EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 set a new attendance record, drawing an estimated 734,000 people to Wittman Regional Airport during the July 20–26 event — surpassing the previous high of 704,000 set in 2025. More than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman and other airports across east-central Wisconsin, including 2,851 showplanes, while 15,527 aircraft operations were recorded at Wittman alone over an eleven-day window — an average of roughly 101 takeoffs and landings per hour whenever the airport was open. Behind those headline figures sit statistics that capture the scale differently: nearly 300,000 volunteer hours, 68,400 cars parked, 18,632 sandwiches made to feed volunteers, and enough attendee wristbands to stretch 113 miles end to end.
Here’s the full picture of what EAA called an unforgettable week — the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary at the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.
The Headline: A New Attendance Record
At approximately 734,000, AirVenture 2026 posted the highest attendance total on record, roughly 30,000 above the 2025 figure.
EAA CEO and Chairman Jack Pelton was careful to frame the record as a byproduct rather than a target, noting that the organization’s aim each year is not to chase numbers” but to grow participation in aviation and share what EAA calls the Spirit of Aviation. He credited volunteers, staff, and partners for the result.
The 2026 theme centered on America 250, marking the nation’s semiquincentennial — a framing that shaped programming across the week.
Aircraft and Operations
The aviation numbers are what separate AirVenture from every other event in the world:
More than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport and surrounding east-central Wisconsin airports during the event.
15,527 aircraft operations were logged at Wittman between noon CDT on July 16 and noon CDT on July 27 — approximately 101 takeoffs and landings per hour during the airport’s operating hours.
For context, that operational tempo is why Wittman’s control tower is routinely described as the busiest in the world during show week — and why, as one of the quirkier statistics notes, both Atlanta and London have international airports that are less busy than Wittman during AirVenture.
The Showplane Breakdown
Of the aircraft that arrived, 2,851 were registered showplanes. The category breakdown reflects the breadth of the general aviation community:
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Vintage aircraft | 1,346 |
| Homebuilt aircraft | 875 |
| Warbirds | 360 |
| Ultralights and light planes | 118 |
| Seaplanes and amphibians | 88 |
| Aerobatic aircraft | 40 |
| Rotorcraft | 18 |
| Hot air balloons | 6 |
| Total | 2,851 |
Vintage aircraft leading the count — nearly half the total — is a consistent pattern at Oshkosh and reflects the restoration community’s deep roots in EAA. The 875 homebuilts speak to the organization’s founding purpose: EAA began in 1953 as a group for people building and restoring their own aircraft.
The People Behind It
Volunteers: approximately 6,000, contributing nearly 300,000 hours. This is arguably the most remarkable number in the entire report. AirVenture is fundamentally a volunteer-run event, and 300,000 hours represents the equivalent of roughly 144 full-time person-years compressed into a single week of preparation and execution.
International guests: 98 countries represented among visitors registered at the International Visitors Pavilion.
Camping: more than 13,600 sites across aircraft and drive-in camping, accounting for more than 40,000 visitors. Camping under the wing is a defining Oshkosh experience, and the numbers show how many attendees treat the show as a week-long immersion rather than a day trip.
Commercial exhibitors: 1,021 — another record, and a signal of how central AirVenture has become to the aviation industry’s commercial calendar.
Programming at Scale
AirVenture is as much a convention as an airshow, and the education numbers show it:
More than 1,600 forums, workshops, and presentations were hosted across 65 venues during the week.
That’s an average of well over 200 sessions per day, running simultaneously across the grounds — covering everything from building techniques and maintenance to weather, avionics, regulatory updates, and career pathways. For many attendees, the forum schedule is the primary reason to come.
The Behind-the-Scenes Numbers
EAA also released a set of statistics that capture the show’s scale from unusual angles:
113 miles of wristbands. If every attendee wristband were laid end to end, the line would stretch 113 miles.
18,632 sandwiches. Made by Operation Thirst volunteers to feed the other volunteers working the grounds — a reminder that a 6,000-person volunteer force needs its own logistics operation.
68,400 cars parked. Volunteers parked more than 68,400 vehicles during the week, nearly 6,000 more than in 2025. The single busiest day was July 25, with 15,800 vehicles — including 7,400 arriving in the three-hour window between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
38,000 museum visitors. The EAA Aviation Museum welcomed 38,000 people during show week — roughly one-third of its total annual attendance compressed into seven days.
1,381 runners and 4,281 miles. Participants in the Runway 5K run/walk on July 25 collectively covered 4,281 miles, approximately the straight-line air distance between Atlanta and London.
