The Bournemouth Air Festival is not taking place in 2026. The last festival was held in August 2024, bringing to an end a run of spectacular summer air shows that began in 2008.
There was no festival in 2025 and plans to find a commercial operator to bring the event back were subsequently unsuccessful. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has now stopped further work on delivering the Air Festival for 2026 onwards.
This does not necessarily mean that an air show could never return to Bournemouth. The council remains open to proposals for new commercially or independently funded events, but there are currently no confirmed dates for a future Bournemouth Air Festival.
Visitors should therefore ignore older websites and event listings showing Bournemouth Air Festival dates for 2026.
The End of the Council-Funded Bournemouth Air Festival
Bournemouth Air Festival was launched in 2008 and grew into one of the biggest free air shows in Britain.
The displays took place over Bournemouth Bay, with the main flying area between Bournemouth Pier and Boscombe Pier. Spectators could watch from the beach, promenade and East Overcliff, while aircraft could often be seen from much further along the coast.
Over the years the festival featured some of Britain’s best-known military and civilian aircraft and display teams, including the RAF Red Arrows, RAF Typhoon, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Red Devils parachute display team.
There were also displays and activities involving the Royal Navy and British Army, entertainment along the seafront and, in some years, evening flying displays.
The event attracted millions of spectators during its lifetime and became one of the highlights of Bournemouth’s summer calendar.
Why Was Bournemouth Air Festival Cancelled?
The main issue was the cost of staging such a large free event.
BCP Council decided that it could no longer continue funding the Air Festival after 2024. Attempts were subsequently made to find an outside operator capable of running the event on a commercial basis.
Several organisations initially expressed an interest and proposals were considered for bringing the festival back. However, the council was unable to agree a financially viable arrangement that did not require continued public funding.
The council therefore decided to stop further work on organising an Air Festival for 2026 onwards.
Will Bournemouth Air Festival Return?
It is possible that an air show or similar aviation event could return to Bournemouth in the future, but there is currently no confirmed Bournemouth Air Festival for 2026 or later years.
Any future event would need a new funding and organisational model rather than relying on BCP Council to finance the traditional Air Festival.
This page will be updated if confirmed plans for a future Bournemouth air show are announced.
Visiting Bournemouth
Although the Air Festival is no longer part of Bournemouth’s summer programme, the town remains one of Dorset’s largest seaside resorts.
The main attractions include Bournemouth Beach, Bournemouth Pier, Lower Gardens, Bournemouth Oceanarium and the Bournemouth Observation Wheel, with seven miles of beaches stretching along Bournemouth Bay.
See our Bournemouth Travel Guide for ideas on things to see and do, beaches, attractions, walks and places to visit around Bournemouth.