The Cleethorpes airshow takes place as part of the North East Lincolnshire Armed Forces Weekend on 26–28 June 2026. The formal Armed Forces Day falls on Saturday 27 June 2026. The event is entirely free and includes flying displays, parades, entertainment, and military capability demonstrations across the Cleethorpes seafront. Flying display director is R5 Air Displays Ltd. Confirmed aerial acts include the RAF Typhoon display and RAF Tutor display.
For official aviation safety context, see the UK Civil Aviation Authority. For the previous guide in this series, see Orders at Dubai Airshow 2025: $202 Billion in Deals, 6 Carriers, and 3 Manufacturers Compared.
What Is the Cleethorpes Airshow?
The Cleethorpes airshow is the flying display element of the North East Lincolnshire Armed Forces Weekend, held annually along the Cleethorpes seafront in Lincolnshire. The resort has hosted Armed Forces Days for over a decade and delivers a full programme of events to show support to serving personnel, veterans, and the armed forces community.
The event has been successfully delivered since 2011 and continues to attract large numbers. It is recognised as the area’s flagship event, keeping the UK Armed Forces community — including serving military, reservists, veterans, and cadets with their families — in the public eye.
Armed Forces Day is one of the biggest events in Cleethorpes, drawing around a quarter of a million visitors each year.
When Does the Cleethorpes Airshow Take Place in 2026?
The Cleethorpes airshow and Armed Forces Weekend 2026 runs from Friday 26 June to Sunday 28 June 2026. The 3-day event commences Friday 26 June through Sunday 28 June, with the formal Armed Forces Day held on Saturday 27 June.
AFD26 flags will be raised on all major public buildings across the Borough for 14 days before and during the event.
What Aircraft Are Confirmed for the Cleethorpes Airshow 2026?
The 2026 Cleethorpes airshow has confirmed the RAF Typhoon display and the RAF Tutor display. The event is organised by the Armed Forces Major Events Team of North East Lincolnshire, with R5 Air Displays Ltd serving as Flying Display Director.
Aircraft confirmed for the 2026 flying programme include:
- RAF Eurofighter Typhoon — fast jet solo display
- RAF Tutor — light aircraft display
There will be a flying display by the Red Arrows and a Typhoon jet among other exciting attractions over the weekend. The Red Arrows are anticipated, though final confirmation of all aircraft is subject to operational commitments.
What Aircraft Flew at the Cleethorpes Airshow 2025?
The 2025 edition featured the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Flying displays at the 2025 Armed Forces Weekend included the Red Arrows — 9 BAE Systems Hawk T1 aircraft — performing on Saturday only, alongside the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight with aircraft to be confirmed.
Is the Cleethorpes Airshow Free?
The Cleethorpes airshow and Armed Forces Weekend is entirely free to attend. The Armed Forces Weekend is brought to a team of volunteers. It is a completely free event which is entirely funded by sponsorship and donations.
No tickets are required for the flying displays, the parade, or any ground events across the seafront.
Where Does the Cleethorpes Airshow Take Place?
The flying displays at the Cleethorpes airshow are centred around the Central Promenade area of Cleethorpes seafront, Lincolnshire, DN35 8YA. Air displays and the parade are centred around the Central Promenade area.
Ground activities and exhibitions extend across 4 main zones:
- Central Promenade — main flying display viewing area and parade route
- Pier Gardens and Lower Kingsway — trade stands, food and drink
- Boating Lake and Paddock area — military village, blue light village, cadet village, charity village, ground vehicle displays
- Leisure Centre Car Park — Big Wheel
What Is the Full Programme at the Cleethorpes Armed Forces Weekend 2026?
The full programme includes parades, entertainment, flying displays, and military capability demonstrations covering the whole of the seafront at Cleethorpes.
The 3-day programme by day:
Friday 26 June
- Armed Forces Community Carnival Parade
- Build-up entertainment and ground displays open
- Big Wheel open to the public
Saturday 27 June (Main Day)
- Flying displays including RAF Typhoon and RAF Tutor
- Military parade led by a Royal Marine or Army band
- Military village, blue light village, and cadet village open
- Ground vehicle and equipment demonstrations
- Live music stages across multiple sites
- Battle re-enactment displays
- Fireworks display in the evening
Sunday 28 June
- Further flying displays
- Live music and interactive experiences
- Ground exhibitions continue
Flying displays showcase skill and precision in the skies above Cleethorpes. Visitors also have the chance to see military vehicles and equipment up close, with demonstrations highlighting the capabilities of the UK’s Armed Forces.
What Makes the Cleethorpes Airshow Unique in 2026?
The 2026 event coincides with major regeneration works in the centre of Cleethorpes, making it a different edition from previous years. The 2026 event is set to look different as it coincides with major regeneration works in the centre of Cleethorpes. Subject to sponsorship and funding, the event is expected to retain its key attractions, including the Big Wheel, flying displays, land-based exhibitions, and the traditional parade — although changes to positioning and layout will be necessary.
Organisations interested in sponsoring part of the 2026 event can contact the team at enquiries@afmet.co.uk.
What Is the History of the Cleethorpes Airshow?
The North East Lincolnshire Armed Forces Weekend has been held in Cleethorpes since 2011. It has grown steadily to become the largest free event on the east coast of England.
Key milestones in the event’s history:
|
Year |
Key Event |
|
2011 |
First North East Lincolnshire Armed Forces Weekend held in Cleethorpes |
|
2016 |
First time hosting the National Armed Forces Day event |
|
2024 |
Record crowds; Red Arrows flew for their 60th anniversary |
|
2025 |
Hosted National Armed Forces Day again, with Red Arrows and BBMF |
|
2026 |
Event continues under new layout due to town centre regeneration |
Cleethorpes was announced as the national event host for 2025 celebrations on Saturday 28 June. There had not been a national Armed Forces Day event since 2023, with Cleethorpes previously hosting it in 2016.
Who Organises the Cleethorpes Airshow?
The Armed Forces Major Events and Engagement Team (AFMET) organises the Cleethorpes Armed Forces Weekend. The success of Armed Forces Day year after year is made possible by the unwavering dedication, commitment, and professionalism of a small team of unpaid volunteers in the Armed Forces Major Events and Engagement Team. The team collaborates closely with a select group of industry sponsors and the local authority, engaging in planning that spans an entire year.
The Flying Display Director for the 2026 airshow element is R5 Air Displays Ltd.
How Do You Get to the Cleethorpes Airshow?
Cleethorpes seafront is located at DN35 8YA in North East Lincolnshire. Most car parks in the resort will be open as usual during the weekend. Buses will follow an agreed diversion route. There are many car parks in the centre of Grimsby with bus services to and from Cleethorpes running up to every 15 minutes — every 30 minutes on Sunday — to 11pm.
Additional parking is available at:
- Wonderland car park — bottom of North Promenade, DN35 8SJ
- Cleethorpes Cricket Club — Chichester Road, DN35 0HZ
- Grimsby town centre car parks with regular bus connections
Please note that aircraft display timings can be heavily affected by weather and technical issues. The latest timetable for each day will be posted on the Armed Forces Cleethorpes Facebook page on the evening before each day of flying.
The official website for event updates is afmet.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.