Teignmouth Airshow 2026: Why It Is Cancelled and 3 Devon Alternatives to Attend

There is no Teignmouth Airshow in 2026. The volunteer organising committee confirmed in February 2026 that the event will not return, citing a failure to meet the £100,000 fundraising target. The last show was held in July 2024. No replacement date has been announced.

Is the Teignmouth Airshow Happening in 2026?

No. The Teignmouth Airshow 2026 is not taking place. The organising committee confirmed this officially in February 2026 after the required funding was not secured. The show was also cancelled in 2025 for the same reason. For the previous guide in this series, see Headcorn Airshow 2026: Dates, Tickets, Aircraft, and 5 Key Things to Know About the New International Show.

Visitors searching for the Teignmouth Airshow 2026 are directed to alternative Devon and southwest England airshows listed in this article.

When Did the Committee Confirm the 2026 Cancellation?

The Teignmouth Airshow Committee published a formal statement in February 2026 confirming the event would not go ahead. The committee cited increasing financial pressures in the current economic climate and a failure to raise the funds required to host the show safely and successfully.

Why Is the Teignmouth Airshow Not Going Ahead in 2026?

The fundraising target of approximately £100,000 was not met. The committee took a deliberate year out in 2025 to focus on new fundraising opportunities. Despite that effort, the required funds were not secured by early 2026.

The committee identified 3 compounding factors:

1. Unsustainable funding model — the majority of funding came from a small number of local businesses that often stepped in at the eleventh hour
2. Volunteer fatigue — volunteers organise every aspect of the event including logistics, infrastructure, safety, risk assessments, and stakeholder management, in addition to fundraising
3. Rising costs — the 2024 event cost approximately £100,000, and the committee personally underwrote the shortfall, a model described as not feasible or sustainable

The committee stated it recognised that businesses and organisations everywhere are facing increasing financial pressures in the current economic climate, and the Teignmouth Airshow is no exception.

What Is the Teignmouth Airshow?

The Teignmouth Airshow is a free annual aviation event held on Teignmouth seafront in Devon. It is run entirely by an independent committee of volunteers. It receives no council funding and generates no income through ticket sales. All funding comes through grants, donations, sponsorships, and fundraising events.

It is described as the largest free event to take place in Teignbridge and welcomed over 30,000 visitors to the town at its peak.

When Did the Teignmouth Airshow Start?

The Teignmouth Airshow was first held in July 2019, described by its founders as “a once impossible dream that became reality.” The inaugural event ran over 3 days, with flying displays on the Saturday, live music on the Friday evening, and a family fun day on the Sunday.

The show was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It returned in 2022, followed by successful events in 2023 and 2024 — giving the show a total run of 5 editions across its 7-year history.

How Much Does the Teignmouth Airshow Cost to Run?

The event costs approximately £100,000 to run. This figure covers flying display fees, safety infrastructure, site build and breakdown, logistics, and volunteer coordination.

In 2024, the committee personally underwrote the event after falling short of the funding target. No commercial operator or public body backs the show. All funding is community-sourced.

What Aircraft Displayed at the Teignmouth Airshow?

The Teignmouth Airshow featured military jets, heritage warbirds, and precision aerobatic teams over Teignmouth seafront. Displays ran from 1pm and concluded by 6pm each show day.

Which Aircraft Featured in the 2023 and 2024 Shows?

Regular and confirmed aircraft across the 2022–2024 editions included:

• RAF Red Arrows — 9-aircraft formation team flying BAE Hawk T1 jets; headlined the show in 2022, 2023, and 2024
• RAF Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 — a front-line combat jet capable of supersonic speed; performed in 2023 and 2024
• Battle of Britain Memorial Flight — the Avro Lancaster, Supermarine Spitfire, and Hawker Hurricane; featured in 2023
• AeroSuperBatics Wingwalkers — performers strapped to the wings of 1940s Boeing Stearman biplanes
• Rich Goodwin Pitts Special — high-powered modified biplanes performing solo aerobatic displays
• The Starlings — a formation aerobatic team flying Extra 300 aircraft
• Team Raven — a civilian aerobatic display team

What Are the Best Devon and Southwest Airshow Alternatives in 2026?

Aviation fans who planned to attend the Teignmouth Airshow 2026 have 3 confirmed alternatives within Devon and the southwest of England.

Which Airshow Is Closest to Teignmouth in 2026?

The English Riviera Airshow is the closest confirmed free airshow to Teignmouth in 2026. It takes place approximately 17 miles from Teignmouth at Paignton, Torbay.

1. English Riviera Airshow — 29–31 May 2026

The English Riviera Airshow runs over 3 days from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May 2026 at Paignton Green, Torbay, Devon, TQ4 6BG. It is free to attend and organised by Torbay Council with support from the English Riviera BID Company.

The 2026 edition marks its 10th anniversary and features confirmed RAF displays:

• RAF Red Arrows — performing on both Friday and Saturday
• RAF Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 — performing on both Saturday and Sunday
• Battle of Britain Memorial Flight — confirmed for the event
• RAF Grob Tutor Display Team — confirmed for both days

The airshow attracts almost 200,000 people annually. Wing Commander Sasha Nash leads the Red Arrows in 2026, becoming the first woman to lead the team in the programme’s history.

2. Plymouth Armed Forces Day — 27 June 2026

Plymouth Armed Forces Day returns on Saturday 27 June 2026 at Plymouth Hoe, Devon, PL1 2NZ. The event is organised by Plymouth City Council in association with Babcock and includes aerial displays alongside military ground activities.

3. Blackpool Airshow — 8–9 August 2026

The Blackpool Airshow runs on 8 and 9 August 2026 along Blackpool Promenade, Lancashire. It is free to attend and features the RAF Typhoon Display, with the Red Arrows and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight expected. It attracted 350,000 visitors in 2024.

What Is the Future of the Teignmouth Airshow?

The committee has not formally closed the Teignmouth Airshow permanently. It stated it remains hopeful about continuing to do things for the town and is committed to supporting the local community.

The committee confirmed that any remaining funds will be managed responsibly in line with its aims to deliver benefit within Teignmouth. The committee also confirmed it has built an extensive network of volunteers and supporters that remains active.

A GoFundMe campaign had been set up in 2025 to raise funds for a 2026 return. The campaign did not reach the target required to enable the show to proceed. No active crowdfunding campaign for a future edition has been announced as of May 2026.

For the nearest free Devon airshow with a confirmed 2026 date, visit englishrivieraairshow.co.uk for the English Riviera Airshow on 29–31 May 2026 at Paignton.

Alex Bradley

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.