The Portrush Airshow is not taking place in 2026. The Northern Ireland International Airshow will not take place in 2026 after councillors agreed to postpone the flagship seaside event until 2028. The move was agreed by the borough’s Leisure and Development Committee and ratified by the full council.
For official aviation safety context, see the UK Civil Aviation Authority. For the previous guide in this series, see East Kirkby Airshow 2026: Date, Tickets, Aircraft, and a 3-Hour Flying Programme Reviewed.
This article covers why the postponement occurred, what events replace the airshow in 2026, and what the 2028 return is expected to include.
What Is the Portrush Airshow?
The Portrush Airshow, formally known as the NI International Airshow, is the largest airshow on the island of Ireland. It is held along the coast road between Portstewart and Portrush in Northern Ireland. The event is a free, 2-day public aviation display organised by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
The show offers a wide range of family-friendly activities, including vintage aircraft, live music, trade stands, a fun zone, artisan food markets, and arts and crafts stalls. The STEM Village, sponsored by Matrix, also features as a recurring attraction.
Why Is There No Portrush Airshow in 2026?
The Portrush Airshow was postponed in 2026 due to scheduling conflicts with 2 major events: Armed Forces Day and the USA-250 commemorations. The committee’s discussion focused on the pressure of staging the airshow in the same year as Armed Forces Day and the USA-250 commemorations, both scheduled for 2026. Members concluded that attempting all three would stretch staff and budgets.
The committee backed a proposal — carried by 8 votes to 1, with 6 abstentions — to set 2028 as the next airshow year and to use the intervening period for planning.
What Did Council Officials Say About Planning Requirements?
Officials advised that a major seaside airshow needs well over 12 months of planning to secure display teams, infrastructure, sponsorship, and safety arrangements. This planning lead time makes a 2026 edition logistically unworkable alongside other major commitments.
What Events Replace the Airshow in Portrush in 2026?
Causeway Coast and Glens has confirmed it will host Armed Forces Day 2026. Councillors have also discussed ways to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, referred to as “USA-250,” including proposals to establish a working group.
The 3 confirmed major events for Causeway Coast and Glens in 2026 are:
- Armed Forces Day 2026 — a nationally recognised tribute event
- USA-250 Commemorations — marking the 250th anniversary of American independence
- Council-run community programming — in place of the airshow calendar slot
When Does the Portrush Airshow Return?
The NI International Airshow is scheduled to return in 2028. The Causeway Coast and Glens has opted for a strategic pause: no airshow in 2026, a planning period through 2027, and a 2028 horizon that includes a value-for-money review.
DUP Councillor Dawn Huggins proposed that the council push back the next airshow until 2028, stating it would allow council to “put together one huge extravaganza.”
Will the 2028 Airshow Be Reviewed?
Alongside the postponement, the committee agreed that all major council-run events should undergo a one-off review in 2028 to test value for money. This review covers the airshow alongside other council-run events.
What Did the Portrush Airshow 2024 Include?
The most recent edition of the NI International Airshow took place on 7–8 September 2024. Crowds of approximately 75,000 people watched the airshow from vantage points around Portrush and Portstewart on Saturday afternoon.
Aircraft that performed at the 2024 edition included:
- RAF Typhoon Display Team
- Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster
- Norwegian Historic Squadron Vampire
- OV-10 Bronco
- Irish Air Corps displays
- Aerosuperbatics Wing Walkers
- Irish Coastguard Sikorsky S-92 joint role demonstration with Portrush Lifeboat
Ground attractions in 2024 included a live music stage, vintage aircraft, trade stands, artisan food market, vintage vehicles, walkabout characters, and amusements. The STEM Village returned to showcase local employers and education providers for young people considering STEM careers.
What Is the STEM Village at the Portrush Airshow?
The STEM Village is a dedicated educational section of the NI International Airshow. It features interactive displays from local employers and education providers. The RAF’s STEM team showcased the skills needed to perform highly specialised jobs of the future. The aerospace and defence sector employs 9,000 people in Northern Ireland.
