The Australian International Airshow at Avalon is a 6-day biennial aerospace, aviation, and defence exhibition held at Avalon Airport, Victoria, between Melbourne and Geelong. It is the largest airshow in the Southern Hemisphere and returns next in 23–28 February 2027.
For official aviation safety context, see the UK Civil Aviation Authority. For the previous guide in this series, see Abingdon Airshow 2026: Cancellation, History, and 5 Key Facts.
What Is the Australian International Airshow at Avalon?
The Australian International Airshow — also known as the Avalon Airshow — is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest aviation, aerospace, and defence trade and public event. It combines an international industry exhibition, military and civil aircraft displays, a specialist conference programme, delegation business engagement, a careers day, and 2 public flying days.
The show is presented by the AMDA Foundation, a not-for-profit Australian organisation, in collaboration with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It is strongly supported by the Victorian State Government and the City of Greater Geelong.
The Avalon Airshow runs on a biennial cycle in odd-numbered years, alternating with even years. The most recent edition was Avalon 2025, held 25–30 March 2025. The next edition is confirmed for 23–28 February 2027 at Avalon Airport.
Where Is the Avalon Airshow Held?
Avalon Airport, Victoria, Australia — located approximately 55 kilometres southwest of Melbourne and 22 kilometres northeast of Geelong — is the permanent home of the Australian International Airshow.
- Address: Avalon Airport, Victoria, Australia
- Region: Greater Geelong, Victoria
- Proximity: Between Melbourne and Geelong on the Princes Freeway
The airport also anchors the Avalon Airport Industrial Precinct, a growing hub for defence manufacturing, advanced aviation, and aerospace industries in the region.
What Is the Format of the Australian International Airshow?
The Avalon Airshow runs across 6 days structured into 4 distinct programme segments:
|
Programme Segment |
Days |
Audience |
|
Trade and Industry Exposition |
Days 1–3 (Mon–Wed) |
Industry, defence, government |
|
Careers and Skills Day |
Day 3 (Wed) |
7,000+ secondary and tertiary students |
|
Friday Night Alight |
Day 4 (Fri evening) |
Public and trade |
|
Public Air Show |
Days 5–6 (Sat–Sun) |
General public and families |
The Friday Night Alight features aerial performances, laser shows, and flare drops by military jets and aerobatic aircraft. The Saturday and Sunday public sessions deliver 2 full days of high-energy flying displays, military jet demonstrations, precision aerobatics, historic aircraft, and family-friendly ground attractions.
How Large Was the Avalon Airshow in 2025?
Avalon 2025, held 25–30 March 2025, set a record for industry attendance. Key figures include:
|
Metric |
2025 Figure |
|
Total Attendances |
200,000+ |
|
Industry Day Attendances |
60,000 (record) |
|
Exhibiting Companies |
902 from 28 nations |
|
Official Delegations |
291 from 43 countries |
|
Chiefs of Air Force Present |
20 |
|
Aircraft (air and ground) |
350+ |
|
Aerial Display Aircraft |
45 |
|
Students (Careers Day) |
7,000+ |
|
Economic Impact – Victoria |
AUD $240.9 million |
|
Economic Impact – Geelong Region |
AUD $31.85 million |
The 60,000 industry day figure exceeded the 2019 total by 20,000 attendees and the 2023 total by 10,000 attendees. AMDA Foundation CEO Justin Giddings confirmed Avalon 2025 delivered the largest industry presence in the event’s history.
What Aircraft and Technology Were Displayed at Avalon 2025?
What Military Aircraft Appeared at the Avalon Airshow?
Avalon 2025 featured 350 aircraft in total, including 45 in aerial display and 64 on static ground display. Military aircraft types confirmed at Avalon 2025 include:
- FA/18F Super Hornet — RAAF flying display
- F-35 Lightning II — featured in trade and static displays
- MH-60R Seahawk — RAAF; performed the opening display towing the Australian flag
- CH-47 Chinook — heavy lift helicopter
- AH-64E Apache — Boeing displayed Australia’s first of 29 ordered by the Australian Army; first delivery confirmed for 2025
- PC-21 Trainer — Republic of Singapore Air Force participation
What Innovation Was Announced at Avalon 2025?
