Lessons Learned Workshop 2026

Lessons Learned Workshop 2026

 The NATO Mountain Warfare Centre of Excellence (MW COE) invites the Mountain Warfare Community of Interest to the

Lessons Learned (LL) Workshop
30 November – 3 December 2026
Bled, Slovenia

This LL Workshop is a highly interactive, experience-driven event focused on sharing concrete observations, lessons identified, and lessons learned from:

• Mountain warfare training and courses
• Participation in national and multinational exercises
• Operational deployments and real-world missions
• The use of new technologies (e.g. drones, C4I solutions) in mountainous terrain

Artificial Intelligence will be an omnipresent element throughout the workshop, both as a subject of discussion and as an enabling tool supporting analysis, interaction, and lesson development.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Present experiences, successes, and challenges
• Discuss what works, what does not, and why
• Compare national approaches and identify common trends
• Shape future MW COE projects and updates to existing publications

Participants are encouraged and expected to share their own lessons and concrete examples from training, exercises, and operations. The workshop is designed for practical, output-oriented discussions in a collegial environment, using a limited number of focused case studies to ensure depth and real added value. The objective is to produce an impactful outcome supporting improved performance of participants and their organisations in future mountain operations.

Intended Audience

• Mountain and cold weather warfare schools and training centres
• Mountain and cold weather operations units and formations, including those with combat experience in mountainous terrain from NATO and Partnership for Peace nations
• Other NATO and Partner Centres of Excellence; JATEC and LANDCOM representatives
• National Mountain Warfare Lessons Identified / Lessons Learned personnel
• UN observers from mountainous NATO and PfP nations with UN mission and mountain operations experience
• SMEs in drones, sensors, and C4I relevant to mountain operations

Some sessions may include information that is NATO CLASSIFIED, releasable to PfP nations; details will be provided in due course.

Workshop Structure

• Day 1 (30 Nov): Arrival and registration; icebreaker event in the evening
• Days 2–3 (1–2 Dec): Working days
• Day 4 (3 Dec): Wrap-up session in the morning

Lecture format:
Each contribution consists of approximately 15 minutes presenting an experience from a specific event, followed by approximately 30 minutes of moderated discussion.

Participation & Registration

Registration will be conducted via the MW COE website, where participants can register as attendees or lecturers and indicate their intended contribution.

• Registration deadline (RSVP): NLT 13 November 2026
• Participation fee: 150 EUR
  • The fee must be paid within 10 days of registration to secure a place; otherwise, the registration will be cancelled.
  • The fee includes the icebreaker event, two working lunches, and refreshments throughout the workshop.

Accommodation

Accommodation will be pre-reserved at Hotel Astoria, Bled, which also serves as the workshop venue, with all sessions conducted on-site.

More information about the hotel Astoria can be found: https://www.hotelastoria-bled.com/en

The link for registering directly with the hotel at the special accommodation rate for participants will be made available in due course.

Engage. Learn. Advance – together in mountain warfare.