EAA AirVenture Oshkosh returns to Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, from July 26 through August 1, 2027, with tickets scheduled to go on sale in early December 2026. The announcement follows the 2026 edition, which celebrated America’s 250th anniversary under the “Freedom of Flight” theme. For pilots planning to fly in, families booking accommodations, and exhibitors coordinating logistics, the confirmed dates mark the start of the planning cycle for what EAA calls the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.
Here’s what to know now — and why booking early matters more for Oshkosh than for almost any other event in aviation.
The Key Details
Dates: Monday, July 26 through Sunday, August 1, 2027
Location: Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Tickets: On sale early December 2026 at EAA.org
Youth admission: Attendees 18 and younger receive free admission, supported by The Boeing Company
One scheduling note worth flagging: the 2027 dates run later than usual, spilling into August. AirVenture has traditionally begun on the Monday of the last full week in July, and the 2026 event ran July 20–26. Pilots and families who habitually block off “the third week of July” should double-check their calendars — 2027 shifts about a week later than the prior year.
Why Book Early for Oshkosh
AirVenture is not an event you can plan casually a few weeks out. The scale is genuinely unusual: the 2025 edition drew approximately 704,000 attendees from 94 countries, with more than 10,000 aircraft arriving at Wittman and surrounding airports during the week. For those seven days, Wittman’s control tower becomes the busiest in the world.
That volume has practical consequences:
Lodging fills up a year in advance. Hotels in Oshkosh, Appleton, Fond du Lac, Neenah, and the surrounding communities book out early, and rates rise sharply. Many attendees reserve for the following year before leaving the current show.
Camping requires planning. Camp Scholler (for non-flying attendees) and aircraft camping in the North 40 and South 40 are core parts of the Oshkosh experience, but both need to be arranged in advance.
Flying in requires studying the NOTAM. The AirVenture NOTAM governs arrival procedures, including the visual Fisk arrival, and it is essential reading — not optional. It typically publishes in the months before the show.
IFR reservations are limited. Pilots planning an IFR arrival should be aware that slots are constrained and fill early. During the 2026 show, wildfire smoke reduced visibility enough to force instrument-only operations, and IFR slots were already fully booked — a reminder that having a real alternate plan matters.
What to Expect
For anyone who hasn’t been, AirVenture is a seven-day convention rather than a weekend airshow. A typical year includes:
- Daily afternoon airshows, plus two night airshows with pyrotechnics
- Hundreds of forums, workshops, and seminars on everything from building and maintenance to weather, avionics, and career pathways
- Thousands of aircraft on display — warbirds, homebuilts, vintage aircraft, seaplanes, aerobatic mounts, and current production airplanes
- Major manufacturer and OEM announcements, with companies increasingly timing product launches to the show
- Boeing Plaza centerpiece displays, often featuring rare heavy aircraft
- Evening programming at Theater in the Woods and the Fly-In Theater
- Youth and family programming, including KidVenture
The 2026 show illustrated how much genuine industry news breaks at Oshkosh: Textron debuted the Citation CJ3 Gen2 and King Air 360 Crimson Edition, the FAA unveiled its Mobile Clearance system for digital IFR clearances, Blackstar introduced a mixed-reality simulator, Boeing and ATP JETS signed a training agreement, and FAA and union leadership used the show to make the case for air traffic control modernization. If you want to see where general aviation is heading, Oshkosh in late July is where it gets announced.
Planning Checklist
Now through December 2026:
- Block the dates: July 26–August 1, 2027
- Start researching lodging or camping options
- If flying in, begin thinking about aircraft readiness and route planning
Early December 2026:
- Tickets go on sale at EAA.org — buy early for the best pricing and availability
- Consider EAA membership, which includes admission benefits
Spring–Summer 2027:
- Watch for the AirVenture NOTAM release and study it thoroughly
- Book any remaining lodging (options thin out considerably by spring)
- Review arrival procedures, alternates, and fuel planning
- Watch the performer and feature announcements as the lineup fills in
The Bottom Line
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2027 runs July 26 through August 1, 2027, at Wittman Regional Airport, with tickets going on sale in early December 2026. The later-than-usual dates are worth noting for anyone who plans around a fixed July week.
Whether it’s your first Oshkosh or your twentieth, the advice is the same: decide early, book early, and if you’re flying in, treat the NOTAM as required reading. Nearly a decade of AirVenture attendance records suggests you won’t be the only one making plans.
Full details and ticket information will be available at EAA.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2027? EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2027 takes place July 26 through August 1, 2027, at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Note that these dates run later than the 2026 event (July 20–26, 2026) and extend into August, so attendees who typically plan around a fixed week in July should verify their calendars.
When do AirVenture 2027 tickets go on sale? EAA has indicated that tickets for AirVenture Oshkosh 2027 will go on sale in early December 2026. Tickets are available through EAA.org. Buying early generally offers the best pricing and availability, and EAA membership includes admission-related benefits worth evaluating.
Is admission free for kids at AirVenture? Yes. Attendees ages 18 and younger receive free admission to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, supported by The Boeing Company, which has been a longstanding AirVenture partner. Adult ticket options include daily and weekly passes at both member and non-member rates.
How big is AirVenture Oshkosh? AirVenture is the largest fly-in convention in the world. The 2025 edition drew approximately 704,000 attendees from 94 countries, with more than 10,000 aircraft arriving at Wittman Regional Airport and nearby airports during the week. During the show, Wittman’s control tower is the busiest in the world. The event has been held annually since 1953 and in Oshkosh since 1970.
What do I need to know about flying into AirVenture? Pilots flying into Oshkosh must study the AirVenture NOTAM, which governs the special arrival procedures used during the event — including the visual Fisk arrival. The NOTAM typically publishes in the months before the show and is essential reading. IFR arrival slots at Wittman are limited and fill early, so pilots should plan alternates such as Fond du Lac (KFLD), Appleton (KATW), or Green Bay (KGRB) and be prepared to divert if weather or traffic requires it.
Sources:
