From 20 to 24 April 2026, the 25th International Stellarator–Heliotron Workshop (ISHW-2026) took place in Córdoba, Spain. It is one of the most important international scientific forums in the field of nuclear fusion research, dedicated to the physics and technology of stellarators.
The conference brought together 210 researchers from Germany, the United States, Spain, China, Japan, Austria, Finland, France, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. The programme included 30 invited talks, 19 oral presentations, and 129 poster contributions covering both experimental and theoretical research in fusion plasma physics.
The event gathered representatives of leading academic institutions and private companies working in nuclear fusion, particularly on the development of fusion reactors based on the stellarator concept.
Ukraine and the National Scientific Center “Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology” (NSC KIPT) were represented at this high international level by Yurii Kovtun — Coordinator of the National Contact Point for EURATOM in Ukraine (fusion energy), PhD in Physics and Mathematics, Head of Laboratory at NSC KIPT. Within ISHW-2026, Yurii Kovtun presented results of joint research under the EUROfusion programme and participated in the 55th Stellarator–Heliotron Executive Committee Meeting, held under the auspices of the International Energy Agency (IEA).
A special industry session was also held within ISHW-2026, focusing on opportunities for the industrial sector in the framework of EU public–private partnerships, as well as key challenges on the path toward developing a stellarator-based power plant.
A traditional component of the workshop was the 55th Stellarator–Heliotron Executive Committee Meeting, held within the Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP) of the International Energy Agency. The IEA is an intergovernmental organisation that provides analysis, policy recommendations, and practical solutions to ensure reliable and sustainable energy systems worldwide. Its Technology Collaboration Programme fosters international cooperation in advanced energy technologies.
The strategic goal of the Stellarators and Heliotrons TCP is to advance the physical foundations of stellarator concepts and improve research efficiency by strengthening international collaboration among participating countries. Currently, the programme includes Australia, China, EURATOM (Germany and Spain), Japan, Ukraine, and the United States.
The official conference website: https://ishw2026.com/
The next Stellarator–Heliotron Workshop is scheduled for 2028 in New York City, United States.