Digital Reach and Fundraising
Social media: more than 30 million people reached across EAA’s channels during AirVenture, with 2 million engagements, 17.1 million video views, and nearly 50,000 new followers gained.
Those numbers matter because they represent the audience beyond the fence — the people experiencing Oshkosh remotely, many of whom will eventually attend in person.
The Gathering: a record $2.85 million raised. The EAA Aviation Foundation’s annual fundraising event drew more than 1,000 people and raised a record sum directed toward EAA’s aviation education programs, including its youth and scholarship initiatives.
What Happened at the Show
The numbers describe the scale, but 2026 was also a substantive week for industry news. Among the developments announced or unveiled at Oshkosh:
- Textron Aviation debuted the Citation CJ3 Gen2 and the Beechcraft King Air 360 Crimson Edition marking the King Air’s 60th anniversary
- The FAA unveiled Mobile Clearance, enabling digital IFR departure clearances through ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot
- MOSAIC Phase 2 took effect on July 24, during the show
- Blackstar Flight Simulation introduced the Eclipse, bringing military-grade mixed-reality visuals to GA training
- Boeing and ATP JETS signed a training collaboration agreement
- FAA, ALPA, and NATCA leadership made a joint case for completing air traffic control modernization
- Jeppesen ForeFlight’s ClearNOTAMs was announced for post-show availability
The week also had a genuine operational challenge: wildfire smoke from Canada and northern Minnesota reduced visibility ahead of the show, forcing instrument-only operations at Wittman at one point and delaying arrivals. Conditions improved as the week progressed, and by the weekend the Fisk arrival was running normally again.
Looking Ahead to 2027
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2027 is scheduled for July 26 through August 1, 2027, with tickets expected to go on sale in early December 2026.
Pelton pointed to one anniversary already on EAA’s radar: 2027 marks the 100th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight — the May 1927 New York-to-Paris crossing that transformed public perception of aviation. He indicated it’s one of several themes under consideration as planning gets underway.
Given how EAA handled the America 250 theme in 2026, the Lindbergh centennial seems likely to feature prominently.
The Bottom Line
AirVenture 2026 drew a record 734,000 attendees, more than 10,000 aircraft, 2,851 showplanes, 1,021 exhibitors, and roughly 6,000 volunteers contributing nearly 300,000 hours — with 15,527 aircraft operations at Wittman and enough wristbands to stretch 113 miles.
What the statistics ultimately measure is participation. A volunteer force approaching 6,000 people, 98 countries represented, 40,000 campers, 1,600 educational sessions, and a record $2.85 million raised for aviation education describe an event that functions less like an airshow and more like an annual convocation for the entire general aviation world.
Planning for 2027 is already underway, and the Lindbergh centennial gives EAA a natural anchor. Based on the last two years of attendance records, the 2027 numbers may well be worth watching too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people attended AirVenture 2026? EAA estimated attendance at approximately 734,000 for AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, held July 20–26, 2026. That figure is the highest on record, surpassing the previous high of 704,000 set in 2025. The event was themed around America 250, marking the nation’s semiquincentennial.
How many aircraft came to Oshkosh in 2026? More than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport and other airports across east-central Wisconsin during the event. Of those, 2,851 were registered showplanes, including 1,346 vintage aircraft, 875 homebuilts, 360 warbirds, 118 ultralights and light planes, 88 seaplanes and amphibians, 40 aerobatic aircraft, 18 rotorcraft, and six hot air balloons. Wittman recorded 15,527 aircraft operations between noon on July 16 and noon on July 27 — roughly 101 takeoffs and landings per hour during operating hours.
How many volunteers run AirVenture? Approximately 6,000 volunteers contributed nearly 300,000 hours to AirVenture 2026. The volunteer operation is extensive enough to require its own support logistics — Operation Thirst volunteers made 18,632 sandwiches during the week just to feed other volunteers on the grounds.
What were the most unusual AirVenture 2026 statistics? Among the behind-the-scenes numbers EAA released: attendee wristbands laid end to end would stretch 113 miles; volunteers parked more than 68,400 cars, nearly 6,000 more than in 2025, with 15,800 on July 25 alone; the EAA Aviation Museum welcomed 38,000 visitors during show week, about one-third of its annual total; and 1,381 participants in the Runway 5K covered 4,281 collective miles, roughly the straight-line air distance from Atlanta to London.
When is AirVenture 2027? EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2027 is scheduled for July 26 through August 1, 2027, at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with tickets expected to go on sale in early December 2026. EAA has noted that 2027 marks the 100th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight, one of several themes under consideration for the event.
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