 Fusion holds the promise for limitless carbon-free energy and it is getting closer. Plasma physics is at the core of fusion science. At extreme temperatures, electrons are separated from nuclei and a gas becomes a plasma, which can be controlled by magnetic fields while it is heated, leading to the fusion of particles. To tame this plasma at more than 100 million degrees, fusion scientists and engineers are constructing sophisticated machines and developing new materials. In terms of sheer scale, the energy potential of the fusion reaction is superior to all other energy sources that we know on Earth. Fusing atoms together in a controlled way releases nearly four million times more energy than a chemical reaction, including the burning of coal, oil or gas, and four times more than nuclear fission. And thanks to an improved understanding of how plasma works, scientists are now on the forefront to make fusion a reality. Eta, the world's largest fusion experiment, is currently being assembled. It is expected to start operation at the end of 2025. There are also developments in other large-scale experiments such as JT-60SA, JET, Wendelstein 7X and more. Private startups are working on a variety of fusion devices using different technologies and different fuels. International cooperation is key to achieving fusion power and the IAEA Fusion Energy Conference series has shaped the field of fusion research and technology development since 1961. The IAEA International Fusion Energy Conference is the world's largest event in this fascinating field. It is here that the latest advances and scientific technical contributions are going to be presented and discussed. This year, the International Atomic Energy Agency, Eta and the CEA, one of the leading European research organizations on fusion, have teamed up to connect the world's brightest minds in the fusion field and to bring this vision of limitless carbon-free energy one step closer to reality. Welcome to the 28th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference.