The Clacton Airshow 2026 takes place on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 August over Clacton-on-Sea seafront in Essex. In its 33rd year, the event welcomes in the region of 250,000 visitors and features impressive aerobatic displays alongside exhibition stands, a food court, and on-site entertainment at ground level. The event is organised by Tendring District Council, which has committed to running Clacton Airshow annually up to and including 2027.
What Is the Clacton Airshow?
The Clacton Airshow is the largest free aviation event on the Essex coast. It features flying displays over the seafront supported by a wide range of ground-based attractions and entertainment. The typical line-up includes modern jets, precision aerobatic teams, and historic aircraft, with flying taking place across 2 days using the open coastline as a dramatic backdrop. For the previous guide in this series, see 1952 Farnborough Airshow: The DH.
Clacton’s free 2-day seaside airshow has been organised by Tendring District Council for over 30 years, making it one of the UK’s longest-running airshows.
When and Where Is the Clacton Airshow 2026?
The Clacton Airshow 2026 takes place on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 August 2026 on Clacton-on-Sea seafront.
The event site is located on West Greensward, Marine Parade West, CO15 1NW. The flight line, or datum, is directly in front of the Hospitality marquee.
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Detail |
Information |
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Dates |
Thursday 27 – Friday 28 August 2026 |
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Venue |
Clacton Seafront, Essex |
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Postcode |
CO15 1NW |
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Organiser |
Tendring District Council |
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Display Director |
TSA Consulting Ltd |
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Admission |
Free |
What Is the Clacton Airshow 2026 Timetable?
The Clacton Airshow 2026 opens at 11:00am on both days. Thursday 27 August runs from 11:00 to 22:00. Friday 28 August runs from 11:00 to 17:00. Flight schedules and display times for 2026 are yet to be confirmed. Once finalised, full details will be published on the official website and social media channels.
Thursday evening will feature a spectacular Twilight Display — a dazzling festival in the sky with illuminated aircraft, lasers, and pyrotechnics lighting up the coastline as dusk falls.
What Is the Clacton Airshow 2026 Lineup?
The Clacton Airshow 2026 has 4 confirmed aircraft and display acts. More announcements are expected in the weeks before the show.
Are the Red Arrows at the Clacton Airshow 2026?
The Red Arrows are confirmed for the Clacton Airshow 2026 on both days. The Red Arrows are confirmed to perform on both days as part of an exceptional programme, with more exciting additions still to be announced.
Is the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at Clacton 2026?
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is confirmed for both days of the Clacton Airshow 2026. The BBMF will bring some of the most legendary aircraft in British aviation history, including the Spitfire, which first flew in 1936 and went on to become one of the most recognisable symbols of British aviation.
The iconic Avro Lancaster Bomber is confirmed to join the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at this year’s Clacton Airshow. The 2026 appearance carries additional significance — it marks the Spitfire’s 90th anniversary.
What Other Aircraft Are Confirmed for Clacton 2026?
Also confirmed for the 2026 flying programme is the RAF Grob Tutor T1, the aircraft used to train RAF pilots. Fully aerobatic and highly manoeuvrable, the Tutor plays a key role in teaching the fundamentals of military flying.
Red Bull air racer Mélanie Astles — Europe’s top female aerobatic pilot — is making her Clacton Airshow debut in 2026.
Confirmed 2026 Lineup:
- RAF Red Arrows — both days
- Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster) — both days
- RAF Grob Tutor T1 — confirmed
- Mélanie Astles — aerobatic debut at Clacton
Why Is the Clacton Airshow 2026 Special?
The Clacton Airshow 2026 marks the 90th anniversary of the Spitfire’s first flight. The Spitfire first flew in 1936. To see these aircraft flying together in the year marking 90 years since the Spitfire’s first flight makes the moment even more powerful. The unmistakable sound of those engines along the seafront creates a truly special atmosphere, offering spectators a rare and close-up view of living history.
What Are the Best Viewing Spots at the Clacton Airshow?
There are 4 best viewing areas along Clacton seafront for the 2026 airshow.
Marine Parade West offers panoramic views of the main display area and easy access to food stalls. Clacton Pier is a classic spot for photography with aircraft soaring closely overhead. West Greensward is ideal for families with space to picnic while enjoying the show. High Ground at Holland-on-Sea provides a quieter vantage point for those seeking less crowded views.
Are There Hospitality Tickets for the Clacton Airshow 2026?
Hospitality tickets for the Clacton Airshow 2026 cost £73 on Thursday and £65 on Friday. Hospitality tickets include parking, a welcome drink, a selection of canapés, a 2-course meal, complimentary wine on tables, tea and coffee throughout the day, squash for children, and an official souvenir. The hospitality area provides an elevated viewing area with prime central views across Clacton seafront.
Full ticket booking details, menus, and timings are available at www.blackjacket.uk/clacton-airshow.
What Ground Attractions Are at the Clacton Airshow 2026?
The Clacton Airshow 2026 features 5 confirmed ground attraction categories. On the ground there are exhibits from the Army and RAF, children’s activities, simulators, climbing and entertainment areas along the Clacton seafront. A wide range of trade stands and a food court with a selection of refreshments are also available.
After the show there is an opportunity for late-night shopping, with many of the retail stores remaining open late.
How Do You Get to the Clacton Airshow 2026?
There are 2 main ways to reach the Clacton Airshow: by train or by car.
Clacton is the nearest station to the show. Clacton is about 1¾ hours from London by direct train. The postcode CO15 1NW should be used until close enough to follow airshow direction signs. Signs should be followed in preference to sat nav once visible, as traffic diversions may be in place.
Park & Ride arrangements for the 2026 Clacton Airshow are yet to be confirmed. The car parks adjacent to the main event site — Hastings seafront, grass car parks, and the main Martello coach park — are unavailable for public parking during the event. Alternate parking will be provided.
What Is the Economic Impact of the Clacton Airshow?
The Clacton Airshow generates £12 million for the local economy each year. Ivan Henderson, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism at Tendring District Council, stated: “With an estimated £12 million impact and hundreds of thousands of visitors, it’s clear the airshow is worth every ounce of effort. That’s why we’ve committed to keeping it flying high through to at least 2027.”
Is the Clacton Airshow 2026 Free?
The Clacton Airshow 2026 is free to attend. While the event is proudly organised by the Council, it is the generous contributions from visitors through programme sales and bucket collections that help keep the show in the skies. Every donation helps reduce operational costs and secures the future of the event.
Donations can be made at clactonairshow.com.
6 Key Facts About the Clacton Airshow 2026
- The 2026 event is the 33rd Clacton Airshow.
- An estimated 250,000 visitors are expected across the 2 days.
- Tendring District Council has committed to running the show annually through to 2027.
- 2026 marks the 90th anniversary of the Spitfire’s first flight in 1936.
- The Red Arrows and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight are both confirmed for both days.
- The airshow generates an estimated £12 million impact on the local economy each year.
For the latest lineup announcements, flight times, and hospitality bookings, visit clactonairshow.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.