ESA – ESA’s highlights for 2026

Agency

15/12/2025
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The European Space Agency looks forward to another busy year in 2026 – this list of events will be updated regularly. Times and dates are subject to change. 

Sophie Adenot press conference, EAC, Germany 
5 January 
Speak to ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot in her last European media event before launch on her long-duration εpsilon mission to the International Space Station. Sophie will be joined by Director General Josef Aschbacher and Director of Human and Robotic Exploration Daniel Neuenschwander for a Q&A session in English and French. The press conference will also be webcast. 
More information: Register by 18 December ESA – Media invitation: Press conference with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot  

Director General’s annual press conference, ESA HQ, Paris 
8 January
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher will present upcoming highlights and answer media questions. A webcast and replay will be available on the ESA website.
To register: ESA – Media Invitation: ESA Director General’s Annual Press Briefing

World Economic Forum, Davos 
19-23 January
Space will again be on the agenda during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum under the theme ‘A Spirit of Dialogue’.
More information: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/  

18th European Space Conference, Brussels 
27-28 January  
European Union officials, European ministers and senior space agency figures meet in Brussels to debate some of the biggest issues in space policy and the space industry.  
More information: 18th European Space Conference – Meet the leaders shaping Europe’s future 

Hera deep space manoeuvre 
February 
In preparation for arrival at the Didymos system in November, Hera will undergo a deep space manoeuvre in February, and an ‘impulsive rendezvous’ in October.
More information: ESA – Hera mission overview 

Munich Security Conference
13-15 February
Pressing issues in international security policy will be discussed at the 62nd Munich Security Conference.
More information: https://securityconference.org/en/  

Sophie Adenot εpsilon mission, Kennedy Space Center 
No earlier than 15 February 
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot from France will join the Crew 12 launch on board the Dragon capsule. Her εpsilon mission is expected to last six months, during which additional activities such as inflight calls will be announced to media as they become available. 
More information: ESA – Human and Robotic Exploration  

Phi-Lab Ireland launch 
February 
The official launch of Phi-Lab Ireland along with the second open call. ESA Phi-Lab Ireland is a consortium of Irish Manufacturing Research and the AMBER Research Centre at Trinity College Dublin and funded by the European Space Agency and Enterprise Ireland.  
More information: https://www.esaphilab.ie/ , https://commercialisation.esa.int/phi-labnet/  

First Ariane 64 launch, Europe’s Spaceport, French Guiana  
Q1 
As Ariane 6 ramps up its launch cadence, this year will see the debut of the Ariane 64 version. Ariane 6 is available in two versions depending on the performance required: a version with two boosters, called Ariane 62; and Ariane 64 with four boosters. Ariane 64 can launch payloads of approximately 11.5 tonnes into geostationary transfer orbit and 21.6 tonnes into low Earth orbit. 
More information: https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Ariane_6_overview   

LEO-PNT Celeste launch, New Zealand  
Q1  
This is the first launch of the Celeste demonstrator mission that will feature a 10-satellite constellation to assess how a low Earth orbit fleet can work in combination with Galileo, EGNOS and other GNSS to increase overall resilience and robustness in positioning, navigation and timing.  
More information: ESA – Celeste 

Space Rider drop test, Salto di Quirra test range, Sardinia, Italy 
Q1  
A significant milestone in the development of ESA’s reusable space vehicle, a system drop-test campaign of Space Rider will feature a full mockup of the reentry module that will have the same weight, aerodynamic shape and landing gears as the real thing will demonstrate the overall landing and touchdown. 
More information: ESA – Space Rider 

Plato media day, ESTEC – to be confirmed
Q1
Meet the team and the spacecraft that will hunt for rocky planets in the habitable zones of other stars. ESA’s Plato, PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars, will be in the final stages of preparation for launch on its mission to measure exoplanets and characterise their host stars. 
More information: ESA – Plato 

Themis hop test, Esrange Space Centre, Sweden 
Q1 
Themis is set to be the first European demonstration of a full-scale vertical take-off and landing rocket element that uses cryogenic propulsion. 
More information: ESA – Future space transportation, SALTO: Reusable strategic space launcher technologies & operations  

Amsterdam Space Symposium, Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam 
3-4 March 
Conference bringing together agencies in space and defence domains alongside space industry participants.  
More information: Amsterdam Space Symposium 

Space Comm Expo, London
5-6 March
Annual space commercialisation and investors’ event.
More information: Home – Space-Comm Expo 

ESA Council, hosted by Switzerland 
18-19 March 
Post-council media information session to follow. Registration details and connections for those attending remotely will be sent by ESA media relations.  

