Hampshire Air Festival
Thruxton Aerodrome, Hampshire
12th & 13th September 2026
Earlybird Tickets On Sale Until 30th April 2026
Hampshire Air Festival
Thruxton Aerodrome, Hampshire
12th & 13th September 2026
The Hampshire Air Festival takes flight on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September 2026 at Thruxton Aerodrome, Hampshire, celebrating “The Age of Flight” across a spectacular weekend of aviation and entertainment.
The Age of Flight
Experience an incredible journey through the skies, from the pioneering aircraft of the Great War, to iconic Warbirds including the legendary Spitfire in its 90th Anniversary Year, thrilling formation aerobatics, and the power of modern fast jets, all performing across both days.
Saturday Evening Extravaganza
Included in your Saturday ticket, in the evening, the sky comes alive with our breathtaking Pyro & Lights Extravaganza, featuring pyrotechnic aircraft displays, a dazzling light show, illuminated drone formations, and a grand fireworks finale lighting up the Thruxton skyline.
Fun For All The Family
Aviation is fun and can inspire the next generation, getting young people interested in both history and the STEM subjects, we call it education by stealth! We also have ground attractions including motorcycle stunts, military re-enactors, vehicles and live music. These will take place around the flying display so as not to distract from the aviation but complement it.
What's on?
Flying Display & Night Extravaganza
The Hampshire Air Festival takes flight on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September 2026 at Thruxton Aerodrome, Hampshire celebrating “The Age of Flight” across a spectacular weekend of aviation and entertainment.
Experience an incredible journey through the skies, from the pioneering aircraft of the Great War, to iconic Warbirds including the legendary Spitfire in its 90th Anniversary Year, thrilling formation aerobatics, and the power of modern fast jets, all performing across both days.
Then, on Saturday evening, the sky comes alive with our breathtaking ‘Age of Flight Extravaganza’, featuring pyrotechnic aerial displays, a dazzling light show, illuminated drone formations, and a grand fireworks finale lighting up the Thruxton skyline.
Refreshments
At Hampshire Air Festival food and drink is part of the day out. You’ll find a strong mix of street food and bar vendors serving hot meals, snacks, soft drinks and refreshments across the site, giving you plenty of choice before and after the flying displays.
You’re welcome to bring your own picnic if you prefer. Some seating is provided around the site, but you should bring your own chairs and blankets to stay comfortable.
Please note that no alcohol can be brought into the event, and glass bottles or glasses are not permitted.
Living History
Across the event you'll see a strong mix of military vehicles and re-enactment activity. From light utility jeeps to larger armoured vehicles, the display spans key periods of the 20th and 21st century and reflects the service and commitment of the armed forces.
It goes further than vehicles. Detailed living-history camps, equipment displays, and set-pieces are created by leading re-enactment groups from around the UK. They bring important moments of military history into the present and add depth to the festival experience.
Our Home, Thruxton Circuit & Aerodrome
Thruxton Aerodrome began as a Second World War airfield, built in the early 1940s for fighter, transport and glider operations. It supported several major Allied missions, with aircraft and aircrews passing through the site during the build-up to Normandy. When the war ended, flying activity shifted to training and general aviation, and the airfield moved into civilian hands.
Motor racing arrived soon after. In 1950 motorcycles began using the old runways and perimeter roads, followed by car racing in 1952. The wartime surfaces didn’t hold up for long, so the site was redeveloped during the late 1960s into a purpose-built circuit. The new track opened in 1968, running entirely on the perimeter roads, and quickly became known as one of the fastest circuits in Britain thanks to its long, sweeping sections and sustained speed.
Today Thruxton carries both histories. The aerodrome continues to operate for aviation training and private flying, while the circuit remains a major fixture in British motorsport. Visitors arriving for the Hampshire Air Festival step into a location shaped by two legacies: wartime flying and decades of high-speed racing. It’s a place defined by movement, performance and the energy that links aircraft and motorsport side by side.