Capsuleers,

All good things must come to an end, and Fanfest 2026 has officially been wrapped up.

This year saw the usual amazing presentations, panels, keynotes, and activities, on and off-venue. In addition, attendees donated their blood to the creation of the Capsuleer Edda, and the first annual Creator Awards.

Cradle of War is Coming

One of the highlights of the EVE Fanfest keynote presentation was the announcement of Cradle of War, coming on 9 June. It introduces Military Campaigns, eight new ships, the first non-PvP region of New Eden, and titles and achievements.

If you missed the Fanfest deep dive into all things Cradle of War, you can catch the replay here:

Keynotes Galore

Some say it’s the highlight of the year. Others say it’s the highlight of the decade. In any case, excitement always runs high for the EVE Keynote, which was kicked off by FC Orca.

Top billing went to the Cradle of War expansion, with other highlights including a deep dive into the Capsuleer Edda, a discussion of the recently announced partnership with Google DeepMind, and a look at the overarching Theaters of War, unfolding over the next three expansions.

The EVE Vanguard keynote introduced Operation Avalon, the first alpha playtest for the game, and an important step toward its always-on release next November. Operation Avalon launches 7 July, and will introduce rebuilt combat, new and challenging enemies, an expanded arsenal, and a deeper risk-and-extraction loop. In addition, FC Collins announced that Military Campaigns will be a part of EVE Vanguard in the near future.

The EVE Frontier keynote announced Cycle 6, which brings modular ships, expanded exploration, new environmental dangers that shape how players move and interact with the Frontier, and much more.

Honored Guests

As always, some of our guest speakers stole the show. Guest keynote speaker Paul M. Sutter took us on a life-threatening choose-your-own-adventure journey that taught us How to Die in Space, and Dr. Beth Healey, our other guest keynote presenter, took us on a journey through some of the most hostile environments in the universe.

Among this year’s fantastic player presenters, the Oz dove deep into how politics, patches, and panic make EVE’s markets move, and Warlock Industries walked us through the creation of cinematic content in New Eden

And of course, we were visited by incredible partners like Adrian Bolton from DeepMind and Kevin Boon from Sui, along with Her Excellency, Halla Tómasdóttir, President of Iceland.

Other Highlights

Some of the other highlights of Fanfest 2026 included:

The Capsuleer Edda – capsuleers donated their blood to be mixed in with the ink used to commit the epic poem of New Eden to velum.

The Trade Hub had really cool things happening throughout the festival, including the Knitadel, where crafty capsuleers worked from EVE-themed knitting patterns; the Hyper Wheel, which rewarded lucky visitors with some amazing prizes; the Icelandic Gaming Industry showcase, which gave attendees a glimpse into amazing things happening in the local gaming scene; a miniature painting station, where capsuleers could try their hand at painting EVE ships in a real-life SKINR; tattoo booth, silent auction, and more.

Extracurricular activities are always popular at Fanfest, and this year was no exception. Capsuleers went on a multitude of exciting tours, including the famed pub crawl, guided excursions showcasing some of Iceland’s most iconic locations.

The celebrations reached their peak, as usual, at the Party at the Top of the World, where local legends Gus Gus dazzled the dancing crowd of capsuleers with their spectacular

The Creator Awards were hosted for the first time, honoring the capsuleers who keep the lifeblood of New Eden flowing through their creative spirit. This year’s winners are:

• Streamer of the Year: Erst

• Video Creator of the Year: Lorumerth

• Podcast of the Year: The Oz Report

• Written Content Creator of the Year: EVE University

• New Content Creator of the Year: Warlock Industries

• Non-English Creator of the Year: iBeast

• Third Party App of the Year: RIFT Intel Fusion Tool

• New Developer of the Year: Dexomus Viliana

• Polaris Awards: CaldariPrimePonyClub & Rixx Javix

See You Next Year

That’s it for now. We look forward to seeing you for next year’s Fanfest. That’s right, the dates are in! Fanfest 2027 will take place on 13-15 May. In fact, tickets are already for sale, and you can take advantage of the early-bird prices right now!

Capsuleer Day XXIII is here, and New Eden is burning bright.

Take advantage of the chaos and save up to 20% on select Omega in the New Eden Store, until 24 May, and get brand new empire SKINs for free!

The SKINs, designed by T’amber, turn every engagement into a spectacle, with dynamic effects that respond to repairs, deceleration, and raw distance traveled. Each of the four new SKIN lines celebrates unique aspects of their respective empires. From the faith of the Amarr to the ancient strategies of the Minmatar, the independence of the Gallente to the corporate power of the Caldari.

T’amber, aka Caldari Prime Pony Club, is a prominent, creative figure in the EVE Online community, known for designing unique and visually striking SKINs.

Make sure you don’t miss these deals:

TL;DR

• Cradle of War expansion launches 9 June

• Through Military Campaigns, every capsuleer can shape the outcome of empire wars

• Track and display your accomplishments with Titles & Achievements

• Starter Space is a new non-PvP area for rookies to hone their skills and form bonds before tackling the rest of New Eden

• Experience legendary battles that defined the big empires through a new Epic Arc

• Fly 4 new command carriers and strike fear by empowering your fleet

• 4 new Navy destroyers- fast to skill into, affordable to fly, and devastating in the right hands

Fighting capsuleers,

War is a constant presence in New Eden, and as announced in the EVE Fanfest keynote, it’s ramping up in the new Cradle of War expansion, releasing on 9 June.

