The Economist Fusion Fest 2026, London, UK

Fusion energy is moving from theoretical promise to commercial reality. Record levels of public and private investment, advancing reactor designs and growing policy support are accelerating the timeline, raising critical questions about how and when fusion will reach the grid.

The Economist's Fusion Fest 2026 convenes senior figures from government, industry, finance and research to take stock of where the technology stands and what it will take to deliver fusion at scale. The event offers a unique platform to engage with the leaders and decision-makers shaping the future of fusion energy.

Taking place one day before The Economist's Nuclear Summit (15 April), Fusion Fest gives delegates the opportunity to attend both events and participate in the full conversation on fission, fusion and the future of energy.

Who attends:

Fusion Fest brings together a high-level audience of energy executives, policymakers, institutional investors, technology developers, regulators and researchers, providing unmatched opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange across sectors.

Topics on the agenda include:

• Accelerating commercialisation: the technical, financial and regulatory milestones required to move fusion from the laboratory to the grid, and realistic timelines for doing so
• Fusion in the global energy mix: how fusion will complement and strengthen existing zero-carbon sources including wind, solar and nuclear fission, providing stable, continuous baseload power
• Regulatory frameworks: the policies, licensing structures and international cooperation needed to create a supportive environment for fusion development and deployment
• Investment and finance: funding trends, emerging investment opportunities and the risk-reward profile of backing fusion ventures at different stages of maturity
• Beyond power generation: fusion's potential to drive advances in medical imaging, cancer treatment, materials science and space exploration
• Decarbonising heavy industry: how fusion energy could help reduce emissions in some of the hardest-to-abate sectors, including steel, cement and chemicals
• Technical challenges: the latest research and engineering breakthroughs needed to make fusion a practical, scalable energy source
• Workforce and skills: the education, training and talent pipeline required to support a growing fusion industry
• Geopolitics of fusion: how the global race to commercialise fusion technology is reshaping energy security, international alliances and strategic competition

Why attend:

Fusion Fest is designed to go beyond the hype and provide substantive, informed discussion on the real opportunities and challenges ahead. Whether you are an investor evaluating the sector, a policymaker developing regulatory strategy, or a technology leader building the next generation of fusion systems, this is an essential date in the energy calendar.

More information and registration →