. Interactive Workshops

Participants will select a preferred workshop during the application process.

The two workshop options address different dimensions of Europe’s evolving role within NATO.

4. Professional Networking

The seminar brings together approximately 30 young participants from NATO and PfP countries.

This creates an opportunity to develop professional relationships with people interested in:

• Defence policy
• International security
• NATO
• European security
• Military affairs
• International relations
• Strategic studies
• Foreign policy

The relationships developed during the seminar may become valuable for future academic, professional and policy collaborations.

5. Exposure to Germany’s Security Institutions

Participants will also gain first-hand insights into Germany’s security and defence institutions.

This can provide a useful perspective on Germany’s role in European and transatlantic security.

6. Accommodation

Selected participants will receive accommodation for the duration of the seminar.

This reduces one of the major logistical costs associated with attending an international seminar.

7. Partial Travel Reimbursement

Selected participants may also receive partial reimbursement for travel expenses.

The announced reimbursement limits are:

• Up to €100 for travel within Germany
• Up to €200 for international travel

Applicants should note that this is partial reimbursement, rather than full coverage of travel expenses.

Workshop I: Advancing European Defence

The first workshop is titled:

“Advancing European Defence: Closing Capability Gaps and Sharing the Burden.”

This workshop focuses on the practical requirements for building a stronger European contribution to NATO.

The central premise is that stronger European defence requires more than simply increasing defence expenditure.

It also requires:

• Coordinated capability development
• Greater defence-industrial cooperation
• Political commitment
• Military readiness
• Improved interoperability
• Better burden-sharing
• Long-term strategic planning

Participants will examine how European Allies can strengthen their military capabilities and contribute more effectively to NATO’s collective defence.

Strategic Foresight in Workshop I

Strategic foresight methods will be used to help participants examine possible future scenarios.

Participants may consider questions such as:

• What could European defence look like in the coming years?
• Which capability gaps could become most significant?
• How can European countries improve military interoperability?
• What role should defence-industrial cooperation play?
• How can European Allies distribute defence responsibilities more effectively?
• What political challenges could prevent greater European defence integration?

The workshop is particularly relevant to applicants interested in defence policy, military affairs, European security, NATO strategy and defence-industrial issues.

Workshop II: Beyond the Battlefield

The second workshop is titled:

“Beyond the Battlefield: Deterrence, Strategic Resolve and Europe’s Support for Ukraine.”

This workshop focuses on the changing European security environment following Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The conflict has significantly affected European defence planning and NATO’s approach to deterrence and collective security.

The workshop will explore:

• European support for Ukraine
• Deterrence against Russia
• Hybrid threats
• European security
• NATO credibility
• Strategic resolve
• Future security scenarios

Strategic Foresight in Workshop II

Participants will use scenario-based discussions and strategic foresight exercises to explore potential future developments.

The workshop will encourage participants to consider possible responses to an increasingly uncertain security environment.

Relevant questions may include:

• How can European countries sustain support for Ukraine?
• What does credible deterrence require?
• How should NATO respond to hybrid threats?
• How could the European security order evolve?
• What challenges could affect NATO’s credibility?
• What strategic choices might European Allies face in the future?

This workshop may be particularly suitable for applicants interested in international security, Russia and European security, Ukraine, deterrence, strategic studies, foreign policy and NATO policy.

Who Can Apply for NATO’s Future Seminar 2026?

The programme has specific eligibility requirements.

Applicants should:

1. Be students, researchers or young professionals.
2. Be 35 years old or younger.
3. Hold citizenship of a NATO member country or Partnership for Peace member country.
4. Demonstrate a strong interest in transatlantic security and defence policy.
5. Be willing to actively contribute to discussions throughout the seminar.

Eligible Academic and Professional Backgrounds

The application form specifically provides options including:

• Bachelor’s student
• Master’s student
• PhD candidate / researcher
• Young professional
• Military personnel
• Other

Applicants should select the category that most accurately describes their current status.

Is YATA Germany Membership Required?

No.

Membership in YATA Germany is explicitly not required to apply for the seminar.

The application form does ask applicants whether they are currently YATA members and, where applicable, for their national chapter and position. However, applicants who are not members can still apply.

Age Requirement

Applicants must be up to 35 years old.

