The Abingdon Air & Country Show will not go ahead as planned, its organisers have confirmed.
The annual gathering at Abingdon Airfield, situated alongside Dalton Barracks, draws thousands of plane enthusiasts annually. This year’s edition was scheduled for Saturday, June 13.
The event’s online platform states that the 2026 show has been called off because of matters beyond their influence.
Representatives for the air show also shared on X, previously known as Twitter, that owing to factors outside their command, they regrettably found themselves obligated to scrap the show set to take place on Saturday, June 13. They explored options for making this year’s event financially sustainable but were ultimately unsuccessful.
Just a month earlier, the organising team had revealed there would be no aerial performances but expressed hope they could still proceed with the occasion, featuring aircraft displayed on the ground.
A communication from the organisers at that time explained that this year’s show faced a significant alteration. The expense of aircraft for aerial demonstrations combined with insurance for flying displays and road barriers compelled them to remove the air display segment from the programme for the first time in more than two decades. This decision was made to keep the event within its reduced budget, and they requested understanding from attendees.
Those behind the event have previously indicated that staging the air show requires approximately £80,000 annually.
Since its inception in 2000, the festival has contributed over £100,000 to various charitable causes.
After revealing the previous month that no aerial programme would proceed, the organising team noted that following extensive efforts alongside Dalton Barracks and guidance from the Military Aviation Authority, private aircraft and helicopters would be present for static examination.
Limited military aircraft were also anticipated to provide ground-based support, according to their statement.
They further noted that positive developments included relocating the entire show back to the western section of the airfield, which offers improved access, a hard-surfaced route between the parking area and exhibition space, and enhanced conditions for photographers with natural lighting throughout most of the day.
The milestone 25th anniversary event occurred last June under sunny conditions and welcomed at least 5,000 guests.
The year prior, the show had been fixed for May but ultimately rescheduled to September.
Reflecting on the 2025 event’s triumph, coordinator Neil Porter observed that visitors appeared to be thoroughly enjoying themselves, with the team receiving complimentary feedback that motivates the volunteers. He mentioned already fielding enquiries about the following year but emphasised the need to assess the financial position before any determinations. On behalf of the committee, he expressed appreciation to everyone who backed the event across all areas.