There is no Waddington Airshow in 2026. The RAF Waddington International Air Show was permanently cancelled in 2015 due to significant security concerns and operational risks at the base. The last airshow at RAF Waddington took place in 2014. This article explains the full history of the Waddington Airshow, why it ended, and which 2026 UK airshows now fill the gap it left behind.
What Was the Waddington Airshow?
The Waddington International Airshow was an annual event held at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, England, between 1995 and 2014. It took place on the first weekend in July, attracting over 140,000 visitors and representatives of air forces from all around the world. The main purpose of the show was to raise public awareness and understanding of the Royal Air Force and its role. For the previous guide in this series, see Torquay Airshow 2026: Dates, Times, and the Full Aircraft Lineup for the 10th English Riviera Airshow.
Eighty-five percent of all proceeds from the event were distributed to the 2 main Service charities — the RAF Benevolent Fund (RAFBF) and the RAF Association (RAFA) — with the remaining 15% donated to local causes.
Where Did the Waddington Airshow Come From?
The first RAF Waddington International Airshow was staged at RAF Waddington in 1995, after the event was moved south from RAF Finningley — a former Royal Air Force station located east of Doncaster, now known as Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield, which closed in 1995. Over the following 20 years, it grew into the largest RAF airshow in the United Kingdom.
Why Was the Waddington Airshow Cancelled?
The Waddington Airshow was cancelled permanently in 2015 due to security and operational risks.
During 2015, RAF Waddington was earmarked for development, with significant work scheduled on the station’s runway for 59 weeks. The timing of the works coincided with a wider review of the base. The outcome was that significant security risks, as well as certain operational risks, resulted from the operation of the RAF Waddington Airshow.
The RAF conducted a review of its airshow commitments and announced the popular airshow would no longer be held at the RAF base near Lincoln. Security risks centred around RAF Waddington being used as a base for the operation of Reaper drones. There was strong public objection to the decision.
Was a Replacement Airshow Considered?
Yes. The Royal Air Force carried out an extensive survey of alternative sites in the East of England and decided it would be possible to hold an airshow at RAF Scampton. However, further work was needed to address significant legal, commercial, and infrastructure issues. The RAF confirmed it would not be possible to hold a show at RAF Scampton until 2017 at the earliest.
A show did take place at RAF Scampton in 2017, but this was a one-off event. It has since been announced that RAF Scampton closed, with the Red Arrows moving to RAF Waddington. No successor event to the Waddington Airshow has been established.
What Is RAF Waddington in 2026?
RAF Waddington is the RAF’s Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) hub. It is home to a fleet of aircraft composed of the Beechcraft Shadow R1, Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint, and General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft. Since October 2022, it has also been home to the RAF’s Aerobatic Team — the Red Arrows.
The Red Arrows are now based at RAF Waddington but display at airshows across the UK. They do not display at Waddington itself as part of a public airshow.
How Big Was the Waddington Airshow at Its Peak?
The show reached its peak attendance in 2013. Key attendance and participation figures across the show’s history are below:
|
Year |
Visitors |
Notable Feature |
|
2012 |
130,000+ |
210 aircraft, 20 countries participating |
|
2013 |
150,000+ |
Largest military airshow in UK that year |
|
2014 |
135,000+ |
£260,000 raised for service charities |
|
2015 |
— |
Cancelled — runway works and security review |
|
2026 |
— |
No event — permanently cancelled |
The 2013 show celebrated the 95th anniversary of the Royal Air Force and the 70th anniversary of the famous Dambuster raids. It featured the only display in the UK by the Turkish Air Forces Solo Türk F-16, alongside participants from the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, France, Italy, Jordan, and the Czech Republic.
The 2012 airshow featured over 210 aircraft on display, with 20 countries taking part. It included the first appearance in the UK by a RAAF Boeing Wedgetail and the debut appearance in Europe by the Republic of Korea Black Eagles display team.
What Did the Ground Display Include?
Ground displays at Waddington included over 100 aircraft, 250 trade stands, 2 exhibition hangars, and a Military Village concept where all services displayed. The Waddington SERE (Survive, Evade, Resist, Extract) School display was also a regular feature, alongside clubs demonstrating the diversity of hobbies and interests available to RAF personnel.
What Are the 4 Best UK Airshow Alternatives to Waddington in 2026?
Since the Waddington Airshow ended in 2014, 4 UK airshows are recognised as the closest alternatives for aviation enthusiasts:
1. RAF Cosford Air Show
The RAF Cosford Airshow was previously the second-biggest RAF airshow after Waddington. Since 2014, in the absence of the Waddington Airshow, it has become not only the main but the only airshow directly organised and managed by the RAF. The theme for 2026 is “Engineering the Future.” Tickets are on sale at rafcosfordairshow.co.uk.
2. Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT)
RIAT at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire is the world’s largest military airshow and takes place annually in July. It draws international military aircraft from dozens of nations and represents the largest single aviation gathering in the UK calendar.
3. Clacton Airshow 2026
The 33rd Clacton Airshow takes place on 27–28 August 2026 along the Essex seafront. It is expected to welcome in the region of 250,000 visitors, with impressive aerobatic displays, exhibition stands, a food court, and on-site entertainment. The event is free to attend.
4. Headcorn International Airshow 2026
The first-ever Headcorn International Airshow takes place on 27–28 June 2026 at Headcorn Aerodrome in Kent, building on more than a decade of successful heritage events. It promises historic warbirds, civilian aerobatics, and a festival-style ground display.
What Is the History of RAF Waddington?
Waddington opened in 1916 as a flying training station for the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). In 1919 the base closed but reopened in 1926 as a bomber station. During World War 2, Waddington took part in the strategic bomber offensive against Germany. In 1941 it became the first RAF base to be equipped with the famous Avro Lancaster, operated by 44 Squadron.
In 1957, the mighty Avro Vulcan was based at RAF Waddington, playing a part in maintaining the British nuclear deterrent. During the Falkland conflict in 1982, Waddington’s Vulcans saw action when they flew several bombing missions over the islands.
This deep military heritage made RAF Waddington one of the most historically significant airshow venues in the United Kingdom during the show’s 20-year run.
Will the Waddington Airshow Ever Return?
As of 2026, no announcement has been made by the RAF regarding a return of the Waddington International Airshow. RAF Cosford remains the only airshow directly organised and managed by the RAF. The ISTAR and drone operations based at RAF Waddington continue to present the same security considerations that led to the original cancellation in 2015.
Aviation enthusiasts in Lincolnshire and the wider East Midlands region are directed to RAF Cosford, RIAT Fairford, Clacton Airshow, and the Headcorn International Airshow as the 4 strongest alternatives for 2026.
For the most current information on UK airshows in 2026, visit britishairshows.com or the individual event websites listed above.
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.