The molecular mechanisms by which dendritic cells (DC) favor naive T cell survival in mice have been examined in co‐cultures of DC and naive CD4⁺ T cells. Naive T cells can survive in the presence of IL‐4 or IL‐7, but DC‐induced T cell survival requires direct cell‐cell interactions and does not seem to be mediated by these or other soluble factors. Classical MHC II molecules on DC are not necessary for T cell survival as long as hybrid AαEβ MHC class II molecules are present. In the total absence of MHC II molecules on DC, T cell survival is reduced by half, and CD3ζ phosphorylation fully disappears. These results contrast with the classical view that naive T cell survival is associated with CD3ζ phosphorylation and depends mostly on IL‐7 and MHC‐TCR interactions. We demonstrate that DC‐induced T cell survival is a multi‐factorial process that also involves CD28, LFA‐1 and another (as yet undefined) surface molecule that requires the activity of src (but not phosphatidylinositol‐3‐) kinase.