Danish Air Show to return in 2026
The Danish Air Show will return in 2026 after a couple of years’ pause, with the next edition scheduled for Sunday 13 September 2026 at Flyvestation Aalborg.
The Danish Defence is framing the comeback around Denmark’s security, building fighting power, and career opportunities, set against what it describes as a period of historic rearmament driven by rising international tensions.
Two Royal Danish Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs
A security message with recruitment built in
Forsvaret’s announcement places the event firmly in today’s security climate, presenting the show as a public window into how Denmark is strengthening its defence in a changing world.
Major General Jan Dam, Chief of the Air Force Command (Flyverkommandoen), said the current situation requires both modern technology and strong competencies, and described Danish Air Show 2026 as an opportunity to show how Denmark is working to protect the country.
The recruitment angle is part of the plan from the start. The Danish Defence says visitors will be able to meet personnel from across the organisation and speak with recruitment advisers about education routes and careers.
Date, venue, and opening hours
The show will take place at Flyvestation Aalborg, with the practical information referencing the base at 9430 Vadum.
The organisers have confirmed that the event is free to attend, with the site open 08:00–16:00 and the flying display running 10:00–16:00.
A Royal Danish Air Force Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk flies air-to-air alongside an F-16 Fighting Falcon
Travel, entrances, and why shuttles are being pushed hard
The guidance already published for 2026 is unusually direct about traffic pressure, and it reflects what this event typically does to local roads.
If you are arriving from the Aalborg or Nørresundby side, the recommended entrance is via Aalborg Airport, Ny Lufthavnsvej 100, 9400 Aalborg. Three other entrances are planned along Thisted Landevej.
Parking is planned to be free on site, but the organisers strongly encourage visitors to leave the car at home where possible and travel instead to the civilian airport by train, bus, bicycle, or on foot, then use the free shuttle buses onward to the air base.
For anyone driving, the warning is clear: queues should be expected, and the road network around the station is likely to be stretched even with four entrances in use.
What the show is promising, even before the flying list appears
A full participant list has not yet been published, but the organisers do outline the shape of the programme.
The event information describes a packed day featuring a tactical demonstration by Danish transport aircraft, helicopters, and fighter aircraft, with Danish and foreign military aircraft also expected on the ground and in the air.
On the ground, the exhibition area is expected to draw in a broad spread of the defence organisation. The organisers specifically reference the Air Force, the Army, Special Operations Command, Arctic Command, the Danish Emergency Management Agency, and the Defence Maintenance Service, alongside other parts of the wider Danish Defence.
Forsvaret says the programme is still being prepared and will be released progressively through official channels and the event platforms.
A three-ship air-to-air formation bringing together the SAI KZ II, Saab MFI-15 Safari and de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk Mk.22, a rare moment that ties Danish aviation heritage to the modern airshow scene.
Food and drink rules
Visitors are allowed to bring their own food and soft drinks, but alcohol is not permitted.
Food and drink will also be available on site, with the practical information noting that the food stalls are supplied by vendors associated with Smukfest in Skanderborg.
Past editions show what “big” looks like in Denmark
Even without a published 2026 aircraft list, Danish Air Show’s recent history gives a clear sense of the scale the organisers are planning for.
Forsvaret reported an estimated 145,000 visitors for the 2016 edition at Flyvestation Skrydstrup.
In 2018, Flyvestation Aalborg hosted the show again, and Denmark’s Royal House later summarised the day as attracting over 125,000 people to Aalborg.
In 2022, Danish Air Show at Flyvestation Karup was assessed by Forsvaret and Danish police at around 125,000 attendees, and the official recap also acknowledged the traffic pressure caused by the sheer volume of visitors.
That backdrop helps explain the strong transport messaging already being pushed for 2026. The organisers are preparing for a national-scale crowd.
A Royal Danish Air Force AW101
Why the return matters after the postponed and cancelled years
The comeback also closes a recent stop-start chapter. In April 2024, Flyvevåbnet postponed the planned 2024 show at Flyvestation Aalborg to June 2025 to prioritise operational tasks, with Jan Dam pointing to the need to focus on build-up and operational activity.
In November 2024, Danish Air Show 2025 was cancelled, with Flyvevåbnet citing increased operational prioritisation needs during a period of capability upgrades and an unstable security environment, and noting at the time that a 2026 decision had not yet been taken.
With the 2026 date now confirmed, the Danish Defence is bringing the show back with a clear purpose: a public demonstration of readiness, capability, and the people needed to sustain it.
