Will space become a conflict zone? On September 14, 2026, Troy Meink, U.S. Secretary of the Air Force, stated that the United States is deploying “space control weapons.” The announcement was immediately picked up by media everywhere. While the existence of space weapons programs has long been known, it remains exceptional for a senior U.S. official to talk about them so openly. The statement raises the question of the risk of escalation, as China is also seeking to strengthen its military presence in space.

Protecting space systems is becoming ever more vital, as our societies and our defense increasingly depend on them. Identifying the threats they face, along with the options the major powers are considering to counter them, will be at the heart of the discussions at the NextSpace 2026 symposium, which will take place on October 1 and 2 at the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux, and will welcome more than 200 professionals and future professionals from the space sector.

Way4Space has just published the detailed NextSpace program: two days of panels, keynotes and fireside chats will bring together more than thirty international speakers from the institutional, industrial, academic and operational worlds in Bordeaux.

Four panels to unpack the challenges of space defense

From the opening, the panel Emerging Dynamics in Space Defense: State of Play and New Challenges will set the strategic and legal framework for these two days of discussions, with Laetitia Cesari (Cabinet De Gaulle Fleurance), Clémence Poirier (Center for Security Studies, Zurich), Colonel Pierre Conchon (French Space Command) and Guilhem Penent (DGRIS, French Ministry of the Armed Forces). The discussion will then continue at the international level with International Perspectives on Space Threats and Defensive Counterspace: Kari Bingen

(CSIS), Bleddyn Bowen (Durham University) and Juliana Suß (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik) will compare U.S. and European doctrines in response to the space threat.

The second day will turn to the technological side with the panel Innovative Solutions for On-Orbit Operations: AgenaSpace, Astroscale France, Dassault Aviation and Infinite Orbits to in-orbit maneuvering and intervention, before the symposium closes with Protection, Deterrence and Active Defense, where ArianeGroup, the Defense Innovation Agency, Berlin Space Technologies, HyPrSpace and U-Space will discuss active defense strategies for space systems.

HyPrSpace will also inaugurate its new factory that very morning, a sign of how busy Bordeaux’s space calendar is that week, and of the growth of the sector in the region.

A variety of formats for a rich program

Alongside the four panels, Thursday will feature three keynotes: the ARES program (Space Action and Resilience), presented by the DGA, France’s defense procurement agency, the use of U.S. and Chinese military spaceplanes, led by Dassault Aviation, and Europe and allies, by General André Lanata (DragonFly Partners).

On Friday morning, three fireside chats will allow participants to explore the gray areas of the topic together in greater depth: allied cooperation on Defensive Counterspace Operations, the ambiguity between defensive and offensive postures outside of conflict, and the technological challenges facing the sector.

Many other discussions and talks will round out the exploration of the theme over these two days.

The symposium as a meeting place

Beyond the conference sessions, NextSpace 2026 offers many opportunities for experts, industry players and institutional representatives to meet. The SpaceTech Village brings together space-sector actors around their innovations and projects. Over the two days, visitors can discover the booths, meet professionals and discuss the sector’s latest technological advances.

On Thursday evening, the networking evening will set sail aboard the Sicambre, for a cocktail dinner on the Garonne facing the Port de la Lune.

Book your place

Professionals from the space, defense and innovation sectors, and anyone interested in these strategic issues, are invited to book the last remaining places to take part in this landmark event.

Passes are available for one day or for both days, with a dedicated student rate allowing future space-sector professionals to attend NextSpace 2026.

Practical information

📅 Dates: October 1 & 2, 2026

🗺 Venue: La Cité du Vin – Fondation pour la culture et les civilisations du vin, Bordeaux

🎫 Registration: nextspace.way4space.com

📧 PRESS CONTACT:

About Way4Space

Way4Space is a meeting place for the space ecosystem, open to other sectors of the economy. A place for open innovation, project maturation and “de-risking.” The place where space comes to life in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

About NextSpace

An inspiring annual event that aims to bring about a cultural, scientific and technological model for European space, drawing in particular on the region’s strengths and players.