Southport Airshow 2026: Dates, Aircraft, Tickets, and 5 Key Facts
The Southport Airshow 2026 takes place on 29–30 August 2026 at Southport Seafront, Lancashire. It is the biggest air display in the North West, featuring military and civilian acts. The show has run annually since 1991 and attracts tens of thousands of spectators, making it the North West’s largest airshow. For the previous guide in this series, see Blackpool Airshow 2026: Dates, Aircraft Lineup, and 5 Essential Facts for Aviation Fans.
What Is the Southport Airshow?
The Southport Airshow is an annual event held in Southport, Merseyside, England. It combines a flying display with on-ground activities. The flying programme includes military and civilian aircraft, classic jets, fighters, bombers, helicopters, and aerobatic aircraft.
The event is organised by Sefton Council. The Flying Display Director is TSA Consulting Ltd.
When and Where Is the Southport Airshow 2026?
The Southport Airshow 2026 takes place on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August 2026. The venue is Southport Seafront, Lancashire, PR8 1BS.
The Southport Airshow is unique in that the beach is so deep that displays take place over the sand, whereas at other seaside shows aircraft always fly over water.
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Detail |
Information |
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Dates |
29–30 August 2026 |
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Venue |
Southport Seafront, Lancashire |
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Postcode |
PR8 1BS |
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Organiser |
Sefton Council |
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Display Director |
TSA Consulting Ltd |
How Many People Attend the Southport Airshow?
The Southport Airshow attracts over 100,000 visitors each year. Each year the event draws over 100,000 visitors to the seaside town of Southport. At its peak, the show attracts around 150,000 spectators, confirming its status as the North West’s largest airshow.
What Aircraft Perform at the Southport Airshow 2026?
The Southport Airshow features 4 main aircraft categories: military jets, warbirds, helicopters, and aerobatic aircraft. The flying programme includes military and civilian aircraft, classic jets, helicopters, aerobatics by the Red Arrows, warbirds, and parachute displays.
Past performers have included:
- RAF Typhoon
- Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (including the Lancaster bomber)
- Grob Tutor
- Team Raven
- Aerosuperbatics Wingwalkers
- Red Arrows
Highlights in 2025 included Mélanie Astles, a 5-time French aerobatics champion with top-ten rankings at European and World levels. Richard Goodwin also performed aerobatic displays, as did the Aerosuperbatics Wingwalkers and Team Raven.
The Southport Model Aero Club usually puts on a model aircraft display before the start of the main air display.
What Makes the Southport Airshow Unique?
The Southport Airshow has 3 unique features that distinguish it from other UK airshows.
Firstly, because the beach is so deep, displays take place over the sand rather than over water. Secondly, Southport charges for tickets to access the best viewing areas. Thirdly, subject to conditions, some light aircraft can land on the beach before the main displays, enabling ground aircraft movements that other seaside shows cannot offer.
How Do You Get Tickets for the Southport Airshow 2026?
Tickets for the Southport Airshow 2026 are available via the official Visit Southport website and See Tickets. Under-16s go free. Merseyrail also offers a £2 return ticket for adults and £1 for children, covering travel to the airshow and selected Southport events.
What Is the Ticket Price for the Southport Airshow 2026?
Parking costs £10 per car on Saturday or Sunday, payable on the day. Car parks open at 9:00am. Carers accompanying a disabled attendee are admitted free on production of supporting documentation at the box office.
How Do You Get to the Southport Airshow 2026?
There are 3 main ways to reach the Southport Airshow: train, car, or coach.
Southport Train Station is a 10-minute walk from the airshow. Parking is available on Marine Drive and off the promenade in Princes Park, the Esplanade car park, and Victoria Park, all within 5 minutes’ walk of the seafront. Coaches are directed to the Esplanade car park.
Accessible hard-standing parking spaces are located at the Esplanade and Marine Drive car parks. Accessible parking is also available in Princes Park and Victoria Park. Accessible spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis on presentation of an official blue disability badge.
What Ground Activities Are at the Southport Airshow 2026?
The Southport Airshow 2026 features 4 main on-ground attractions alongside the flying display.
The show includes trade stands, interactive and educational displays, simulators, and children’s activities. A military display features a dramatic simulated beach battle involving army reserve forces, complete with explosions and military vehicles.
Additional ground attractions include:
- Lytham St Annes Spitfire Ground Display — The team displays ‘Vicky’, a Mark II Spitfire replica built with original WW2 parts, giving the public an opportunity to get up close to this iconic aircraft.
- Mobile WW1–Present Day Museum — A travelling museum displaying hundreds of artefacts from WW1 to the present day, with hands-on educational talks about each item.
- Simulators and interactive displays — Available for adults and children.
- Trade stands — Covering aviation, military, and family merchandise.
How Is Traffic Managed at the Southport Airshow?
Dune Radio’s Southport Air Show LIVE is the official radio station for the event. It provides commentary, news, and essential traffic updates. Listeners can tune in on DAB+, online at duneradio.co.uk, via a smart speaker, or through the free RadioPlayer app.
What Is the History of the Southport Airshow?
The Southport Airshow was established in 1991. The first Southport Airshow was the idea of Tourism and Attractions employee Mark Brammar. The show takes place over 2 days at the end of summer.
Key milestones include:
- 1991 — First airshow held on Southport Beach
- 2009 — Eurofighter Typhoon made its first appearance
- 2015 — Final ever airshow display by Vulcan XH558, escorted by the Red Arrows
- 2021 — Show cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions
- 2022 — Returned with a July date
- 2025 — Parking and visitor access problems from previous years were addressed, resulting in a significantly improved event.
5 Key Facts About the Southport Airshow 2026
- It is the largest airshow in the North West of England.
- It has run annually since 1991.
- It attracts over 100,000 visitors each year.
- Aircraft displays take place over sand, not water — a feature unique among UK seaside airshows.
- Under-16s are admitted free of charge.
Is the Southport Airshow 2026 Worth Attending?
The Southport Airshow 2026 is one of the UK’s premier aviation events. It combines military jets, warbirds, aerobatics, and family activities across 2 days on Southport Beach. It is recognised as one of the UK’s premier air displays, offering an accessible, world-class spectacle on the Lancashire coastline.
The show is organised by Sefton Council with professional display direction from TSA Consulting Ltd. Tickets, travel options, and accessibility provisions make it suitable for families, aviation enthusiasts, and first-time visitors alike.
For the latest updates, flying schedules, and ticket information, visit visitsouthport.com/airshow.
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.