Artemis II launch, Kennedy Space Center 
no later than April  
Four astronauts will embark on a circumlunar mission, powered by the Space Launch System and the European Service Module. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, all from the United States, and Jeremy Hansen of Canada will crew the mission. They are expected to splash down back on Earth 10 days after launch. Media accreditation for the launch closed in December 2025, further media opportunities will be announced on ESA channels as they become available.  
More information: ESA – Orion, https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/  

Cyprus becomes an Associate Member 
Early Q2 
Following the signing of an Associate Agreement in October 2025, Cyprus becomes an ESA Associate Member, joining Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
More information: ESA – Cyprus joins European Space Agency as an Associate Member 

FLEX and Sentinel-3C clean room visit, Cannes
April
Last chance to see Europe’s Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) and Sentinel-3C spacecraft before they are shipped for launch. 
More information: ESA – FLEX, ESA – Sentinel-3 

Space Symposium Colorado Springs  
13-16 April 
Annual gathering of global space professionals.  
More information: 41st Space Symposium – Registration is now open! 

Smile launch, Europe’s Spaceport, French Guiana  
Launch window 8 April—7 May   
The Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (Smile) is a joint mission between ESA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Using X-ray and UV cameras, as well as particle and magnetic field detectors, Smile will give humankind its first complete look at how Earth reacts to streams of particles and bursts of radiation from the Sun. Launching on board a Vega-C.  
More information: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Smile 

Cybersecurity press day, ESEC
May
Last chance for media to see the ultra-secure facility and ESA’s European Space Security and Education Centre in Belgium.
More information: ESA – ESA ESEC 

MetOp SG-B1 cleanroom visit, Toulouse 
May 
See Europe’s low Earth orbit meteorological satellite in preparation for launch in Q4. 
More information: ESA – MetOp Second Generation 

EGU General Assembly, Vienna 
3-8 May 
Presentations and updates covering all disciplines of the Earth, planetary, and space science.  
More information:  https://egu26.eu/  

Space Summit for a Resilient Future, Toulouse, France 
12-13 May 
An international gathering to highlight how space contributes to risk anticipation, natural disaster preparedness, crisis management, and the reinforcement of security and sovereignty in an increasingly unpredictable environment.  
More information: Landing Page – Space Summit For Resilience  

European Launcher Challenge 
Q2 
Following funding commitments at ESA’s Ministerial Council in November 2025, the second stage tendering process will open with a view to frame contract signature later in 2026. 
More information: ESA – European Launcher Challenge 

Astronaut Reserve graduation
June
ESA’s astronaut reserve completes training, designed to equip participants with relevant technical and operational expertise for space missions, increasing their readiness to step into specific mission training quickly if required. 
More information: ESA – The ART of training 

ECSITE annual conference, Gothenburg 
2-4 June 
Annual gathering of those working in or supporting the field of science engagement including science centres, museums, science festivals and universities. 
More information: Ecsite – Conference 

2nd IAF Global Space Conference on Climate Change (GLOC 2026), Kigali, Rwanda 
2-4 June
Under the theme ‘Uniting Space and Earth for Climate Resilience’, GLOC2026 will address topics of interest in relation to space and climate change.  
More information: The IAF Global Space Conference on Climate Change 2026 

ILA Berlin 
10-14 June 
Biennial event bringing together aerospace and defence industries and their suppliers with multiple stages hosting dozens of speakers, and hundreds of exhibitors at the Berlin Expo Center next to Berlin Brandenburg Airport. There will be public days on 13 and 14 June.  
More information: ILA Berlin 26 | Homepage | ILA Berlin  

ESA Council at headquarters, Paris
16-17 June 
Media information session expected to follow. Registration and connection information will be sent by ESA media relations team.  

