First air show, Season Premiere, on 10 May sets tone for exciting season ahead
Old Warden, 15 April 2026 – The excitement is building at Shuttleworth, with its first air show of the summer, Season Premiere, taking place on 10 May 2026.
Season Premiere sets the tone for an unforgettable start to Shuttleworth’s air show season, delivering a full day of entertainment for visitors of all ages. The air display will showcase an impressive line?up of visiting aircraft, with several making their first-ever appearance at Shuttleworth. This includes the XtremeAir XA41, specifically designed for energetic aerobatic displays, as well as one of the most famous transport aircraft in aviation history, the Douglas C-47 Dakota. Also joining Shuttleworth will be the Royal Air Force’s Falcons Parachute Display team. Alongside these visitors, Shuttleworth’s own world?class Collection, including the world’s oldest airworthy aircraft (the Blériot Type XI) and iconic Supermarine Spitfire and Westland Lysander, will fly.
The excitement continues beyond the airfield, with a packed programme of ground attractions. Throughout the day, guests can enjoy a complimentary fun fair, explore a variety of stalls, enjoy delicious street food, and dive into hands-on STEM activities in the Discovery Zones. A vintage bus service will transport visitors to Shuttleworth House, once home to Collection founder Richard Shuttleworth and now a celebrated venue for events and weddings. Elsewhere, the Clayton and Shuttleworth Heritage Team will demonstrate historic machinery in action. Visitors can also explore Swiss Garden, a unique example of a Regency garden in the ‘Swiss Picturesque’ style, offering a tranquil contrast to the excitement of the show.
Marc Boult, Head of Visitor Operations at Shuttleworth, commented: “The first show of the season, our Season Premiere always has a unique buzz about it as staff, volunteers and visitors alike enjoy seeing a wonderful array of aircraft back in the skies above Old Warden. The excitement surrounding the start of the season is well deserved – we have an exceptional season ahead, featuring more European visiting displays than ever before and some very special anniversaries to celebrate.”
The Season Premiere Air Show is the first of seven spectacular shows taking place at Shuttleworth this year:
• Wings & Wheels Air Show – 31 May
• Festival of Flight Air Show – 27-28 June
• Summer Air Show – 25 July
• Flying Proms Air Show – 15 August
• Military Air Show – 29 August
• Race Day Air Show – 4 October
To find out more about the air show season and book your tickets, click here.
All aircraft appearances are subject to weather and serviceability.
