2026 Pensacola Beach Air Show Celebrates Blue Angels’ 80th Anniversary and America’s 250th

July 15 to 18, 2026

PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. (June 11, 2026) — Pensacola’s hometown heroes will take center stage as the 2026 Pensacola Beach Air Show returns July 15 to 18, hosted by the Santa Rosa Island Authority.

This year’s event carries special significance, honoring the 80th Anniversary of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels alongside America’s 250th Anniversary. Set against the sugar-white sands of Pensacola Beach, the show serves as both a world-class aviation event and a tribute to generations of service, innovation, and sacrifice.

“Hosting the Blue Angels during their 80th anniversary in the same year our nation celebrates its 250th birthday makes this year’s show incredibly meaningful,” said Robbie Schrock, SRIA Director of Administration. “There is no better place to celebrate American aviation excellence and patriotism than Pensacola Beach.”

Returning this year, the voice of the air show is Luke Carrico, a seasoned announcer renowned for his dynamic and engaging commentary that places audiences directly in the cockpits overhead. Paul Entrekin, a retired Marine Corps aviator and former full-time air show pilot performer, will mark his 33rd year as the Air Boss over the show.

The 2026 lineup features a dynamic mix of military aircraft, historic warbirds, and elite aerobatic performers:

The sound of freedom returns as the 28th Bomb Squadron brings the legendary B-1B Lancer back to the Pensacola Beach Air Show, celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America. Known for its unmistakable roar, sweeping wings, and unmatched presence, the “Bone” is set to once again shake the coastline and remind spectators why it remains one of the most elite bombers in the world.

Carol Pilon with Third Strike Wingwalking will perform atop a vintage Stearman biplane, executing daring acrobatics thousands of feet above the beach in a tribute to classic barnstorming tradition.

The F-15C Eagles, flown by the 159th Fighter Wing out of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, are a premier air superiority fighter designed to detect, track, and engage multiple targets at long range while maintaining exceptional maneuverability in close-in combat.

The 187th Fighter Wing, based at Dannelly Field in Montgomery, Ala., will showcase the F-35A Lightning II‘s unmatched stealth, sensor fusion and combat capability. Known as the “Red Tails,” the wing proudly carries forward the legacy of the WWII Tuskegee Airmen. That heritage lives on through their distinctive red-tailed aircraft and the 100th Fighter Squadron, which honors the history of the nation’s first African American military pilots.

Frank Kimmel will fly his rare, 1949 F4U-5 Corsair, one of fewer than 24 airworthy examples remaining worldwide out of more than 12,000 built. The Corsair remains one of World War II’s most iconic aircraft.

The Pink Jet, a striking pink Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros flown by Stephanie Goetz and Olga Sannikova, combines unforgettable aerial performance with a powerful message of breast cancer awareness and community outreach.

Red Bull Air Force will feature helicopter aerobatic pilot Aaron Fitzgerald, aerobatic champion Kevin Coleman flying his specialized Extra 300SHP plane, and the Red Bull Air Force Jump Team, led by Luke Aikins, delivering high energy aerial demonstrations and precision skydiving performances.

Redline Airshows, a father and son duo featuring Ken and Austin Rieder, will perform in matched RV-8 aircraft with opposing passes, tight formation flying, and synchronized aerobatics that showcase speed, precision, and teamwork.

RJ Gritter will fly his Bellanca Decathlon in a routine filled with crisp loops, rolls, hammerheads, and smoke trailed maneuvers that highlight technical skill and dynamic showmanship.

Skip Stewart returns with his highly modified biplane, Prometheus, delivering aggressive snap rolls, vertical climbs, and his signature inverted low level pass along the beach where he precisely snaps a string suspended between two poles just feet above the pier.

The Titan Aerobatic Team will fly three WWII era AT-6 Texan aircraft in tight, precision formation maneuvers that honor the legacy of the iconic military trainer and the discipline required to fly just feet apart.

The Veterans Flight, organized by Pensacola attorney and pilot Roy Kinsey, will once again serve as a moving aerial tribute. Approximately a dozen Boeing Stearman Model 75 biplanes from across the Southeast will participate in honor of all World War II and Korean War veterans, representing the foundation of America’s air power.

Closing out the show on Friday and Saturday will be the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels. For 80 years, the Blue Angels have represented the highest standards of excellence, teamwork, and service within the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Spectators will witness signature maneuvers such as the Diamond Dirty Loop, the Double Farvel, the Vertical Pitch, the Fleur de Lis, the Opposing Knife Edge Pass, and the crowd favorite Sneak Pass.

“For Pensacola Beach, hosting the Blue Angels is more than an air show. It is a tradition that reflects our community’s deep connection to our hometown heroes, Naval Aviation in general and our nation’s military heritage,” said Mike Burns, Executive Director of the Santa Rosa Island Authority.

“As we celebrate the Blue Angels’ 80th anniversary and America’s 250th birthday, we are honored to welcome visitors from across the country to experience this incredible tribute to service, sacrifice and American pride.”

About the Santa Rosa Island Authority

Pensacola Beach is owned by Escambia County, Fla., and is under the direction of the Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA). The SRIA was created by the Florida legislature in 1947 under Chapter 24500. The SRIA does not receive tax support from the taxpayers of the county. It is fully funded from lease fees collected from business and residences on the beach. The Island Authority board is made up of six members, five are named by members of the Escambia County Board of Commissioners whose term is the same as the commissioner who appointed them. Registered voters on Pensacola Beach elect the sixth member. The elected member’s term is two years.