The Abingdon Air and Country Show 2026 has been cancelled. The organisers stated: “Due to circumstances beyond our control it is with reluctance that we are having to cancel the show which was due to be held on Saturday 13th June. We have tried to find ways of making this year’s show viable but it’s not to be unfortunately.”
This article covers the cancellation, the reasons behind it, the show’s 26-year history, its venue, and what aviation events remain accessible to visitors in the South East of England in 2026. For the previous guide in this series, see Sidmouth Airshow 2026: Dates, Confirmed Aircraft, and 5 Key Facts for the Regatta Weekend.
What Is the Abingdon Air and Country Show?
The Abingdon Air and Country Show is an annual aviation and country fair event at Abingdon Airfield, Oxfordshire. The show takes place at the semi-active Abingdon Airfield, the former RAF Abingdon, now operated by the British Army as Dalton Barracks. It typically features a flying display with a wide variety of historic and modern aircraft, a static aircraft display, a fly-in, and a range of country fair attractions on the ground.
The event first started in 2000 as a small fete. For many years it was known simply as the Abingdon Fayre, but in 2007 the title changed to Abingdon Air and Country Show to more accurately reflect the show’s content.
The show is organised entirely by volunteers. Proceeds are donated to local charities. The Abingdon Air and Country Show has generated over £80,000 for charities since the first event in 2000.
Why Was the Abingdon Airshow 2026 Cancelled?
The Abingdon Airshow 2026 was cancelled on 19 March 2026 due to circumstances beyond the organisers’ control.
Prior to the full cancellation, a separate announcement on 20 February 2026 confirmed the formal flying display had already been removed. The organisers stated: “Due to costs of both air display aircraft and the insurance for air displays and road closures we have had to reluctantly chop the Flying Display program — a first after over 20+ years to keep the show inside its smaller budget to survive.”
The reason for the change is the higher and ever-increasing costs and complexities involved in running the event, including road closures, high fees, and the massive insurance requirement for civilian aircraft displaying over MOD land.
This was a pattern already established from 2019. The 2019 show was the last to feature a full flying display, due to increased costs.
What Was Planned Before the Abingdon Airshow 2026 Was Cancelled?
3 categories of aviation activity were planned for the 2026 event before cancellation.
After dropping the flying display, the organisers confirmed invited civilian aircraft and helicopters would land for static viewing throughout the day. Very limited military aircraft were hoping to support on the ground. A series of predominantly military flypasts were also planned, with the hope that some would come from the King’s Birthday Flypast directly from Buckingham Palace.
Confirmed aircraft for the fly-in included:
- Westland Lynx Mk7 — confirmed as one of Project 179’s helicopters for the fly-in.
- Bell 47 H-1 — described as a very rare aircraft, also confirmed by Project 179.
- Sea King Mk.48 — Historic Helicopters’ Sea King Mk.48 RS-02 was announced as the first flying participant, with this being set to be a UK flying display debut in private hands.
The organisers also confirmed the whole show would move back to the west side of the airfield, providing better accessibility, a concrete access track to and from the car park, and better conditions for photographers with the sun behind them for most of the day.
What Ground Attractions Were Planned at Abingdon 2026?
The Abingdon Air and Country Show 2026 had 10 planned ground attractions before cancellation.
These included:
- Classic and ex-military vehicle displays
- Classic vehicle parades along the crowdline and runway
- Steam machinery exhibits
- Trade stalls and crafts
- Arena displays
- Children’s amusements and rides
- Dog show
- Animal areas
- Re-enactors
- Miniature steam engines, hot food, and a bar
What Is the History of the Abingdon Airshow?
The Abingdon Air and Country Show has run for 25 editions since its founding in 2000.
For many years the Abingdon Air and Country Show was regarded as the airshow season-opener. When it started, the Abingdon Fayre was a country fair with a little bit of flying, raising funds for local charities. Over its lifetime it rose to become an essential part of the calendar for airshow enthusiasts.
Attendances increased over the years, and at the 2009 show there were over 10,000 people.
Key milestones include:
- 2000 — First event held as the Abingdon Fayre
- 2007 — Renamed to Abingdon Air and Country Show
- 2009 — Attendance exceeded 10,000 visitors
- 2019 — Last show with a full formal flying display
- 2020 — Cancelled due to Covid-19
- 2021 — Went ahead in September after the date was changed 3 times.
- 2022 — Postponed due to the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
- 2024 — Postponed at the last minute due to a decision by the Military Aviation Authority to halt civilian aircraft operating from the airfield. The replacement date was 21 September 2024.
- 2026 — Cancelled; would have been the 26th edition
What Is the History of Abingdon Airfield?
Abingdon Airfield has a military history spanning over 90 years. The airfield was opened in 1932, initially as a training station for RAF Bomber Command. After the war it became part of RAF Transport Command and the home of No. 1 Parachute Training School.
Around 1948–49, No. 47 Group Headquarters of RAF Transport Command was based at RAF Abingdon. The station, its personnel, and aircraft including Yorks and Hastings were involved in the Berlin Airlift.
From 1975 through to the 1990s, Abingdon became a maintenance field, with the Aircraft Maintenance Squadron servicing BAE Hawk, SEPECAT Jaguar, and Blackburn Buccaneer aircraft.
Today it is known as Dalton Barracks and is used by the Royal Logistic Corps. A small RAF presence continues at the airfield, with 612 Volunteer Gliding Squadron flying Grob Vigilant motor gliders. It is also regularly used for training by RAF Pumas and Merlins from nearby RAF Benson.
How Do You Get to Abingdon Airfield?
Abingdon Airfield is located in Oxfordshire, approximately 6 miles south of Oxford. The 2 main entrance postcodes are:
|
Gate |
Postcode |
Access Type |
|
Gate A |
OX13 6JQ |
On-the-day ticket holders |
|
Gate B |
OX13 6BX |
Advanced ticket holders |
The airfield is accessible from the A34 and A415 roads. Oxford train station provides the nearest rail connection, with onward bus or taxi services to Abingdon town centre, approximately 1 mile from the airfield.
5 Key Facts About the Abingdon Air and Country Show
- The show has generated over £80,000 for local charities since its first event in 2000.
- The show is organised entirely by volunteers.
- Attendances exceeded 10,000 visitors at the 2009 event.
- The 2019 show was the last to feature a full flying display.
- The airfield was opened in 1932 and served in the Berlin Airlift.
What Airshows Near Abingdon Are Still Happening in 2026?
Visitors in the South of England have 3 major airshow alternatives in 2026.
- RAF Cosford Air Show — 14 June 2026, Shropshire
- Royal International Air Tattoo — 17–19 July 2026, RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire
- Duxford Summer Air Show — IWM Duxford, Cambridgeshire
The Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford is one of the world’s largest military airshows and provides a full flying programme. RAF Fairford is located approximately 25 miles west of Abingdon Airfield.
Is the Abingdon Air and Country Show Returning in 2027?
No confirmation of a 2027 Abingdon Air and Country Show has been made. The rising cost of display insurance and road closures over MOD land remains the central challenge for the event’s future. The organisers have cited the higher and ever-increasing costs and complexities involved in running the event as the fundamental reason behind its reduced and cancelled formats in recent years.
For the latest updates, visit abingdonairandcountry.co.uk.
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.