Avalon 2025 featured 4 major innovation announcements:
- Stralis Aircraft — hydrogen-electric developer announced a collaboration with New Zealand’s Fabrum and Ara Ake to develop liquid hydrogen storage tanks for its zero-emission aircraft
- Dovetail Electric Aviation — unveiled its DovePower integrated electric propulsion system and DovePack battery technology, offering modular battery-only and hydrogen-electric configurations
- Anduril’s Fury — a full-scale model of the US defence company’s contender for the USAF’s first uncrewed fighter jet made its overseas debut
- Airbus Helicopters — announced Australian and New Zealand sales of 5 helicopters, including 4 twin-engine H145s for New Zealand Search and Rescue Services
The Innovation Pitchfest awarded AUD $130,000 across 4 winners from 23 finalists. Neumann Space received the Avalon 2025 Innovation Award for an electric propulsion drive for satellites.
What Is the Economic Impact of the Avalon Airshow?
How Much Does the Avalon Airshow Contribute to Victoria’s Economy?
AUD $240.9 million was generated for Victoria’s economy by Avalon 2025, according to the Victorian State Government. The Geelong region received AUD $31.85 million in direct economic benefits from the same edition.
Victoria’s defence sector generates AUD $10.9 billion in annual expenditure and supports more than 29,000 jobs across the state. The Avalon Airshow functions as a catalyst for this sector, connecting Victorian supply-chain businesses with global decision-makers, enabling contracts, letters of intent, and long-term commercial partnerships.
One documented outcome from Avalon 2025: Melbourne-based Lindo signed a Letter of Intent with Airbus to explore expanded collaboration on disinfectant lighting technology for aircraft.
The Victorian Government has also committed AUD $225 million to Hanwha Defence Australia’s Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence at the Avalon Airport precinct, alongside an AUD $8 million dedicated freight handling and processing facility at the airport.
What Is the History of the Australian International Airshow at Avalon?
When Did the Avalon Airshow Start?
The first air display at Avalon was held in 1957, when the head of the Port Melbourne Government Aircraft Factories put on a demonstration for employees to see finished aircraft in flight.
The first major Australian airshow took place in 1988 at RAAF Base Richmond in New South Wales, marking the Australian Bicentenary. It featured international aircraft including the F-15 Eagle, Panavia Tornado F3, Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, and a B-52 Stratofortress flypast. A second Richmond show followed in 1991 to mark the RAAF’s 70th anniversary.
The event relocated to Avalon Airport in 1992, coinciding with the wettest spring in Victorian history. Despite the conditions, the 2 public days attracted approximately 175,000 attendees from 226 exhibitors across 12 countries.
Key milestones in the show’s history:
|
Year |
Milestone |
|
1957 |
First air display at Avalon for factory employees |
|
1988 |
First major Australian International Airshow at RAAF Richmond |
|
1992 |
Show moved permanently to Avalon Airport |
|
2009 |
Show generated AUD $121 million for Victoria’s economy |
|
2011 |
10th edition at Avalon; F-22 Raptor Australian debut; 195,000 attended |
|
2013 |
F-22A Raptor flying display; 168,000 attendees across 6 days |
|
2023 |
Record 248,000 attendances; 794 exhibitors from 28 nations |
|
2025 |
Record 60,000 industry day attendances; AUD $240.9 million economic impact |
|
2027 |
Next confirmed edition: 23–28 February 2027 |
Avalon 2025 was the 16th airshow staged at Avalon Airport.
What Is Planned for Avalon 2027?
The Australian International Airshow 2027 is confirmed for 23–28 February 2027 at Avalon Airport, Victoria. The Victorian Government announced confirmation in March 2026.
The 2027 programme is expected to include:
- A trade and industry exposition with 900+ exhibiting companies and 60,000+ industry visitors
- A careers programme welcoming 7,000+ students
- A Friday Night Alight featuring aerial performances
- 2 full public flying days on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 February
The 2027 edition will also further develop the Avalon Airport Industrial Precinct, building on existing investments in defence manufacturing and advanced aerospace infrastructure.
Who Organises the Australian International Airshow?
The Avalon Australian International Airshow is presented by the AMDA Foundation, an Australian not-for-profit organisation, in collaboration with the Royal Australian Air Force. The event is supported by the Victorian State Government and the City of Greater Geelong.
The current CEO of the AMDA Foundation is Justin Giddings.
Sources: AMDA Foundation, Victorian State Government, Australian Flying, Manufacturers’ Monthly, Australian Aviation, Wikipedia – Australian International Airshow, Defence Connect.
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.