Space Industry Conferences Worth Attending in 2026

The space industry runs on relationships, and conferences are where those relationships are built. Whether you are a startup founder pitching investors, a government program manager scouting commercial capabilities, or an engineer exploring career opportunities, choosing the right conferences can meaningfully accelerate your career and business. Here is our curated guide to the events worth attending in 2026, organized by focus area and value proposition.

Major Trade Shows

SATELLITE Conference & Exhibition: March 2026, Washington DC

The largest satellite industry event in the Western Hemisphere, SATELLITE draws 15,000+ attendees from 100+ countries. The exhibition floor features 300+ exhibitors spanning satellite operators, ground equipment manufacturers, launch providers, and service integrators. The conference program covers commercial SATCOM, government programs, emerging technologies, and market trends. For anyone in the satellite communications value chain, SATELLITE is non-negotiable. The show's Washington DC location also makes it a natural venue for meetings with regulatory officials at the FCC, FAA, and Congressional offices.

International Astronautical Congress (IAC): October 2026, Milan

The IAC is the space industry's global gathering, organized by the International Astronautical Federation. With 8,000+ attendees, the IAC covers every domain: human spaceflight, propulsion, Earth observation, space law, education, and more. The technical program features 2,500+ presentations, and the exhibition attracts major space agencies and companies. The IAC rotates locations globally, making it a unique opportunity to engage with the international space community. The 2026 edition in Milan will spotlight European space ambitions and the growing Mediterranean launch corridor.

Space Symposium: April 2026, Colorado Springs

Organized by the Space Foundation, Space Symposium is the premier event connecting military, intelligence, civil, and commercial space professionals. Held at The Broadmoor resort, it attracts 15,000+ attendees including senior DoD, Intelligence Community, and NASA leadership. The Cyber 2026 track addresses space cybersecurity, and the New Generation program engages young professionals. For anyone working in or selling to the national security space sector, Space Symposium is essential.

Specialized Events

SmallSat Conference: August 2026, Logan, Utah

Hosted by Utah State University, SmallSat is the premier technical conference for the small satellite community. With 3,500+ attendees, it is uniquely academic and technical in character, more focused on engineering papers and student competitions than business development. If you are building, launching, or operating small satellites, SmallSat provides unmatched technical depth and networking with the research community that drives smallsat innovation.

World Satellite Business Week (WSBW): September 2026, Paris

Organized by Euroconsult, WSBW is the C-suite event for the global satellite industry. Unlike larger trade shows, WSBW is deliberately intimate (800+ executives) and business-focused. Panel discussions feature CEOs and CFOs from major operators, and the hallway networking is legendarily productive. The Summit for Satellite Financing, held concurrently, brings together investors and operators. If you are raising capital or negotiating partnerships at the executive level, WSBW delivers outsized value.

SpaceCom: January 2026, Orlando

SpaceCom focuses specifically on commercial space applications and cross-industry collaboration. It brings together space companies with potential customers in energy, maritime, agriculture, and infrastructure. The conference program emphasizes use cases and ROI rather than pure technology, making it valuable for business development teams seeking to connect space capabilities with terrestrial market needs.

Defense & Government Events

AMOS Conference: September 2026, Maui, Hawaii

The Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies (AMOS) conference is the leading technical forum for space domain awareness. Attendees include DoD, Intelligence Community, and allied nation representatives, alongside commercial SSA providers. AMOS is highly technical, featuring peer-reviewed papers on tracking, characterization, and space situational awareness. The Maui location and intimate scale (1,200 attendees) foster deep technical exchanges.

National Space Club Goddard Dinner: March 2026, Washington DC

The industry's most prestigious annual dinner, the Goddard Dinner honors contributions to space exploration and features keynotes from NASA administrators, astronauts, and industry leaders. While not a conference per se, the networking at this black-tie event reaches the highest levels of the space establishment.

Startup & Innovation Events

NewSpace Europe: March 2026, Luxembourg

Luxembourg has positioned itself as Europe's commercial space hub, and NewSpace Europe reflects that ambition. The conference features startup pitches, investor panels, and policy discussions centered on European commercial space growth. Luxembourg's space resources law and supportive regulatory environment make this event particularly relevant for companies exploring in-space resource utilization and financial services for space.

TC Sessions: Space (TechCrunch), June 2026, Los Angeles

TechCrunch's space-focused event brings the tech startup ethos to the space industry. Early-stage founders pitch on the Disrupt stage, VCs share investment theses, and established companies showcase breakthrough technologies. The LA location puts attendees close to SpaceX, Relativity Space, Rocket Lab, and the broader Southern California space ecosystem.

Maximizing Your Conference ROI

Attending conferences is expensive: registration fees, travel, hotels, and opportunity cost of time away from the office. Maximize your return by setting specific objectives (meetings to land, contacts to make, information to gather) before each event. Schedule meetings in advance through the event's networking platform. Follow up within 48 hours of returning. And consider volunteering or speaking: presenting a paper or moderating a panel dramatically increases your visibility and credibility.

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