The Orlando Air Show scheduled for this weekend has been canceled due to the government shutdown.
The Air Dot Show Tour, which was scheduled to fly over Orlando Sanford International Airport on October 25 and 26, is now in its fourth week after military performers were forced to pull out amid the shutdown. The show’s headliner, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, is currently unable to perform, impacting the Orlando Air Show and other shows across the country.
“We are disappointed that we had to cancel this year’s show. Given the trickle-down effects of the government shutdown, the withdrawal of military forces, including the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, was necessary,” said Chris Dilat, director of communications for the show. “We couldn’t fill it with private acts. We had to cancel this year’s show early. We let our fans down and we let down the community.”
Last year, the show generated $12.8 million in economic impact for the Central Florida region, Dilat said.
In addition to the Thunderbirds, the show would feature a Navy F-18 Super Hornet demo, a P-51 Mustang demo, stunt pilots, and the Re/Max parachute team.
Ticket holders for this year’s event will receive an email with details on how to postpone their tickets to the 2026 event or request a refund.
“We are actively working on preparing for the 2026 edition of the show, and we encourage people to stay tuned so they can plan accordingly,” Dilat said.
The Atlanta Air Show was able to go ahead earlier this month without the Thunderbirds, as private action filled the void, something that would not have been possible with the Central Florida Air Show’s larger footprint, which includes static displays.
The Blue Angels were scheduled to fly over Jacksonville Beach this weekend, but had to be removed from the lineup for the ongoing Sea and Sky Air Show without a headliner. The team was unable to perform at a show in California earlier this month.
“Thunder Over the Sound” in Mississippi, where the Thunderbirds were scheduled to participate, has also been cancelled.
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