Adaptive pilot signaling is disclosed in which resources allocated to pilot symbols are allowed to vary to more closely match channel conditions. User equipments (UEs) may request different pilot configurations depending on channel conditions. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first set of pilot symbols using a first number of resource elements during a first transmission time interval (TTI), and receiving a second set of pilot symbols using a second number of resource elements during a second TTI. In the embodiment, the first TTI and the second TTI include the same number of resource elements, and the first number of resource elements is different than the second number of resource elements.