EAA AirVenture Dates Announced Through 2029

Get your calendars out. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has announced the dates for the next four AirVenture fly-in conventions through 2029.

Here are the next four event dates for the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration”:

• 2026: July 20-26
• 2027: July 26-August 1
• 2028: July 24-30
• 2029: July 23-29

“EAA AirVenture is one of the aviation community’s major highlights each year, so announcing the dates for the next several years is important for enthusiasts around the world to begin planning their trips to Oshkosh [Wisconsin],” said Jack Pelton, EAA CEO and chairman of the board. “So it’s important to have these dates finalized for multiple years in advance.”

There are people who come from around the world to be part of AirVenture, so the extended planning window is essential. Vendors also appreciate the advanced notice to create their travel and advertising budgets.

Advanced notice is also used by many businesses in Wisconsin, such as hotels, smaller airports, rental car companies, and restaurants, to plan around the influx of people that make the trip to Oshkosh for the week.

• READ MORE: Photo Ops: A Whimsical Look at AirVenture in Pictures
• READ MORE: AirVenture by the Numbers: Bigger and Better Than Ever

There are locals who plan their weddings around AirVenture so out-of-town guests don’t have to fight the aviation crowd for hotel space and rental cars. There are even some who plan the birth of their children around AirVenture—this can be a little tricky, but it has been done.

AirVenture 2026, 2028, and 2029 will take place during a full moon phase, so anticipate an impressive night airshow and photo opportunities.

How Much It Has Grown

The EAA started as a handful of pilots meeting at the airport and talking about projects and soon grew into an organization.

The first EAA fly-in convention was  conducted in September 1953 as part of the Milwaukee Air Pageant at Curtiss-Wright Field (now Lawrence J. Timmerman Airport, KMWC).  The first turnout was modest for the fledgling group, with a handful of homebuilt and modified aircraft and less than 200 visitors.

The fly-in soon became an annual event, growing every year, and by the late 1950s, it needed more space. In 1959 EAA relocated to Rockford Municipal Airport in Illinois (now Chicago Rockford International Airport, KRFD). 

The “Rockford years,” as they are often referred to, lasted until 1970, when the EAA fly-in convention moved to its current site at Oshkosh’s Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH)  and became the place to be for aviation enthusiasts, especially those with homebuilt aircraft.

Today the convention includes aerobatic performers, displays of antique and warbird aircraft, along with educational opportunities and a product showcase for aircraft manufacturers.

The details for AirVenture 2026, including performers, will be announced as they are confirmed.