July 14, 2026

2026 Pensacola Beach Air Show Schedule Announced

By Isabella Gomez
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News

July 14, 2026

PENSACOLA, Fla. It’s that time of year once again when locals, visitors and our military families all gather in one spot to watch the beloved Blue Angels flying overhead and this year, as we celebrate our nation’s 250^th birthday, it’s going be even more special!
And this year’s event also carries another special significance, honoring the 80th Anniversary of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

This year, the 2026 Pensacola Beach Air Show will take place Wednesday through Saturday.

As always, the team will delight, surprise and excite those of us below as they show off their remarkable skills in flight.

Here is the full schedule:

Wednesday, July 15: “Breakfast with the Blues” — around 7:30 a.m., the Blue Angels mark their flight paths by circling overhead.

Thursday, July 16: Practice Flight — at 2 p.m., the Blue Angels conduct an over-water practice session

Friday, July 17: Full Dress Rehearsal — demonstrations begin at approximately 10:30 a.m.; Blue Angels fly at 2 p.m.

Saturday, July 18: Official Pensacola Beach Air Show — demonstrations begin at approximately 10:30 a.m.; Blue Angels fly at 2 p.m.

The 2026 lineup features a dynamic mix of military aircraft, historic warbirds, and elite aerobatic performers.

Each day will be packed with outstanding performances from so many different teams of very special pilots.

The sound of freedom returns as the 28th Bomb Squadron brings the legendary B-1B Lancer back to the Pensacola Beach Air Show, celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America. Known for its unmistakable roar, sweeping wings, and unmatched presence, the “Bone” is set to once again shake the coastline and remind spectators why it remains one of the most elite bombers in the world.

Carol Pilon with Third Strike Wingwalking will perform atop a vintage Stearman biplane, executing daring acrobatics thousands of feet above the beach in a tribute to classic barnstorming tradition.

The F-15C Eagles, flown by the 159th Fighter Wing out of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, are a premier air superiority fighter designed to detect, track, and engage multiple targets at long range while maintaining exceptional maneuverability in close-in combat.

The 187th Fighter Wing, based at Dannelly Field in Montgomery, Ala., will showcase the F-35A Lightning II’s unmatched stealth, sensor fusion and combat capability. Known as the “Red Tails,” the wing proudly carries forward the legacy of the WWII Tuskegee Airmen. That heritage lives on through their distinctive red-tailed aircraft and the 100th Fighter Squadron, which honors the history of the nation’s first African American military pilots.

Frank Kimmel will fly his rare, 1949 F4U-5 Corsair, one of fewer than 24 airworthy examples remaining worldwide out of more than 12,000 built. The Corsair remains one of World War II’s most iconic aircraft.

The Pink Jet, a striking pink Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros flown by Stephanie Goetz and Olga Sannikova, combines unforgettable aerial performance with a powerful message of breast cancer awareness and community outreach.

Red Bull Air Force will feature helicopter aerobatic pilot Aaron Fitzgerald, aerobatic champion Kevin Coleman flying his specialized Extra 300SHP plane, and the Red Bull Air Force Jump Team, led by Luke Aikins, delivering high energy aerial demonstrations and precision skydiving performances.

Redline Airshows, a father and son duo featuring Ken and Austin Rieder, will perform in matched RV-8 aircraft with opposing passes, tight formation flying, and synchronized aerobatics that showcase speed, precision, and teamwork.

RJ Gritter will fly his Bellanca Decathlon in a routine filled with crisp loops, rolls, hammerheads, and smoke trailed maneuvers that highlight technical skill and dynamic showmanship.

Skip Stewart returns with his highly modified biplane, Prometheus, delivering aggressive snap rolls, vertical climbs, and his signature inverted low level pass along the beach where he precisely snaps a string suspended between two poles just feet above the pier.

The Titan Aerobatic Team will fly three WWII era AT-6 Texan aircraft in tight, precision formation maneuvers that honor the legacy of the iconic military trainer and the discipline required to fly just feet apart.

The Veterans Flight, organized by Pensacola attorney and pilot Roy Kinsey, will once again serve as a moving aerial tribute. Approximately a dozen Boeing Stearman Model 75 biplanes from across the Southeast will participate in honor of all World War II and Korean War veterans, representing the foundation of America’s air power.

Closing out the show on Friday and Saturday will be the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels. For 80 years, the Blue Angels have represented the highest standards of excellence, teamwork, and service within the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Spectators will witness signature maneuvers such as the Diamond Dirty Loop, the Double Farvel, the Vertical Pitch, the Fleur de Lis, the Opposing Knife Edge Pass, and the crowd favorite Sneak Pass.

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