Euclid intermediate data release aka Galactic Bulge Survey
24 June
Euclid is a space survey mission dedicated to investigate the origin of the accelerating expansion of the Universe and the nature of dark energy, dark matter and gravity. Before the first data release in October, an interim data release will be made.
More information: Euclid – ESA Science Programme 

MTG-I 2 launch 
Q2/Q3 
The second of the Meteosat Third Generation – Imager fleet will be renamed Meteosat-14 after commissioning. Scheduled for launch with an Ariane 6 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. 
More information: ESA – meteosat third generation 

Farnborough International Airshow, United Kingdom  
20-24 July 
ESA will be present at the Farnborough International Airshow in July. FIA2026 will bring together aerospace and defence operators for a week with the final day, 24 July, being open to the public under the title of ‘Pioneers of Tomorrow’.  
More information: Farnborough International Airshow | Farnborough International Airshow 

Total solar eclipse
12 August 
Total solar eclipse visible Greenland, Iceland, north Atlantic, Spain, Portugal (Aveleda e Rio de Onor). Partial eclipse for Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Czechia, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia. 

Final two Cluster spacecraft re-entry
August-September 
The last of the four Cluster spacecraft return from space. Cluster took on the challenge of uncovering how Earth’s magnetosphere responds to the solar wind. After two decades of scientific observations, the spacecraft are assisting long-term sustainability in space as operations scientists and engineers examine how four identical spacecraft re-enter and burn up under different conditions.
More information: ESA – Cluster 

Crew 12 splashdown
Q3
Expected return of Sophie Adenot 

BepiColombo – separation of spacecraft
September
Separation of Mercury Transfer Module from the respective ESA and JAXA orbiters (Mercury Planetary Orbiter – MPO, and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter -Mio), having delivered them safely to the vicinity of Mercury.
More information: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/BepiColombo 

ESA Open Day at ECSAT
September
Date, registration and opening hours to be announced.
Previous editions: ESA – ESA Open Days 2025 

ESA Open Day at ESOC 
September 
Date, registration and opening hours to be announced. 
Previous editions: ESA – ESA Open Days 2025 

Galileo L15 launch 
Q3/Q4 
Launch of Galileo satellites 35 and 36 on Ariane 6 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.  
More information: ESA – Galileo 

Juice Earth flyby
September 
Juice will capture some energy from Earth as it continues its journey to Jupiter to characterise Jupiter’s ocean-bearing icy moons – Ganymede, Europa and Callisto.
More information: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Juice 

Space Defense and Security Summit, Paris
15-16 September 
The second edition of the summit, organised by Novaspace and taking place in Les Salon Hoche.  
More information: Space Defense & Security Summit 

ESA Open Days at headquarters
19-20 September 
Visit the home of European space in Paris, where decisions are made that guide Europe’s activities in space.  
Previous editions: ESA – ESA Open Days 2025 

ESA Open Day at ESRIN
25 September
Once again, ESRIN in Italy will open its doors for European Researchers’ Night, presenting launchers, Earth observation, high-powered computing, innovation, and everything ESA does.
Previous editions: ESA – ESA Open Days 2025

Groundbreaking for new space hub
Q3/Q4
Following an agreement signed between the Portuguese Space Agency and ESA, initial work will take place on the development of a space hub on the Santa Maria island of the Azores, Portugal, including the construction of facilities for a Space Rider landing site.

