40th Annual Small Satellite Conference (SmallSat 2026)
- Date
- 2026-08-23
- Location
- Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, United States
- Host
- Small Satellite Conference (SmallSat)
About this event
The 40th Annual Small Satellite Conference (SmallSat 2026) marks a major milestone for one of the most established gatherings in the small satellite world. For four decades, this conference has brought together the people building, launching, operating, studying, and supporting small spacecraft—and this year’s edition is an opportunity to take stock of how far the field has come while looking closely at what comes next. Held in person at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, SmallSat 2026 is designed for a community that values technical depth, practical insight, and real conversation. If your work touches small satellites in any way—from mission design and systems engineering to operations, research, policy, and commercial strategy—this is the kind of event where the right hallway conversation can be as useful as the formal program. About the Event SmallSat 2026 is a milestone edition celebrating 40 years of the small satellite community. That anniversary matters because the field has evolved from a niche corner of space activity into a core part of how missions are designed, deployed, and scaled across government, commercial, and academic environments. This conference is built around the exchange of ideas, lessons learned, and emerging approaches across the small satellite ecosystem. Rather than focusing on a single niche, it serves as a broad meeting point for the many disciplines that shape successful missions, including engineering, integration, launch planning, operations, research, and program development. As an in-person event, the format is especially valuable for attendees who want direct access to peers and collaborators. The setting supports both structured learning and informal discussion, giving participants a chance to engage with the community in a more immediate and productive way than a purely virtual format can offer. Because this is the 40th annual edition, attendees can also expect a stronger sense of continuity and perspective. The conference is not only about what is new in small satellites today, but also about understanding the long arc of the sector—what has changed, what has matured, and where the next wave of innovation may come from. What to Expect Attendees should expect a conference environment centered on current developments, technical exchange, and cross-sector dialogue. With the small satellite field spanning many mission types and organizational models, the program is likely to be most useful for people who want both broad industry context and detailed discussion from others working close to the hardware, software, and operational realities. You can expect the event experience to include: Conference sessions focused on themes relevant to the small satellite sector Technical and strategic discussions across engineering, mission planning, operations, and ecosystem development Networking opportunities with professionals from industry, government, academia, and the broader space community In-person conversations that help attendees compare approaches, share practical lessons, and identify opportunities for collaboration One of the strengths of a conference like SmallSat is the mix of perspectives in the room. Researchers, builders, operators, and decision-makers often approach the same challenges from different angles, and that creates a setting where attendees can learn not just what is happening, but how others are solving problems in practice. Beyond formal sessions, expect the value of the event to come from the moments in between: discussions in the venue, follow-up conversations after talks, and introductions that can turn into partnerships, hiring leads, research connections, or future mission support. For many attendees, those interactions are a core part of why gathering in person still matters. Why Attend If you work in small satellites, this conference offers a concentrated way to stay connected to the community shaping the field. Instead of piecing together updates from separate sources, you can spend time in a room with people actively contributing to the technologies, missions, and organizations driving current progress. This event is especially useful for attendees who want to: Understand where the small satellite sector is heading Hear how others are approaching shared technical and operational challenges Build or strengthen relationships across the space ecosystem Learn from a long-running conference community with deep roots in the field Place current developments in a broader historical context during this 40th annual edition For newer participants in the space sector, SmallSat 2026 can provide a fast, grounded introduction to the landscape and the people in it. For experienced attendees, it offers a chance to reconnect with the community, compare notes with peers, and engage with how the field is evolving in response to new demands and opportunities. There is also clear value in the milestone nature of this year’s event. A 40th annual conference brings together not just momentum, but memory. That combination can lead to better conversations—ones that are informed by years of experience while still focused on the practical questions that matter now. Practical Details Location: This event takes place in person at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, United States. The venue format supports face-to-face participation, so attendees should plan for an on-site conference experience rather than a remote one. Date and time: The listed start time is Sunday, August 23 at 12:00 AM UTC. If you are traveling from another region, it is worth confirming the timing in your local time zone and planning your arrival accordingly, especially if you want to be settled in before conference activities begin. Because the event is hosted at a convention center, attendees should be prepared for a multi-session environment with movement between conference spaces, scheduled programming, and informal networking throughout the day. Comfortable planning, time management, and leaving room in your schedule for spontaneous meetings will help you get more from the experience. If you are considering whether to attend, the clearest reason is simple: SmallSat 2026 brings the small satellite community together in one place at a meaningful moment for the field. For professionals and organizations that want to stay informed, visible, and connected, this is a strong place to show up.
Who should attend
If your work touches small satellites in any meaningful way, this conference is built for you. - **Engineers and technical leads** working on spacecraft, payloads, subsystems, launch integration, ground systems, or mission operations who want to stay close to where the field is heading. - **Program managers, founders, and business leaders** building satellite companies, services, or space-enabled products and looking to understand the broader ecosystem, market momentum, and practical partnerships. - **Researchers, academics, and students** focused on small satellite technologies, mission design, communications, remote sensing, or related aerospace disciplines who want exposure to the community shaping real missions. - **Government, defense, and institutional stakeholders** evaluating capabilities, suppliers, and emerging approaches across the small satellite landscape. - **Operators and decision-makers** responsible for turning satellite concepts into deployable missions and who value being in the room with the people solving the same challenges. - **Anyone invested in the future of space access and small satellite innovation** who wants to be part of the 40th annual gathering of this long-running community milestone in Salt Lake City.