What Is the History of the Portrush Airshow?
The NI International Airshow was first staged in 2002. The event has been branded at various points as the Northern Ireland Air Spectacular, Air Waves Portrush, and now the NI International Airshow. It is widely promoted as the largest airshow on the island of Ireland.
Key events in the airshow’s history include:
|
Year |
Event |
|
2002 |
First edition staged at Portrush |
|
2015 |
Show moved to East Strand coastline |
|
2019 |
Last edition before a 5-year gap (as Airwaves Portrush) |
|
2020 |
Cancelled — funding cut due to COVID-19 |
|
2022 |
Cancelled — RAF displays stood down following death of Queen Elizabeth II |
|
2024 |
Returned after a 5-year absence with new coastline layout |
|
2026 |
Postponed — council resources redirected to Armed Forces Day and USA-250 |
|
2028 |
Scheduled return |
Causeway Coast and Glens Council voted to reinstate the Portrush Airshow from 2022 and run it every 2 years, subject to funding.
Where Does the Portrush Airshow Take Place?
The NI International Airshow takes place along the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland. The event typically runs across a coastal viewing line between Ballyreagh Golf Course, on the coast road towards Portstewart, and West Bay in Portrush.
The layout offers visitors panoramic views and prime sightlines for aerial displays. The 2024 edition confirmed the new coastal layout from Ballyreagh Golf Course to West Bay as the permanent arrangement.
The venue is accessible by public transport. Park and Ride services operate from surrounding areas, with dedicated shuttle bus drop-off points at Carrick Dhu, Juniper Hill, and The Pitts along the Coast Road.
What Does the 2026 Postponement Mean for Northern Ireland Aviation Events?
The 2026 postponement leaves Northern Ireland without an international airshow for at least 2 years. Enthusiasts and residents voiced disappointment, stressing that this was Northern Ireland’s only international airshow. That concern is compounded by the uncertain status of Newcastle’s Festival of Flight — once the other major seaside air display in the region.
The Festival of Flight has not run since 2019 and was not staged in 2023, despite periodic talk of a possible comeback. With no firm dates announced, Portrush’s postponement leaves Northern Ireland with no guaranteed airshow for the foreseeable future.
What Was the Budget for the 2024 Portrush Airshow?
Recent council briefings and local reporting put the net budget for an airshow of 2024 scale at approximately £400,000. This figure covers display teams, infrastructure, safety arrangements, and sponsorship.
What Can Visitors Expect from the Portrush Airshow 2028?
The 2028 Portrush Airshow is intended to be a larger edition than previous years. Councillors cited the additional planning time as an opportunity to deliver a more ambitious event, with one council member describing it as the chance to stage a “huge extravaganza.”
Local briefings flagged potential cost efficiencies from aligning with the International Ayr Show — Festival of Flight, which typically runs in early September, allowing some sharing of assets and logistics.
The 2028 edition is expected to retain the 3 core features that have defined the event in recent years:
- Free public admission along the Portrush and Portstewart coastal route
- International military and civilian flying displays including RAF assets
- STEM Village and family ground programming
The official website for future announcements is airshowni.com.
Alex Bradley is a UK-based aviation writer and airshow circuit regular who has spent years attending displays from RIAT at Fairford and the Biggin Hill Festival of Flight to small fly-ins that drew two hundred people and a hot dog van, and values both for entirely different reasons.
He is not a pilot. He is not a PR man for the aviation industry. He is the person in the crowd who has been coming long enough to notice when something has quietly changed, when an organiser is papering over a problem, and when a display is genuinely worth the drive.
His writing on Redhill Airshow covers the British airshow circuit, safety, display team politics, CAA regulations, and the quiet contraction of grass airfield culture that nobody in the industry wants to discuss plainly.
He has stood at Redhill Aerodrome in every kind of English summer weather, watched Tiger Moths bank low over Surrey farmland, and carries strong opinions about what this country is slowly losing one cancelled event at a time.