MCAS Miramar Air Show 2026

The largest military air show in the United States returns to San Diego September 25–27, 2026 — with the Blue Angels headlining and free admission.

Each fall, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar opens its flight line to roughly 700,000 people for three days of military aviation that no civilian venue can match. It runs on an active Marine Corps base, with real operational hardware, San Diego's dependable September weather, and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels closing each day. Here's everything you need to plan your visit.

Written by

T Madden Alford — U.S. Naval Academy '02 · U.S. Navy Reserve Captain (O-6) · Former submarine officer, USS Key West

Reviewed by

Erik Rivera — U.S. Naval Academy '04 · Former U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officer

Last reviewed: June 15, 2026 · Sources checked: June 15, 2026

WHEN IS THE 2026 MIRAMAR AIR SHOW?

The 2026 MCAS Miramar Air Show runs Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27. Gates open at 8:00 AM all three days, and flying typically continues into the late afternoon, with the Blue Angels flying the closing demonstration each day.

Miramar lands in its traditional late-September slot, the same stretch it has held for years. If you're building a West Coast air show trip, it sits one weekend before San Francisco Fleet Week — two major Navy and Marine Corps aviation events back to back.

A note on military shows: dates and performers depend on Department of Defense budgeting and can shift. We verify this page against the official schedule and update it as the 2026 lineup is confirmed.

TICKETS & ADMISSION

General admission is free, and so is parking. For most visitors, there's nothing to buy — show up with a valid ID, park on base, and walk to the flight line.

If you want shade, a seat, and a closer view, preferred seating is the upgrade worth considering. Miramar's flight line gets full sun for hours, and paid seating areas trade a long day on your feet for reserved chairs, shade structures, and premium sightlines. Options generally include:

• Reserved flight-line seating — assigned chairs in a prime viewing zone
• Preferred/club areas — shade, seating, and upgraded amenities
• Chalets and box seating — front-row hospitality, often with food and drink, sold by partner organizations like the Navy League of San Diego

Preferred seating for the 2026 show is released closer to the event. If you're traveling for it or bringing family, it tends to sell out — buy early once it goes live.

PERFORMERS & FLIGHT SCHEDULE

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels headline, flying their F/A-18 Super Hornets. Miramar sits near the team’s training areas, so the Blues tend to bring an especially sharp performance to this crowd.

The 2026 program is shaping up to be one of the strongest in years — notably featuring both the U.S. Air Force F-35A and the U.S. Marine Corps F-35B demonstration teams at the same show, a rare pairing that lets you see the differences between the two Lightning II variants side by side, including the F-35B's signature vertical landing.

The broader lineup typically includes:

• U.S. Navy Blue Angels (F/A-18 Super Hornet)
• USAF F-35A Lightning II demo
• USMC F-35B Lightning II demo
• USMC MV-22 Osprey demo
• U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III
• U.S. SOCOM Para-Commandos jump team
• Heritage and warbird static displays, including historic aircraft you can walk up to

Beyond the flying, the Air Show Expo returns as an indoor trade-show experience, alongside acres of static aircraft displays you can get close to between demonstrations.

Full performer announcements and the day-by-day flying order are released by the air show in the weeks before the event. We update this section as the official 2026 schedule is published.

PARKING & DIRECTIONS

Getting there: MCAS Miramar is about 15 miles north of downtown San Diego, between Interstate 15 and Interstate 805.

• Main (East) Gate — take the MCAS Miramar / Miramar Way exit off I-15
• North or West Gates — take the Miramar Road exit off I-15 or I-805

Parking is free. As you enter the gates, staff direct you to the nearest lot, and free shuttles run from all parking lots to the flight line. Plan to arrive early — with crowds this size, gate and parking lines build quickly in the morning.

A few logistics worth knowing:

• No flight-line drop-offs. You can't be dropped at the entrance before parking — everyone parks and shuttles in.
• RVs and trailers are allowed on the station, but overnight parking, tailgating, and viewing the show from your RV are not permitted. Everyone watches from the flight line.
• Buses enter through the West Gate off Miramar Road and are drop-off only.
• Accessible parking is available; for specific accommodation requests, contact the air show at (858) 307-4277.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Miramar is an active Marine Corps installation, so entry rules are stricter than a typical fairground. Getting these right saves you from being turned away at the gate.

ID is required. Every attendee 18 and older must show a valid government-issued photo ID to enter. Non-U.S. citizens should carry valid documentation of their current legal status. No ID, no entry.

Clear-bag policy. Bags must meet the clear-bag standard — one clear bag or small clutch per person. Coolers, ice chests, backpacks, purses, and totes that don't conform are not allowed.

Leave these at home:

• Alcohol and illegal substances
• Weapons of any kind, and pepper spray
• Pets (service animals excepted)
• Drones
• Laser pointers
• Pop-up canopies and umbrellas

Come prepared for sun. The flight line offers little natural shade and the show runs most of the day. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and water — and consider preferred seating if a full day in direct San Diego sun isn't for you.

ABOUT MCAS MIRAMAR

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar — "Fightertown" — is one of the Marine Corps’ premier aviation installations and the former home of the Navy’s Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) before it relocated. Today it hosts what’s widely regarded as the largest military air show in the country, drawing roughly 700,000 spectators across its three days.

What sets Miramar apart is that it’s a working military base, not a rented venue. The combination of operational infrastructure, San Diego’s reliable weather, and a dense, aviation-loving region produces conditions for flying demonstrations that few other shows can match — which is exactly why the organizers, and many who attend, simply call it "America’s Air Show."

SOURCES

• Official MCAS Miramar Air Show site — MCAS Miramar

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NEARBY & RELATED

The Blue Angels headline Miramar — follow the team’s full national tour schedule and demonstration guide. Building a California Navy trip? Miramar lands one weekend before San Francisco Fleet Week, and its home city also hosts San Diego Fleet Week. More California air shows are coming to this guide — including San Diego, Huntington Beach, and Camarillo.