The Avalon Airshow Geelong — officially the Australian International Airshow — is the largest airshow in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a large airshow held biennially at Avalon Airport, between Melbourne and Geelong in Victoria, Australia. The event has a strong focus on military aviation, featuring aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, United States Navy, and the United States Air Force. The next edition takes place in February 2027.
For official aviation safety context, see the UK Civil Aviation Authority. For the previous guide in this series, see Australian International Airshow Avalon: Dates, Facts, History, and 6 Key Figures.
What Is the Avalon Airshow Near Geelong?
The Avalon Airshow is a biennial international aviation, aerospace, and defence event combining a major industry trade exposition with a public flying display spectacular. It incorporates an international industry exhibition, aircraft static displays, a specialist conference programme, VIP delegation and business engagement, networking, careers and skills pathways education, and a weekend public airshow spectacular. Avalon is the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
A 3-day, action-packed public airshow spectacular features breathtaking flying displays and an amazing array of static aircraft to view up close.
Where Is the Avalon Airshow?
The Avalon Airshow is held at Avalon Airport, Victoria, Australia, situated between Melbourne and Geelong. The address is Avalon Airport, Lara VIC 3212. Avalon Airport sits approximately 55 km south-west of Melbourne CBD and 22 km north-east of Geelong CBD, making it accessible from both cities.
| Detail | Information |
| Official Name | Australian International Airshow |
| Location | Avalon Airport, Lara, Victoria |
| Distance from Geelong | 22 km |
| Distance from Melbourne | 55 km |
| Frequency | Biennial (every 2 years) |
| Organiser | AMDA Foundation |
| Format | 6 days total (trade + public) |
When Is the Next Avalon Airshow?
The Victorian Government confirmed the return of the Australian International Airshow to Avalon Airport, with the 2027 edition to take place from 23–28 February 2027. The most recent edition was the 2025 Avalon Airshow, held 25–30 March 2025.
The event runs across 6 days with 2 distinct components:
- Trade Days (4 days): Open exclusively to aviation, aerospace, and defence industry professionals
- Public Days (3 days — the weekend): Open to families and general visitors
What Happened at the Avalon Airshow 2025?
Avalon 2025 attracted more than 200,000 attendances in total across the 6 days, including about 60,000 people across the 3 dedicated industry days — more than 10,000 above the 2023 industry total and more than 20,000 over the industry total for the 2019 event.
The industry days included 902 participating exhibitor companies from 28 nations, plus 291 industry, defence, and academic delegations from 43 countries. This included 20 Chiefs of Air Force or equivalent, 18 international representatives, and 7 US distinguished visitors.
How Many Aircraft Were at Avalon 2025?
Avalon 2025 featured more than 350 aircraft in the air and on the ground, including 45 aerial display aircraft and 64 exhibited by aviation manufacturers, from Bombardier and Dassault to Pilatus, Cessna, Cirrus, and Robinson Helicopters.
What Was the Economic Impact of Avalon 2025?
The 2025 event generated $240.9 million for Victoria’s economy and attracted record crowds. Avalon 2025 also delivered an estimated $31.85 million in direct economic benefits for the Geelong region.
What Aircraft Performed at Avalon 2025?
There were 5 headline performers at the 2025 public airshow. These include:
- F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team (United States Air Force)
- F-35A Lightning II (Royal Australian Air Force)
- F-16 Pacific Air Forces Demonstration Team
- Paul Bennett Airshows aerobatic team
- Matt Hall high-performance aviation racing display
Visitors also had the chance to get up close with an unmanned MQ-28 Ghost Bat — a cutting-edge autonomous aircraft developed in Australia.
What STEM Activities Were at Avalon 2025?
Avalon 2025 featured what may have been the largest single aviation industry careers and skills day ever held in Australia, with more than 7,000 secondary and tertiary students participating in a programme which included hearing from former NASA astronaut and Shuttle Commander Mike Bloomfield, and Australia’s first Australian-flagged astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg.
What Is the History of the Avalon Airshow?
When Did the Avalon Airshow Start?
In 1957, the first air display was held at Avalon, when the head of the Port Melbourne Government Aircraft Factories put on a display for employees. As the employees at the factory only ever saw individual parts of aircraft, it was decided to mount a flying display so the employees could see the final result of their work.
The Australian International Airshow was moved to Avalon Airport near Geelong in 1992. The 2 public days of the 1992 show were attended by about 175,000 people. There were 226 exhibitors from 12 countries.
The Avalon Airshow has grown significantly across its 16 editions. Key milestones include:
- 1992 — First edition at Avalon; 175,000 public attendees; 226 exhibitors from 12 countries
- 1997 — 171,168 attendees; generated $63 million for the Victorian economy
- 2003 — “Centenary of Powered Flight” theme; 440 exhibitors from 30 countries; over 600 aircraft
- 2005 — 500+ exhibitors from 22 countries; boosted Geelong’s economy by $15.6 million
- 2009 — Boosted the Victorian economy by $121 million
- 2021 — Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
- 2023 — Around 248,000 trade and public attendances across the 6 days; broke records across the board
- 2025 — 16th edition; 200,000+ attendances; $240.9 million economic impact
What Tickets Are Available for the Avalon Airshow?
There are 3 types of ticket options available for the general public:
- Boarding Pass (General Admission) — Full access to roam the airshow at leisure
- Gold Pass Grandstand — Reserved, elevated seating with unobstructed views of all flying displays
- Jack Rabbit Sky Lounge — Exclusive hospitality with access to a private, air-conditioned pavilion on the flight line and a gourmet menu
Children under 15 receive free entry, so families can attend together and watch all the air displays, including the famous Wall of Fire.
Saturday and Sunday offer a similar flying schedule, with a full day of air displays from military and civilian performers.
What Ground Activities Are at the Avalon Airshow?
Where else can you find cutting-edge military technology alongside free carnival rides for children? The Avalon Airshow has always been a family-friendly exhibition. Activities include pilot meet-and-greets, free carnival rides, food trucks, and a dedicated Kids Zone featuring STEM activities from Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre, face painting, build-your-own jet models, foam soccer, and more.
The Drone Zone showcases uncrewed autonomous aircraft, with live demonstrations from professionals in drone racing and autonomous technology.
Why Is the Avalon Airshow Important for Geelong?
The Avalon Airshow continues to open doors for Victorian businesses, creating jobs and showcasing cutting-edge innovation. The event connects Victorian supply-chain businesses with global decision-makers to unlock new commercial opportunities.
The Avalon Airshow delivers 4 measurable benefits to the Geelong region each edition:
- Tens of millions in direct local economic impact
- Hundreds of millions in statewide economic output
- Thousands of student STEM engagement opportunities
- International business connections for local manufacturers
Justin Giddings, CEO of the AMDA Foundation, confirmed the team looks forward to returning in 2027 to again deliver one of the world’s great airshows, for industry and the Australian public.
The Avalon Airshow Geelong is the Southern Hemisphere’s most significant aviation event, combining world-class military flying displays with the largest aerospace and defence trade exposition in Australia. The 2027 edition runs from 23–28 February at Avalon Airport, Victoria. Register interest and trade visitor access at airshow.com.au.
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.
