The Royal Air Force has confirmed four of the RAF’s most iconic display teams will perform in the English Riviera’s landmark 10th anniversary Airshow this year. From Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May, the skies above Paignton Sands will be taken over by the iconic Red Arrows, the Typhoon display team and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Free to attend and open to all, the three-day event on the English Riviera coastline is expected to draw around 200,000 spectators during the long weekend, making it one of the largest free airshows in Britain.

Organised by Torbay Council in partnership with the English Riviera BID Company, along with local businesses and organisations, the 2026 edition marks a decade since the very first English Riviera Airshow took to the skies in 2016, and organisers have pulled out all the stops to ensure the anniversary edition is unforgettable.

The English Riviera Airshow will host the first female leader of the Red Arrows

This year carries an additional piece of history, as Wing Commander Sasha Nash who is the first woman to ever lead the Red Arrows will make one of her first public appearances in the role above the English Riviera coastline.

What to expect from the English Riviera Airshow 2026

In addition to this record first, a festival village, ground-based entertainment, an opening-night celebration, and the full force of the RAF’s finest display teams will be at the show set against the iconic seaside backdrop.

“The English Riviera Airshow has grown into one of the most anticipated events on the UK airshow calendar, and this 10th anniversary year is going to be truly extraordinary,” said Carolyn Custerson, CEO of the English Riviera BID Company. “With so much happening over the three days - both in the air and on the ground, including the first time Wing Commander Sasha Nash leads the Red Arrows - we’d encourage everyone to make a full weekend of it and experience all the English Riviera has to offer.”

When will the RAF Red Arrows perform at the English Riviera Airshow 2026?

The world-famous Red Arrows will perform on both Friday and Saturday, giving spectators the rare opportunity to witness their iconic Diamond Nine formation and their trademark red, white and blue smoke trails over the ocean.

When will the Typhoon display team perform at the English Riviera Airshow 2026?

The Typhoon display team will impress crowds on both Saturday and Sunday with the thunderous roar of its twin Eurofighter engines announcing its arrival long before it appears overhead, delivering heart-pounding passes and dramatic climbs.

When will the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight perform at the English Riviera Airshow 2026?

History lovers will be thrilled that the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight has been confirmed for all three days, bringing Spitfires, Hurricanes and a C47 Dakota aircraft to the English Riviera’s skies in a moving tribute to those who served.

Book your accommodation for the English Riviera Airshow 2026

With a record number of visitors expected across the long weekend, accommodation is likely to fill quickly, therefore early booking is strongly recommended. The region offers a wide range of options to suit all budgets and group sizes, from family-run B&Bs and action-packed holiday parks, to self-catering cottages and seafront hotels, all within easy reach of the airshow.