SpaceX IPO: Elon Musk confirms 2026 plan but hints at a major shift in strategy — is this the moment investors have been waiting for?

Elon Musk has publicly responded to ongoing speculation about a potential SpaceX initial public offering, confirming that a report on the company’s plans is “accurate.” The comment came through a post on X, where the SpaceX CEO reacted to an article from Ars Technica analysing why a SpaceX IPO appears likely at this moment. Musk’s acknowledgement adds weight to a series of recent reports from major US publications suggesting that the company is preparing for a public listing in 2026.

In his post, Musk wrote, “As usual, Eric is accurate,” referring to Ars Technica journalist Eric Berger. Berger’s article, titled “Here’s why I think SpaceX is going public soon,” outlined several key reasons that support the likelihood of a SpaceX IPO. The analysis highlighted the rise of artificial intelligence and the strong outlook for data centres as significant factors shaping the timing of the offering.

Berger’s piece described the shift toward embracing an IPO as “a major change in thinking” for Musk, who had previously avoided the idea of taking SpaceX public. According to Berger, Musk earlier resisted such a move because he did not enjoy the scrutiny that comes with a public listing, based on his experience with Tesla, and believed shareholder expectations for financial returns could conflict with his long-term plan of establishing a human presence on Mars.

Musk’s response comes shortly after multiple major US publications reported that SpaceX is preparing for an IPO in 2026. Reports from The Information and The Wall Street Journal last week suggested that the company’s move toward a public listing had become increasingly likely.

This week, Bloomberg added further details, stating that SpaceX is considering raising more than $30 billion through the IPO. The report noted that the offering might take place as early as mid-to-late 2026, though it could also be delayed to 2027 depending on market conditions. Reuters echoed the timeline in its own report, saying that the company is targeting a fundraising figure of more than $25 billion. People familiar with the matter told Reuters that the listing could push the company’s valuation above $1 trillion.

According to Bloomberg, the potential IPO is linked closely to the company’s expectations of a substantial increase in revenue from its Starlink telecommunications business. Starlink has been expanding globally, and the reported projections suggest that the service’s growing revenue base may be a central pillar supporting the company’s decision to pursue a public offering.

Reuters added that SpaceX has started discussions with banks about the logistics of the IPO, with early conversations pointing to a launch window around June or July of 2026.

SpaceX is currently the world’s second most valuable private startup, according to Crunchbase data, ranking just behind OpenAI. If the IPO proceeds at the valuations outlined in the reports, it would represent the second-largest completed public share sale in history, trailing only Saudi Aramco’s $1.7 trillion listing in 2019.