RIAT Theme for 2026

Finnish Air Force F-18 at RIAT in 2023

Next summer a series of fast jets will soar through the Gloucestershire skies as the Royal International Air Tattoo confirms next year’s show theme is ‘Fighter Meet’.

Every July, RAF Fairford transforms into a hive of activity as the Royal International Air Tattoo attracts thousands of visitors to the Cotswolds for the aviation showcase. In 2025, event organisers announced the show had attracted a record crowd of over 178,000 people.

RIAT26 will have an operational theme of ‘Fighter Meet’ highlighting the aircraft used throughout the last century for air-to-air combat and, hopefully, examples of modern fighter aircraft used across the globe.

In addition, 2026 also marks 30 years since Royal status was granted to the event, and in recognition of this next year’s event will have a sub-theme of Royal Flight, which will be marked with a gathering of aircraft used for VIP transportation.

Speaking on the theme announcement, Head of Air Operations, Peter Reoch said:

“Our Fighter Meet theme is an exciting opportunity to showcase a myriad of aircraft types, particularly fast jets, which are always popular with our visitors. As always, our aspiration is to provide an eclectic mix of aircraft from around the world for our visitors to view in July.”

A Finnish Air Force F-18 is the first aircraft to be confirmed for this year’s flying display.

Head of Air Operations, Peter Reoch said:

“We are delighted to unveil the Finnish Hornet as our first participant for RIAT26 – this display is always well flown and is the perfect introduction to our Fighter Meet theme.
We are very busy working with Air Arms from around the world to attract an exciting assortment of aircraft to the show and we’re excited to start announcing these weekly as these are confirmed.”

In recent years the event has seen huge demand for tickets, with tickets being sold at record speed for three consecutive years.

This year, the event had already sold over 70,000 tickets by mid-February. All proceeds are donated to its parent charity, the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, which aims to inspire young people and RAF personnel to reach their full potential in STEM, air and space.

Head of Charity Development, Hannah Langford said:

“Every ticket purchased for the Royal International Air Tattoo plays a direct and powerful role in shaping young futures. “Thanks to this support, we’re able to fund inspiring STEM experiences and skills development that open doors for young people aged 5 to 25 — especially those who might never otherwise see themselves in air, space or technology.
“When people come to RIAT, they’re not only enjoying an extraordinary aviation event; they’re helping us spark curiosity, build essential skills, and create opportunities for the next generation.”

All proceeds from the annual aviation showcase are donated to the event’s parent charity, the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT), whose purpose is to inspire young people to fulfil their potential in STEM, with particular focus on air, space and technology.

In the last three years, grants from the charity have enabled over 750,000 young people aged 5 – 25 years to be engaged in STEM activities, which have been delivered by leading UK charities and powered by the airshow’s sustained popularity. In addition, the show’s flagship ground attraction, the Techno Zone®, will again be alive with a range of interactive activities to entertain visitors of all ages. There is more about this on our RIAT News page "supporting STEM engagement"

RIAT26 is from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th July 2026. The main arrivals days will be on 15th & 16th July and departure day is 20th July.

Further aircraft participation will be announced weekly on Thursdays at noon.