Airbourne returns Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 August 2027, its 33rd year, after the 2026 show paid its own way. What is confirmed, what is not, how to help.

Airbourne will be back on Eastbourne seafront from Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 August 2027.

The council’s Visit Eastbourne team announced the dates on Friday 2 October. It will be the show’s 33rd year. The organisers say it can return because this year’s show met its cost-neutral target. Sponsorship, donations and commercial sales covered what it cost to stage.

That condition matters more than the dates. Airbourne is free to watch, and it only goes ahead when the money comes in first.

What is confirmed for 2027

  • Dates: Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 August 2027, four days of flying.
  • Price: free to watch, as in every previous year.
  • Sponsors: businesses can book sponsorship and advertising at 2026 rates “for a limited time”, by emailing EastbourneEvents@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk.
  • Ambassadors: supporters can pledge £2 a month and get a pin badge to collect at the show, or give once at SaveAirbourne.com.

What is not confirmed yet

  • The flying line-up. No aircraft or display teams have been named for 2027.
  • The Red Arrows. They are not mentioned in the announcement. In 2026 they were billed but did not fly, because of what the organisers called “the Red Arrows grounding in Canada”.
  • Fireworks. The announcement does not say whether there will be a firework finale.
  • Hospitality and seating. The council says packages for 2027 “will be announced soon”.

Cllr Jenny Williams, the council’s lead member for tourism and place, said the council looks forward “to sharing more details about the 2027 show soon”.

Why the show has to pay its own way

Airbourne costs about half a million pounds a year to stage. That figure comes from the organisers’ announcement of the 2026 show, which said donations, sponsorship and sales had offset it to break even in 2025.

The flying displays and the temporary seafront infrastructure are the big costs. Since the show is free, the money has to come from sponsors, the official car parks, paid seating and visitors’ donations.

It is not a new test. When the council confirmed the 2025 show, it said 2024 was the third year running that the show had covered all its running costs. The 2025 and 2026 shows have since met the target too.

This year’s announcement came earlier than it did two years ago:

Timeline of Airbourne date announcements. The 2025 show, 14 to 17 August 2025, was announced on 5 November 2024. The 2026 show, 13 to 16 August 2026, was announced on 2 October 2025. The 2027 show, 12 to 15 August 2027, was announced on 2 October 2026. Each was confirmed after the previous show met its cost-neutral target.
Graphic by Eastbourne Live. Source: Visit Eastbourne airshow announcements of 5 November 2024, 2 October 2025 and 2 October 2026.
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How the 2026 show went

The 2026 show ran from 13 to 16 August. The organisers’ round-up of 18 August said footfall was “particularly high” on the Saturday and Sunday. That was despite:

  • the Red Arrows grounding in Canada
  • high temperatures
  • train disruption
  • a severe government alert that cancelled the Sunday evening fireworks

New displays included Europe’s only flying MiG-17, the Red Devils parachute team and a Conair Turbo Firecat water drop. Our 2026 line-up and timetable has the full programme and what happened to the fireworks.

What it means for you

  • Put 12 to 15 August 2027 in the diary. You do not need a ticket to watch from the beach or the promenade.
  • If you want a seat or hospitality, wait for the 2027 packages. None are on sale yet.
  • If you run a business that wants to sponsor, the 2026 rates are offered for a limited time. The council has not said when that offer ends.
  • If you want the show to keep coming back, the organisers say the more they raise early, the bigger the programme they can book.

We will add the line-up as it is announced. For what is on in town before then, see things to do in Eastbourne.

Sources