Turn the Tide in Cradle of War

Rising tensions among the great empires have sparked a new kind of conflict in New Eden. With Military Campaigns, the war extends beyond the frontlines of combat and calls upon hackers, builders, traders, and soldiers alike. A single capsuleer can decide the outcome of empire wars. Pilots will complete objectives, individually or as a collective unit, to push forward goals set by their faction directors. Whether you succeed or fail in completing these campaigns, there will be a lasting impact on New Eden.

Eight new ships expand your options on the battlefield, for new and seasoned pilots alike. Starter Space gives new pilots a safe place to master the basics of EVE in a community of fellow rookies within Exordium, the first non-PvP region of New Eden. Titles and achievements allow you to display your accomplishments for the whole galaxy.

Your actions can change the course of the war. Time to choose your weapon and turn the tide.

For the Cause

Military Campaigns are seasonal, region-spanning conflicts where the empires call on capsuleers to fight for their cause. They will offer every pilot the chance to participate in their chosen empire’s campaign goals, and to contribute in a variety of ways.

Fight, mine, explore, run logistics. Whatever you choose, your contribution will move the needle on something real and permanent. Help the Gallente master Rogue Drone technology, restore Starkmanir legitimacy with the Minmatar, work on opening a state-controlled corridor from the Caldari warzone to Syndicate, or bring glory to the Amarrian economy and elevate the Emperor Family Academy station. The choice is yours.

Depending on the outcome of each campaign, the cluster will change. If your empire succeeds, monuments will rise, infrastructure will be built, and history will record what you helped create. And if your empire’s campaign fails, that too is permanent. Scars will form, territory will be lost, the universe will remember what happened, and why.

There is no neutrality in this conflict. What you do, or choose not to do, will impact New Eden forever.

New Ships: Command Carriers

The Cradle of War expansion adds command carriers, the most powerful fleet support ships yet to venture into New Eden.

Four formidable vessels have been commissioned by the empires, each capable of running three command burst modules at a time, selecting from armor, shield, skirmish, and information effects, with stronger bonuses than any other ship in the game. This ensures your fleet hits harder, survives longer, and moves better because you are on the battlefield.

Through empowering your fleet, rather than pure firepower, you’ll be the most important vessel on the battlefield, and once your foes realize it, you can be sure they’ll be coming for you.

New Ships: Navy Destroyers

With recent conflicts escalating, the empires have also crafted new navy hulls, each with their own strengths and unique capabilities, to try to manage the converging tides.

Fast to skill into, affordable to fly, and devastating in the right hands, the new navy destroyers are built to dominate in PvE and PvP, but will be accessible early in your Factional Warfare career.

Reputation is Forever

Every capsuleer has a story, and with Cradle of War, you’ll have a new way to display yours. Titles and achievements allow you to display your journey for all to see, marking what you’ve done, pointing toward what comes next, and letting the universe know exactly what they’re dealing with. Completing achievements unlocks titles that visibly define a player’s reputation, while campaign goals also reward titles that help mark a player’s role in New Eden’s evolving conflicts.

Every moment in your journey, the victories, the disasters, all of it, deserves recognition. Display yours proudly.

Enter Sandbox

Even the longest journey begins with the first step. New capsuleers are about to receive an even more powerful start than before, in the first non-PvP space in New Eden, where they will get gradual training and learn to embrace the dangers of the cluster on their own terms.

In Starter Space, rookies can learn through trial and error, with limited risk and reward, earning confidence instead of riches, allowing a new generation of capsuleers to rise, ready to answer the call of war. Players will hone their skills, get the best start to their journey, and immediately start contributing to the ongoing empire conflicts – even from this rookie space!

Starting this summer, all new players will begin the game in Exordium, which contains new starter and career agent systems within a single 53-system region. Placing all new players in the same region will give them opportunities to meet other rookies and create a great environment for corporation recruitment by existing players.

Step Into History

Experience the legendary battles that defined the big four empires in a new Epic Arc. Through hyper-real simulations, you can step into the historical conflicts that shaped New Eden.

Live through the story of each empire, discover what they stand for, and find your place in the war that’s still reshaping the cluster today.

Fanfest Continues!

In addition to Cradle of War, the EVE Fanfest Keynote also announced other exciting news.

The Capsuleer Edda is moving forward, documenting the history of New Eden in the form of epic poetry. During Fanfest, capsuleers are donating blood for the tome.

The Amarr Empire has been confirmed as the sponsor of Alliance Tournament XXIII, returning later this year. Will the Tuskers Co. emerge victorious for the third time in a row and ascend to match the previous record holders of Band of Brothers and Pandemic Legion? Tune in to find out!

A limited edition double “Solar Flare” vinyl record is here, blending past and present in harmony, featuring the stellar soundscapes of Kristian Ross and RealX. That’s right, capsuleers, it turns out that EVE has sound! Experience the evolving universe of New Eden through 17 unforgettable tracks.

EVE Vanguard announced its first alpha playtest, from 7-20 July, codenamed Operation Avalon. You will be able to take on challenging new enemies, expand your arsenal and loadout options, and much more.

Coming 25 June, Frontier Cycle 6 ushers in modular ship building, new enemies, environmental hazards, and deeper exploration.

Tomorrow brings more Fanfest goodness! Make sure to tune into the live stream throughout the day, don’t miss the Cradle of War expansion presentation at 14:00 UTC, and claim the Fanfest-related Twitch drop.

o7