Slovak International Air Fest set to Return in 2026
After a two-year hiatus (following cancellations of the 2024 and 2025 shows), Slovakia’s premier airshow is back. Organizers have announced that the Slovak International Air Fest (SIAF) will take place on 5–6 September 2026 at Košice International Airport.
This 14th edition will mark the first time SIAF is held in Košice, a city often called the heart of Slovak aviation. The central theme will be the 35th anniversary of the Biele Albatrosy (White Albatrosses) aerobatic team. SIAF is widely recognized as the largest aviation event in Slovakia, and the return of this festival — complete with flying displays, ground demonstrations, and cultural activities — promises to be a highlight of the 2026 calendar.
Slovak Government A319 and Fokker 100 at SIAF 2023
The event’s organizers, including the Slovak Aviation Association and Slovak Aviation Agency, are partnering with the Košice Region (KSK) and other local institutions. Košice Region Governor Rastislav Trnka, whose office is the main partner, stressed the city’s aviation heritage at the announcement. He noted that hosting SIAF in Košice “is no coincidence” – it builds on “traditions inseparably linked to our region, from the first biplanes through the era of elite pilot training and the rise of the legendary White Albatrosses, to today’s innovations”.
Košice will support the airshow with substantial funding (the KSK Terra Incognita program pledged €100,000) and has officially invited aerobatic teams from 14 countries (including the UK, Czech Republic, France, Netherlands, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Austria, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Italy and the USA). Domestic participants are also invited: the Slovak Air Force (Defense Ministry), Interior Ministry aviation unit, Fire and Rescue, Police and other rescue services will all be encouraged to take part. By mixing international acts with national military and civic displays, the organizers hope to showcase both Slovak aviation tradition and cutting-edge developments. As SIAF CEO Hubert Štoksa explained, “SIAF connects aviation, inspiration for younger generations, business opportunities and regional pride. Košice and aviation belong together, making the city an ideal place for this story to continue”.
USAF F-22 Raptor at SIAF 2022
Košice: A New Aviation Hub
Košice International Airport will provide the backdrop for SIAF 2026. It is Slovakia’s second-largest airport, serving around 800,000 passengers annually. The modern facility lies just 6 km south of downtown Košice and offers direct connections to major European hubs. For example, Košice flies nonstop to Prague, Warsaw, Zürich, Vienna, London (Luton and Stansted), Liverpool, Dublin, Zadar and other cities. Visitors from abroad can thus reach Košice easily by air; the airport is also served by low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Wizz Air. By road or rail, Košice lies roughly 320 km east of Bratislava – about a 4–5 hour drive or train trip. (Direct flights cut that travel time to about 1.5 hours.) The city is further connected by the Slovak highway network and rail lines, making it accessible to spectators from across Central Europe.
Košice itself has a century-long aviation history. The first aviation event there was a gas balloon flight in 1906, and the city hosted a pioneering “aviation day” in 1910. In 1920 a military airfield was established in the area, and by 1924 regular passenger flights connected Košice with Bratislava. After WWII Košice was rebuilt as a major airport and became home to the Slovak National Uprising Air Force Academy in 1973. Today the Košice region boasts an aviation museum (branch of the Slovak Technical Museum) with dozens of historic aircraft, reflecting this legacy. By bringing SIAF to Košice, organizers “are not writing a new story, [they] are building on traditions” deeply rooted in the region. The image above shows Košice Airport’s runways and terminal – soon to serve aircraft in a celebration of Slovak and international aviation.
Czech Air Force L-159 ALCA Demo Team at SIAF 2019
SIAF: Slovakia’s Premier Airshow
Since its founding in 2011, SIAF has established itself as the most prestigious aviation event in Slovakia. The first edition (held at Sliač Air Base in central Slovakia) commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising and drew heavy government support. Slovak officials touted it as “the biggest event of its kind in Slovakia,” featuring military aircraft, historic planes and NATO equipment from many countries. Over the years SIAF grew in scale and reputation: in 2017 it won European Airshow Council awards and was ranked among the four largest airshows in Europe. For example, the 2019 edition at Sliač drew teams from 13 countries and included a special Slovak Air Force “Renegát” display of MiG-29 jets. Even the 2022 Slovak Army Museum honors SIAF’s contributions.
The most recent SIAF edition took place on 2–3 September 2023 at Malacky–Kuchyňa Air Base (near Bratislava). That show attracted over 35,000 spectators across the weekend. It featured modern fighters (JAS-39 Gripen, Eurofighter Typhoon), helicopters, aerobatic teams, parachute jumps and ground exhibits. (One highlight was the Czech Mi-24/35 helicopter team’s final appearance.) With such success, the two-year gap to 2026 is solely due to reorganization: the 2024 show was cancelled for national scheduling reasons, and there was no show in 2025. The 2026 edition in Košice thus represents both a comeback and a new chapter for SIAF. It will be organized by the same Slovak Aviation Association and Agency, in cooperation with regional partners
Slovak Air Force F-16V Fighting Falcon
Honoring the White Albatrosses
A special focus of SIAF 2026 will be commemorating the White Albatrosses (Biele Albatrosy), Slovakia’s legendary jet team. Formed in early 1991 at Košice’s military flight training school, the White Albatrosses flew Aero L-39 Albatros jet trainers adorned in white with red-blue smoke trails. They quickly became world-class: by the mid-1990s the team had expanded to seven aircraft and performed across Europe. (For example, photo above shows L-39 ‘5301’ – once a White Albatros – in flight with Slovak markings.) Tragically, a 2000 training accident killed one pilot, and by the end of 2001 the team was dissolved. Their aircraft were retired and the team’s members returned to other duties.
The 2026 SIAF will honor the 35th anniversary of Biele Albatrosy’s founding. Though the team no longer flies together, SIAF plans anniversary tributes: former team pilots will be invited, memorabilia displayed, and tribute flights by legacy jets arranged if possible. As Košice’s aviation heritage board notes, the White Albatrosses were “inseparable from Košice” during their era. The airshow’s tribute will thus celebrate a key chapter in Slovak Air Force history and connect younger audiences with these aviation pioneers.
German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons at SIAF 2023
Awards and Accompanying Events
In keeping with recent tradition, SIAF will also host the Golden Wings Awards – Slovakia’s national aviation honors. The Golden Wings gala recognizes outstanding individuals, projects and organizations in Slovak aviation (civil and military). Past winners have included pilots, engineers and institutions. In 2026, the award ceremony will likely take place on the eve of the airshow, during a gala in Košice attended by industry and government figures.
Overall, organizers stress that SIAF is “more than just an airshow”. As CEO Hubert Štoksa put it, the return of SIAF “is a brand respected at home and abroad” and will build on its high standards. He noted that SIAF 2026 will blend tradition with innovation, inspiring young people, fostering business and showcasing regional pride. The Košice partners (KSK, Košice Region Tourism, TU Košice’s Aeronautics Faculty and the Aviation Museum) have formalized their cooperation by signing a memorandum. Together they invite families, aviation enthusiasts and professionals to be part of this historic event – one that revives SIAF’s proud legacy and reaches new heights.
For more details, visit the event’s official website here.