This makes the programme particularly relevant to emerging professionals and early-career researchers seeking to build experience in international security and defence policy.

Applicants should ensure that their date of birth satisfies the programme’s age requirement.

The application form specifically requests the applicant’s date of birth.

Citizenship Requirement

Citizenship is a key eligibility condition.

Applicants must hold citizenship in either:

• A NATO member country, or
• A Partnership for Peace (PfP) member country.

The application form explicitly states:

“Citizenship (must be NATO or PfP state)”

Applicants should therefore confirm that their country of citizenship qualifies before applying.

This is not an unrestricted international seminar open to applicants from every country in the world.

Countries and Regions Represented

Because eligibility is based on NATO and PfP membership, the eligible applicant pool spans countries across several regions, particularly:

• Europe
• North America
• Partner countries in Europe and Eurasia
• Other countries participating in NATO’s Partnership for Peace framework

Applicants should rely on the current NATO and PfP membership lists when confirming their eligibility, as membership and partnership arrangements can change.

Does Race or Ethnicity Matter?

The published eligibility criteria do not specify a race, ethnicity or racial background requirement.

Eligibility is instead based primarily on:

• Age
• Citizenship
• Academic or professional status
• Interest in transatlantic security and defence
• Willingness to participate actively

Therefore, applicants should not assume that they must belong to a particular racial or ethnic group to qualify.

What Should Applicants Submit?

The application requires several pieces of information and supporting material.

Applicants should be prepared to provide:

• Email address
• Full name
• Citizenship
• Date of birth
• Sex
• Current status
• Current institution or employer
• YATA membership status
• Preferred workshop
• Cover letter
• CV

Applicants are also asked whether they require accommodation and partial travel reimbursement.

Cover Letter Requirements

One of the most important application components is the cover letter.

The cover letter must be no more than 500 words.

Applicants are asked to explain:

1. Their motivation for participating in NATO’s Future Seminar 2026.
2. How their academic or professional background relates to the seminar topic.
3. Their preferred workshop.

A strong cover letter should therefore be specific rather than generic.

How to Write a Strong Cover Letter

Applicants should consider structuring their cover letter around three central questions.

Why do you want to attend?

Explain what attracts you to the seminar and why its theme is relevant to your academic or professional interests.

Avoid generic statements such as simply saying that you are “passionate about international relations.”

Instead, explain the specific security, defence or transatlantic issue you want to understand better.

What relevant experience do you have?

Connect your academic studies, research, professional experience, military experience, policy work or other relevant activities to the seminar’s theme.

For example, an applicant could discuss experience involving:

• NATO studies
• European defence
• Security policy
• International relations
• Strategic studies
• Defence economics
• Military affairs
• Foreign policy
• Ukraine
• European security
• International organizations

Why did you select your preferred workshop?

Applicants should clearly indicate whether they prefer:

• Workshop I: Advancing European Defence, or
• Workshop II: Beyond the Battlefield

The explanation should show a genuine connection between the applicant’s interests and the selected workshop.

CV Requirement

Applicants must upload a CV as part of the application.

The CV should clearly present relevant:

• Academic qualifications
• Research experience
• Professional experience
• Internships
• Policy activities
• Military experience
• Publications
• Conferences
• Leadership activities
• Security or defence-related work

Applicants should prioritize information relevant to the seminar rather than submitting an unnecessarily long CV.

Accommodation and Travel Support

The seminar provides practical support to selected participants.

Accommodation

Accommodation will be provided for the duration of the seminar.

This is particularly useful for participants traveling to Berlin from other cities or countries.

Travel Reimbursement

Partial travel reimbursement is available up to:

€100 for travel within Germany

and

€200 for international travel.

Applicants should understand that the reimbursement is capped and therefore may not cover the full cost of travel.

The application form asks applicants whether they require partial travel reimbursement.

Seminar Location

NATO’s Future Seminar 2026 will take place in:

Berlin, Germany

The seminar will run from:

6–8 November 2026

The three-day programme is designed to combine policy discussions, expert engagement, workshops, networking and strategic foresight activities.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for NATO’s Future Seminar 2026 is:

6 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST.

Applicants should submit their applications before the specified date and time.

