The Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) will be the premier ground-based optical-infrared facilities from the 2030s onward. These telescopes will provide diffraction-limited spatial resolution unrivaled from the ground or space, as well as sensitivity commensurate with their large apertures. The experience of Hubble and Spitzer, coupled with ground-based 8–10-meter telescopes, demonstrates the power of combining these observatories to carry out unprecedented, complementary, and even unexpected science. In just over one year, JWST has enabled breakthroughs in virtually all areas of astrophysics, by virtue of its wavelength coverage, sensitivity, and angular resolution. The upcoming ELTs will be the ideal complement and successors to JWST.

The goal of this series of conferences is to review and highlight recent JWST discoveries and study the implications for the science operations of ELTs and planning of their instrumentation and user services. The conferences will cover all areas of astronomy and are open to observers, instrument builders, and theorists. To maximize participation and minimize travel time and carbon footprint, the series of conferences will consist of three coordinated events. The first one will be held in Los Angeles. The second and third ones will be held in Europe and Asia, respectively.

Main topics: Fundamental physics and cosmology, high-redshift galaxies, galaxy formation and the intergalactic medium, supermassive black holes, the Milky Way and nearby galaxies, stars, time-domain astronomy, exoplanets, the Solar System, and instrumentation.