New Zealand Act in Space 2026

ActInSpace is coming to New Zealand in 2026!

Our event will be hosted at GRIDAKL in Auckland, New Zealand. Organised and delivered by SpaceBase Limited, and made possible by Planet, Aerosopace New Zealand, and GRIDAKL. The competition is open nationwide.

By taking part in ActInSpace® New Zealand, you’ll be taking part in a national competition, bringing together entrepreneurs, students, job seekers, developers and creatives all over the country. For 24 hours, teams come together to work on real-life challenges alongside business mentors and technical experts and to imagine and design innovative services and products that find every day uses for space technologies or data.

The winning team will proceed to the international finals in Bordeux for a chance to win prizes on an international level.

What is ActInSpace?
ActInSpace is a biennial international innovation contest initiated by the French Space Agency (CNES) and co-organized by the European Space Agency (ESA). The event challenges participants worldwide to develop innovative solutions using space technologies, patents, and data .

Key Features:

Global Participation: Engages over 100 cities across five continents, fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for innovation .
24-Hour Hackathon: Teams have 24 hours to tackle real-world challenges, promoting rapid problem-solving and creativity.
Access to Space Technologies: Participants utilize actual space technologies and data provided by CNES, ESA, and other partners to develop their solutions.
Mentorship and Support: Teams receive guidance from industry experts, enhancing the quality and feasibility of their projects.
Pathway to Entrepreneurship: Winning teams gain opportunities for incubation and support to transform their ideas into viable startups .

ActInSpace 2026 Timeline:

Registration: Opens 3 Nov 2025
Hackathon Dates: January 30–31, 2026
International Finals: April 1–2, 2026, in Bordeaux, France

Details on Local Competition

ActInSpace has been created by CNES in 2014 and has been co-organized since in collaboration with ESA. The 2026 edition is operated by Telecom Valley and the SAFE cluster.

Source: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MpH9z4vZnHhYdvmMIYQyht69H4krUye9mEWSXmn81as
Courtesy of Pauli Sosa (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulisosaw/)