Flyeye inauguration, Matera, Sicily
Q4
The network of Flyeye telescopes will help monitor the skies for potentially dangerous asteroids.
More information: ESA – Flyeye: ESA’s bug-eyed asteroid hunters 

ESA Open Day at ESAC 
October
Europe’s Science and Astronomy Centre will welcome guests once again to marvel at the wonders of the Universe. 
Previous editions: ESA Open Days 2025

ESA Open Days at ESTEC
3-4 October
Europe’s Space and Technology Research Centre hosts its annual open days, with the first being for people with disabilities, and the second open to all. Registrations book out quickly!  
Previous editions: ESA Open Days 2025

Sentinel-3C launch 
Q3/Q4 
Sentinel-3C will launch on board a Vega-C from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.  
More information: ESA – Sentinel-3 

ESPI Autumn Conference
Q3
The 20 ESPI Autumn Conference, offering informed and in-depth space-related discussions among European and international stakeholders.
More information: https://www.espi.eu/ 

FLEX mission – ready for launch
Q3 
One of ESA’s Earth Explorer missions, the Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) will yield information about the health of the world’s plants. The information gathered will be used to improve our understanding of how carbon moves between plants and the atmosphere and how photosynthesis affects the carbon and water cycles.
More information: ESA – FLEX 

MetOp-SG B1 launch 
Q3/Q4 
Following the first of the MetOp Second Generation launched in August 2025, MetOp-SG B1 is scheduled for launch, like its sibling, also on board an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. 
More information: ESA – MetOp Second Generation 

Pangaea, Lanzarote
September
Field training for astronauts in analogue environments for the Moon and Mars, developing skills for geology and astrobiology.
More information: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/CAVES_and_Pangaea/What_is_PANGAEA   

International Astronautical Congress, Antalya, Türkiye 
5-9 October  
With the tagline ‘The World Needs More Space’, IAC will convene for its 77th congress at the NEST Convention Centre.  
More information: IAC 2026 

ESA Council at headquarters, Paris 
21-22 October 
Media information session to follow. Registration and connection details will be sent by ESA media relations.

Euclid Data Release 1 
October 
The Euclid space telescope is mapping the large-scale structure of the Universe across by observing billions of galaxies, exploring how the Universe has expanded and how structure has formed over cosmic history, revealing more about the role of gravity and the nature of dark energy and dark matter. 
More information: Euclid – ESA Science Programme 

COP31, Antalya, Türkiye 
9-20 November 
Annual meeting of the Conference of the Parties – the decision-making body of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  

Hera arrives at Dimorphos 
Q4 
ESA’s Hera spacecraft will inspect the kinetic impact made by NASA’s Dart mission on Dimorphos, the smaller body of the binary Didymos system. It will also release two CubeSats – Milani, developed by an Italian/Czech/Finnish consortium, and Juventas, developed by Danish company GomSpace and GMV in Romania.
More information: ESA – Hera mission overview 

BepiColombo insertion in Mercury orbit 
November 
BepiColombo will be the second and most complex mission to orbit Mercury. The Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio) will be captured in the orbit of Mercury after a series of manoeuvres. This key event is crucial for the scientific success of the mission. Routine science operations will begin in 2027, opening the door to new evidence about the history of the entire Solar System. 
More information: ESA – BepiColombo 

Space Tech Expo, Bremen 
17-19 November 
Space engineering and technology business to business fair. 
More information: https://www.spacetechexpo-europe.com/  

Gaia first full data release (DR4)
December
This will be a landmark moment in astrometry. Around 500 TB of new data will be released – data will be published for all processed sources, which amount to some 2.7 billion sources in total. Includes some data product types that have never been published before.
More information: Gaia – ESA Science Programme 

ESA Council at headquarters, Paris 
16-17 December
To be followed by a media information session. Registration and connection details will be sent out by ESA media relations.  

Plato mission – ready for launch 
Q4
ESA’s mission Plato, PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars, will use its 26 cameras to study terrestrial exoplanets in orbits up to the habitable zone of Sun-like stars. The mission will measure the sizes of exoplanets and discover exomoons and rings around them. The launch will be on board an Ariane 6 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
More information: ESA – Plato 

M7 selection and ARRAKIHS adoption
date pending
ESA’s Science Programme Committee will announce the decision on selection for the medium mission (M7) launch opportunity from candidate missions M-Matisse, Plasma Observatory and Theseus.
More information: ESA – Final three for ESA’s next medium science mission 

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