Because the deadline is given in Central European Summer Time (CEST), applicants applying from outside Central Europe should convert the deadline to their local time.

Submitting early is recommended to avoid last-minute problems with:

• CV uploads
• Cover letter preparation
• Internet connectivity
• Application-form errors
• File-size issues

How to Apply

Applicants should complete the official Application Form and provide all required information.

The application process involves:

1. Confirming your eligibility.
2. Providing your email address.
3. Entering your full name.
4. Providing your NATO/PfP citizenship.
5. Entering your date of birth.
6. Providing your current status.
7. Entering your institution or employer.
8. Indicating YATA membership status.
9. Selecting your preferred workshop.
10. Preparing a maximum 500-word cover letter.
11. Uploading your CV.
12. Indicating whether accommodation is required.
13. Indicating whether travel reimbursement is required.
14. Providing the required consent for personal-data processing.
15. Submitting the completed form before the deadline.

Application Strategy

Applicants can strengthen their chances by making their application directly relevant to the seminar.

Connect Your Background to the Theme

Do not simply list your qualifications.

Explain how your studies or professional experience have prepared you to contribute to conversations about European defence, NATO, transatlantic security or related subjects.

Choose Your Workshop Carefully

The application specifically asks for a preferred workshop.

Applicants should select the workshop that most closely aligns with their interests and experience.

Demonstrate Active Participation

The programme is designed around dialogue and interaction.

Applicants should show that they can contribute ideas, ask informed questions and engage constructively with other participants.

Research Current Security Debates

A strong applicant should be familiar with the major issues surrounding:

• NATO
• European defence
• Transatlantic relations
• Russia
• Ukraine
• Collective defence
• Deterrence
• Defence capabilities
• Burden-sharing
• Hybrid threats

This knowledge can help make the motivation statement more specific and persuasive.

APPLY HERE

Why Apply to NATO’s Future Seminar 2026?

For emerging security professionals, the seminar can provide an opportunity to combine learning, networking and practical exposure.

Participants can benefit from:

• Expert engagement
• Strategic foresight training
• Policy discussions
• Interactive workshops
• Professional networking
• Exposure to German security institutions
• Cross-border collaboration
• Accommodation support
• Partial travel reimbursement
• Interaction with peers from NATO and PfP countries

The seminar may be especially valuable for individuals considering careers in:

• International security
• Defence policy
• Diplomacy
• International relations
• Government
• Military affairs
• Strategic studies
• Foreign policy
• European security
• NATO-related institutions
• International organizations
• Policy research

Key Facts About NATO’s Future Seminar 2026

Visit HERE for more information about the NATO’s Future Seminar 2026 in Berlin.

Conclusion

NATO’s Future Seminar 2026 offers a valuable opportunity for young students, researchers and professionals interested in the future of European defence, NATO, transatlantic relations and international security.

Taking place in Berlin from 6–8 November 2026, the three-day seminar will bring together approximately 30 participants from NATO and Partnership for Peace countries for intensive discussions, expert engagement, interactive workshops, strategic foresight exercises and professional networking.

The 2026 programme is particularly timely because it examines Europe’s growing responsibility for collective defence while considering how this increased responsibility can coexist with the transatlantic partnership at the heart of NATO.

Participants can choose between two major thematic workshops. The first focuses on European defence capabilities, readiness, interoperability and burden-sharing, while the second examines deterrence, strategic resolve, hybrid threats and European support for Ukraine.

Beyond the intellectual programme, selected participants will receive accommodation for the duration of the seminar and partial travel reimbursement of up to €100 for travel within Germany or €200 for international travel.

The opportunity is specifically intended for students, researchers and young professionals aged 35 or below who are citizens of NATO or Partnership for Peace member countries. Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in transatlantic security and defence policy and be prepared to participate actively throughout the seminar. Membership in YATA Germany is not required.

Applicants must submit a CV and a cover letter of no more than 500 words, explaining their motivation, relevant academic or professional background and preferred workshop.

The application deadline is 6 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST.

For eligible emerging security professionals who want to deepen their understanding of NATO, European defence and the future of transatlantic security while building an international professional network, NATO’s Future Seminar 2026 presents an opportunity to engage directly with important strategic debates shaping the Alliance.