EU Space Days 2026 took place in Nicosia, Cyprus, on 26 and 27 May, bringing the European space community together for the EU’s annual event dedicated to space policy, industry, innovation, and strategic autonomy.

Organised under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, the event signalled Cyprus’s growing role in the European space ecosystem. Participants included representatives from EU institutions, Member States, EU agencies, space organisations, industry, SMEs, start-ups, investors, researchers, and defence and security stakeholders, making the event both a policy forum and a space for business exchange and networking. As a Member State increasingly engaged with the space sector and as holder of the Council Presidency, Cyprus gave the event an institutional framing which reinforced a recurring message across both days: space is a shared European responsibility, with an expanding number of Member States becoming active participants. This was also reflected in the months leading up to the event. In March 2026, Cyprus completed the first activation and operational use of secure satellite communication services delivered through Governmental Satellite Communications (GOVSATCOM), following the launch of the service’s initial operations in January 2026. Space is increasingly central to the EU’s security, resilience, and economic future. Against that backdrop, EU Space Days 2026 brought together senior EU decision-makers, industry leaders, start-ups, and researchers in Nicosia, Cyprus, for two days of high-level discussions on the state and direction of Europe’s space endeavours. Organised under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, the event covered topics ranging from defence and strategic autonomy to workforce development and quantum communications. In this Observer, we take a look at some of the key highlights and forward-looking messages.

Links:
EU Space Days 2026