From 21 to 25 September 2026, IRFM organised in Aix-en-Provence the 34th edition of the Symposium on Fusion Technology (SOFT). After 18 months of preparation, the event brought together 1,200 participants from 30 countries, featuring 100 oral presentations and 800 scientific posters.
Held across three emblematic venues in Aix-en-Provence (the Grand Théâtre de Provence, the Pavillon Noir and the Conservatoire de Musique), the 2026 edition of the SOFT saw record attendance: more than 1,200 registrations were received, with several hundred people on the waiting list, and an attendance rate of around 95%. Thirty nationalities were represented, 77% of them European.
The 3 auditoriums used for the SOFT 2026
The SOFT 2026 plenary sessions offered a particularly comprehensive overview of the progress of major fusion facilities worldwide, whether national or international, public or arising from private initiatives. The latest results from machines in operation were presented, notably with contributions on WEST (CEA, France), JT-60SA (the tokamak co-operated by Europe and Japan), EAST (China), KSTAR (Korea), W7-X (Germany) and LMJ (CEA, France).
Presentation of WEST results
These presentations were complemented by progress updates on future major fusion facilities and projects, including ITER, the BEST (China) and DTT (Italy) tokamaks, the DONES facility (Spain), designed to test materials under 14 MeV neutron irradiation, and the facilities supported by the private initiatives: SPARC (US) and STEP (UK). Together, they testify to a particularly strong international momentum, both in the operation of existing machines and in the preparation of new facilities, all with the aim of achieving the next steps towards fusion energy. In parallel, the oral and poster sessions presented numerous private initiatives developing new approaches and, at times, disruptive machine concepts.
One morning of the conference was devoted specifically to European strategy, including a presentation by Fusion for Energy (F4E) and a round table bringing together representatives of the European Commission and EUROfusion.
This edition of the SOFT also highlighted the attention paid to renewing the teams of researchers and engineers. Nearly 20% of the poster contributions were led by young researchers, mainly PhD students.
Poster session at SOFT 2026
Their presence reflects the attractiveness of fusion energy research and is vital to support the scientific and technological programme towards fusion power plants, which is a long-term undertaking.
Strong industrial participation was one of the key hallmarks of this edition. The event relied on the commitment of 32 sponsors, including 25 exhibitors, whose support was decisive. Exhibitors benefited from the large number of conference participants to make new contacts.
Beyond the exhibition area, many industry players also contributed to the scientific sessions and poster presentations. This growing involvement reflects the increasing maturity of fusion energy technologies and the tightening of partnerships between public research and industry.
Around the exhibitors’ booths at SOFT 2026
The conference was also an opportunity for participants to discover emblematic places in the region, such as the historic city centre of Aix-en-Provence, a visit to the permanent exhibition at the Musée Granet and, for the more adventurous, exploring the calanques of Cassis or climbing Mont Sainte-Victoire.
Finally, as the conference took place close to Cadarache, the IRFM, with the help of ITER, also organised visits to the WEST tokamak and the ITER site.
Visite to ITER (left) and WEST (right)
Thus, the SOFT 2026 showed, through the diversity of the results presented, the projects under way and the players mobilised, that fusion is currently experiencing unprecedented international momentum, combining scientific progress, technological maturation, industrial investment and the renewal of skills.
The City of Aix-en-Provence and the Tourist Offices of Aix-en-Provence and Cassis played an essential role in the success of the symposium, through their support with security, accommodation and logistics.