Next Generation Activities
SUNDAY 3 OCTOBER
IAF Cross-Cultural Communications and Presentation Workshop (upon invitation only)
Time: 09:00- 13:00
Location: Hall 34, First Floor, NEST - Temporary Building
The Cross-Cultural Communications and Presentation Workshop is organized for Emerging Space Leader grant recipients and Next Generation Plenary speakers to provide them with the opportunity to improve their oral skills for their presentations and to sensitize them to the issues of speaking at large multi-cultural events.
IAF International Programme Management Committee (IPMC) Young Professionals Workshop
Time: 09:00- 13:00 (Workshop)
Time: 14:00- 17:00 (Open Session)
Location: Hall 2, Ground Floor, NEST - Temporary Building
What role will Young Professionals play in shaping the future of the space sector? Join the 2026 IAF IPMC Young Professionals Workshop: Open Door Session, where Subject Experts and Young Professionals will share fresh insights and innovative solutions on project management, AI, business innovation, people management, and more.
This is your chance to:
Engage with today’s and tomorrow’s leaders of the space industry Exchange ideas across generations Hear real-world examples and lessons from successful projects
This year’s agenda will focus on:
- Project lifecycle and schedule management
- Change management and communication for impact
- Sustainability and Lifecycle Thinking in Project Management
- Programme Governance across Multi-Nation Collaborations
- The Role of Supply Chain Resilience in Project Success
IAF Young Professionals Networking Event (Restricted to Young Professionals)
Time: 19:00- 21:00
Location: Studio 2, Level T, Gloria Sports Arena
Come mix and mingle with the IAC 2026 Young Professionals as the International Astronatuical Federation (IAF) welcomes you to the IAC 2026 with a cocktail-style networking event!
TUESDAY 6 OCTOBER
IAF Young Professionals Networking Event (Restricted to Young Professionals)
Speed Mentoring Session
Time: 19:00- 21:00
Location: Studio 2, Level T, Gloria Sports Arena
The IAF Workforce Development/Young Professionals Programme Committee (WD/YPP) presents speed mentoring for our IAC young professionals and students! This is your opportunity to meet leaders in the industry and have focused conversations around career development by rotating through tables with mentors. After speed mentoring there will be an open cocktail style reception to continue your conversations. Speed mentoring will take place 19:00-20:00 local time and the reception will take place 20:00-21:00 local time.
WEDNESDAY 7 OCTOBER
IAF Next Generation Plenary "Next Generation Space Infrastructure: Building the Orbital Backbone for a Space-Faring Economy"
Time: 19:00- 21:00
Location: D1 and D2 - NEST Congress and Exhibition Centre
The era of launch constraints is ending; the era of large-scale construction is beginning. As reusable heavy-lift vehicles unlock unprecedented access to orbit, humanity is no longer limited to small, isolated satellites. We are now presented with the engineering and economic challenge of the century: once we can bring massive volumes of material to space at scale, what infrastructure do we build? This session aims to showcase young professionals and emerging leaders who are architects of this new orbital and cislunar economy - those designing the nodes, networks, and logistical backbones that will support a permanent human expansion into the solar system.
IAF Young Professionals Networking Event (Restricted to Young Professionals)
Next Generation Panel: "Emerging Space Nations"
Time: 19:00- 21:00
Location: Studio 2, Level T, Gloria Sports Arena
Space is no longer the exclusive domain of a few superpowers. The democratization of technology and the lowering of barriers to entry have ushered in a new global paradigm where "Emerging Space Nations" are becoming critical drivers of innovation, policy, and cooperation. These nations are not just following the footsteps of established players; they are forging new paths, creating unique regional ecosystems, and redefining what a successful space program looks like in the 21st century. This session aims to showcase young professionals and emerging leaders who are actively driving the growth of space sectors in emerging regions, or who are building bridges between established and emerging space economies.
The event will be followed by a cocktail-style networking event.