EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 Preview: Everything Aviation Fans Need to Know Before July 20

The world's greatest aviation celebration runs July 20-26 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with the Royal Air Force Red Arrows performing for the first time in years in honor of America's 250th anniversary. Here is the full preview.

Why AirVenture 2026 Is One for the Record Books

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh has been the defining gathering of the aviation world for decades. Pilots, builders, engineers, historians, and aviation fans of every stripe converge on Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for seven days every July, and 2026 is shaping up to be among the most historically significant editions of the event in recent memory. The reason is America's 250th anniversary, which is providing the backdrop for a series of international aviation milestones that could not happen at a better venue.

The most talked-about announcement for 2026 is the confirmation of the Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team, universally known as the Red Arrows, as an air show performer. The Red Arrows are one of the most technically accomplished and visually distinctive aerobatic teams in the world, flying a nine-aircraft formation in their signature scarlet Hawk jets. Their participation at AirVenture marks a special transatlantic moment in the year that the United States is marking its 250th anniversary, and it gives American audiences who have never seen the Red Arrows in person a rare opportunity to experience one of the United Kingdom's most iconic aviation institutions.

The announcement of the Red Arrows' participation was made in May 2026, and it generated immediate interest from the aviation community across both countries. The pairing of the Red Arrows with AirVenture's existing air show lineup, which already includes top domestic performers and military demonstration teams, creates a program that is unlikely to be matched by any other aviation event this year.

The Historic Aircraft You Will See on the Ground and in the Air

AirVenture's strength has always been the combination of living history and cutting-edge aviation technology in the same place at the same time. The 2026 lineup of historic aircraft is particularly notable. B-29 Doc, one of only two airworthy Boeing B-29 Superfortresses remaining in the world, will be on display and is expected to fly during the event. The B-29 is the aircraft type that ended the Second World War in the Pacific, and seeing one fly in 2026 is an experience that very few aviation events anywhere in the world can offer.

B-24 Diamond Lil, a Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber, will also be at Oshkosh, representing one of the most important American bomber designs of the war. The PB4Y-2 Privateer, a naval patrol bomber derived from the B-24, joins the warbird lineup alongside these iconic aircraft. NASA's Super Guppy, the outsized transport aircraft used to move large structural components, will be on display at Boeing Plaza, giving ground visitors a close look at one of the more unusual aircraft in any modern inventory.

Southwest Airlines will bring its Independence One aircraft, and the Goodyear Wingfoot One blimp will be in Oshkosh airspace during the event. These modern additions to the lineup alongside warbirds from the 1940s illustrate exactly what makes AirVenture unlike any other event: the span from the earliest days of aviation history to the technologies being developed right now is compressed into a single week on a single airfield.

New Features, Veterans, and the Community at the Heart of It

The 2026 edition of AirVenture introduces the Vertical Lift Center as a new feature, dedicated to rotorcraft and emerging vertical takeoff and landing technologies. The timing is significant. The rotorcraft and eVTOL sectors have seen rapid development over the past several years, and having a dedicated space at AirVenture to showcase what is happening in vertical lift aviation reflects how much the category has grown. Boeing's Platinum Level sponsorship underscores the corporate commitment to the event as a showcase for aviation's future.

Theater in the Woods, a traditional part of the AirVenture program, will feature NASA astronauts and the cast of the Memphis Belle production, bringing both contemporary space exploration and wartime history into the conversation. The Yellow Ribbon Honor Flight, which will bring 100 Vietnam War veterans to Oshkosh as guests of honor, adds a dimension of gratitude and recognition that gives the event meaning beyond the aircraft.

EAA WomenVenture returns in 2026 to celebrate female aviation innovators, continuing a program that has grown significantly in visibility and participation over recent years. The Warbirds in Review and Vintage in Review sessions give aviation historians and enthusiasts dedicated programming to engage with their specific areas of interest. If you are planning to make the trip to Oshkosh in the next two weeks, the full exhibitor directory is available at eaa.org. And when you want to share that aviation passion with fellow enthusiasts back in Las Vegas, The Hangar LV is the place to be. Come by and raise a glass to the people who keep aviation alive.

8 Reasons Not to Miss EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026

AirVenture 2026 has an unusually strong lineup across every category that makes this event special. Here are the eight things drawing aviation fans to Oshkosh from July 20-26.

1. The Red Arrows performing on American soil: The Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team is making a special appearance tied to America's 250th anniversary celebrations. Nine scarlet Hawk jets in close formation is one of the most spectacular sights in aerobatics, and American audiences rarely get the chance to see them in person.
2. B-29 Doc flying over Oshkosh: One of only two airworthy B-29s remaining in the world is expected to fly during AirVenture. Watching a Second World War-era heavy bomber in the air in 2026 is an irreplaceable experience for anyone who cares about aviation history.
3. The new Vertical Lift Center: A dedicated showcase for rotorcraft and emerging eVTOL technologies is new to the 2026 lineup. The vertical lift sector has been one of the most active areas of aviation development, and AirVenture is the right place to see where it is heading.
4. NASA's Super Guppy on display at Boeing Plaza: The Super Guppy, used to transport large spacecraft and satellite components, is one of the more visually memorable aircraft in NASA's inventory. A close ground inspection at Boeing Plaza is available to all attendees.
5. Yellow Ribbon Honor Flight for 100 Vietnam veterans: AirVenture 2026 is honoring 100 Vietnam War veterans as guests of the event. Their presence and the recognition they receive adds a human dimension to the week that goes beyond aircraft appreciation.
6. Theater in the Woods with NASA astronauts: Live presentations featuring NASA astronauts and the cast of the Memphis Belle production are part of the Theater in the Woods programming. These sessions place current spaceflight and wartime aviation history in direct conversation.
7. EAA WomenVenture celebrating female aviation innovators: The WomenVenture program has grown substantially and highlights the contributions of women across all areas of aviation, from classic and historic aircraft to the leading edge of aerospace engineering.
8. Southwest's Independence One and the Goodyear blimp in the sky: Modern commercial aviation and one of the most recognizable aircraft in American skies both have a place at AirVenture 2026. The mix of contemporary and historic aircraft is what makes the week impossible to replicate anywhere else.

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