Manchester, UK – Nov. 12, 2026 – Cloud Imperium Games invites players to take flight during the annual Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE) 2956, returning to Star Citizen from November 13-27, 2026. As one of Star Citizen’s biggest annual in-universe events, IAE 2956 offers new and returning players the opportunity to play Star Citizen for free throughout the 15-day celebration, with more than 200 ships and ground vehicles available to try at no cost. Hosted in New Babbage on microTech, this year's expo brings together leading aerospace manufacturers from across the galaxy, alongside new ship launches, exclusive in-game rewards and community celebrations.
Take Control of More Than 200 Ships and Vehicles
Throughout IAE 2956, players can access a variety of ships and ground vehicles for free, with rentals available directly from kiosks across the expo floor. Each day features a different selection of exhibitors, giving players the opportunity to explore the range of spacecraft available in the universe, learn more about the manufacturers behind them and get behind the controls of vehicles they may not otherwise have the chance to fly. The Free Fly runs for the full duration of IAE, giving newcomers the opportunity to experience Star Citizen for the first time and existing players to try out a wider range of vehicles.
New Ships Join the Star Citizen Fleet
IAE 2956 will also see several new ships make their debut in Star Citizen, with releases arriving throughout the expo. Players can look forward to new additions from some of the galaxy's leading manufacturers:
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November 13 - Roberts Space Industries (RSI): RSI Galaxy and RSI Skylark, previously available as a companion ship with the Constellation Mk V, will also be available for purchase as a standalone ship for the first time
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November 15 - Anvil Aerospace: Anvil Liberator
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November 17 - Drake Interplanetary: Drake Marauder
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November 21 - Aopoa, Banu, Esperia and Gatac: Gatac Hyun
Celebrating the Community's Best in Show
The expo will also celebrate the winners of this year's Ship Showdown, Star Citizen's annual community-voted competition recognizing the ships players love most. The Final Four Ships will receive exclusive Best in Show vehicle paints and commemorative challenge coins. Those finalists are:
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RSI Perseus
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Drake Ironclad Assault
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Origin M80
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Drake Corsair
Earn Exclusive In-Game Rewards with Twitch Drops
Players can earn additional in-game rewards by watching Star Citizen streams on Twitch during the event. Players will need to link their Star Citizen account to their Twitch account and watch any Drops-enabled Star Citizen stream to unlock in-game rewards. For this campaign, the rewards are:
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2 hours: Venture Undersuit Black/Grey
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4 hours: Venture Black Armor Set
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6 hours: MacFlex Backpack Orange
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Watch for six hours in total to complete the full set
More information on the Twitch Drops can be found here.
The Intergalactic Aerospace Expo 2956 runs from November 13-27, 2026. To learn more about IAE 2956, explore the manufacturer schedule and register to play Star Citizen for free, visit www.iae2956.com.
For the latest Star Citizen news and development updates, visit www.robertsspaceindustries.com.
About Cloud Imperium Games
Cloud Imperium Games is the independent studio behind Star Citizen and Squadron 42, dedicated to pushing the boundaries of game development and interactive storytelling. Founded by legendary game designer Chris Roberts, CIG is committed to creating the most ambitious space simulation universe ever built.
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