With the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow now just over six weeks away, the event has taken the exciting step of revealing the first wave of aircraft that will be performing in its flying display program. As always, the roster features a diverse and interesting mixture of private, military, and commercial aircraft, with the planes involved showcasing their abilities both in solo displays and as part of a team.
Held every two years at Farnborough Airport (FAB) in the UK, the airshow is a place where the great and the good of the aviation world can come together to share ideas and concepts in (hopefully!) the sunny July weather. The airshow is primarily aimed at industry professionals, with only one day of public admittance, and, alongside the flying display program, it will also host a range of static displays.
Commercial & Private Aviation
As seen in the photo above, the most notable commercial participant in the flying display program at the 2026 Farnborough Airshow will arguably be the Airbus A350-1000. While the exact times of its displays are yet to be confirmed, the airshow’s website listings do at least show that it will appear on all five days of this year’s iteration, which is set to run from Monday, July 20 to Friday, July 24, 2026.
Another airliner that is set to take to the skies is GE Aerospace’s Saab 340B, while, from the private aviation sector, Bombardier plans to display its Global 8000 jet. Elsewhere, the futuristic Vertical Aerospace VA-1X and BETA Technologies CX300 will also strut their stuff in front of the show’s attendees, bringing the future of aviation to life. Commenting on the overall lineup, the airshow went on to say that:
“Showcasing frontline military capability, heritage aviation to next-generation commercial platforms and emerging advanced air mobility aircraft, the flying display will reflect the ambition of the international industry today.”
Military Aircraft & Display Teams
On the military side of things, the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow will be a diverse showcase of both past and present designs. Indeed, Second World War-era planes such as the Rolls Royce Vickers Supermarine Spitfire PR.Mk.XIX and the Ultimate WarBird Flights P-51D Mustang will turn the clock back more than 80 years, bringing evocative sights and sounds to the UK skies.
Catch what other flight trackers miss
Emergency squawks, holds, NOTAMs — live signals, no signup.
Open tracker
Catch what other flight trackers miss
Emergency squawks, holds, NOTAMs — live signals, no signup.
Open tracker
However, arguably the airshow’s biggest coup this year has been securing the US Air Force F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team’s only public European display of 2026. The show describes the F-35A as the overall headliner of its flying display program, and the jet will take to the skies on every day of the show. The Spitfire, on the other hand, will only fly on July 23 and 24, with the Mustang only on July 24.
Elsewhere in the military sector, several display teams have already been confirmed as taking part in the flying display program at the Farnborough International Airshow this year. These include the Starlings Aerobatic Team and the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team, both of which will perform their only displays of this year’s show on July 24. Unfortunately, however, the Red Arrows will not be present.
Why The Red Arrows Can’t Display At Farnborough Airshow
The famous display team was limited to only performing flypasts at the most recent iterations of the event.
Flypasts & Static Displays
As well as longer display routines that will see the aircraft involved flying back and forth in front of the spectators at the 2026 Farnborough Airshow, two more military jets will appear more briefly in the air by performing flypasts. The planes in question are the RAF Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 (July 24) and an Aero L-159 ALCA light combat aircraft and trainer from the Czech Air Force (July 20 and 24).
There will also be plenty more aircraft for airshow attendees to get to grips with on the ground in Farnborough this July. On the commercial aviation side of things, these planes include DHL Air UK’s B777-200LRMF, Embraer’s E195-E2, GE Aerospace’s Boeing 747-400, and General Atomic AeroTec Systems’ Do228 NXT. The Czech Air Force, meanwhile, will display its Saab JAS-39 Gripen on a static basis.
