Organizers of RIAT, the UK’s most famous air show, have announced that the main theme of next year’s event will be “Fighter Meet”, celebrating more than a century of air-to-air fighter aircraft.
Scheduled for July 17-19, 2026, the Royal International Air Tattoo, or RIAT, is one of the highlights of the world’s air show calendar, attracting air weapons displays from around the world. With some interruptions due to airfield works, it has been held at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, since the mid-1980s.
A number of themes are selected for each edition of the air show each year, and the main theme of the 2025 event, ‘Eyes in the Skies’, celebrates maritime patrol, search and rescue and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft.
To represent the theme, RIAT 2025 featured a unique air display of a front-line equipped U-2S Dragon Lady, the first air show appearance of a Royal Air Force E-7A Wedgetail AEW1, and static appearances of a US Air Force RC-135V Rivet Joint, an Air and Space Force E-3F Sentry French, a Sikorsky HD.24 (S-76C) of the Spanish Air Force and many more.
Next year’s event will celebrate air-to-air fighter aircraft throughout history, and organizers coined the theme “Fighter Meet.” While we are still some way off from seeing a long list of confirmed entrants, enthusiasts can be sure to expect plenty of display appearances from Typhoons, F-35 Lightning IIs and F-16 Fighting Falcons, along with a selection of Rafales, Mirages, Gripens, F/A-18 Hornets, F-15 Eagles and MiG-29s. Many will be hoping (none more than the RIAT organizers themselves) for rare visits from more elusive types like the F-22 Raptor, Su-27 Flanker and F-4 Phantom.
The participation of newer fighters will almost certainly benefit from the presence of the Farnborough International Airshow on the calendar. Farnborough is one of the aviation industry’s key trade events and is held every two years alternating with the Paris Air Show.
Historical representation is sure to come in the form of many of the UK and Europe’s airworthy warbirds, including Supermarine Spitfires, P-51 Mustangs and Hawker Hurricanes. Airworthy replicas of early fighters such as the Sopwith Camel and Fokker Dr.1 will almost certainly appear in some form, as will historic aircraft types still operated by private owners or contractors such as the Hawker Hunter, Gloster Meteor, A-4 Skyhawk and MiG-15. Eyes will be on the entry list for possible appearances by the ever-popular Saab Draken of the Swedish Air Force’s Historic Flight and Saab Viggen wrestlers, who return after a debut appearance in 2022.
Royal Flight
A supporting theme for RIAT 2026, ‘Royal Flight’, will mark 30 years since Queen Elizabeth II granted the air show its royal status. This will show planes used for VIP transportation. The Royal Air Force’s newest VIP transport aircraft, the Dassault Envoy IV CC1It made its first appearance at RIAT in 2025 after replacing two BAe 146 aircraft, and this would be the most obvious aircraft to attend, perhaps taking part in a flight with the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows display team.
The issue may also be assisted by the UK government’s civilian-chartered Airbus A321, operated by Titan Airways. Registered as G-GBNI, the current aircraft, construction number 8830, previously carried the registration G-POWT. Interestingly, and in contravention of normal UK aircraft registration rules, G-GBNI has been carried by two different airframes, with the first aircraft, construction number 10238, now flying for Titan as G-OATW.
In a similar paint scheme to the Envoy IV and A321 is the Royal Air Force’s ZZ336, or ‘Vespina’, an A330 MRTT Voyager that was fitted for a secondary VIP transport role. Although less commonly used for this purpose now that other aircraft are available, it remains in service with the distinctive paint scheme and is regularly seen operating in its tanker role over the United Kingdom, and would fit perfectly with the Royal Flight theme whilst also showcasing one of the RAF’s most visible aircraft types and capabilities.
No doubt the planes of Europe’s many VIP fleets will make Fairford look like an airport hosting arrivals for an international conference. Types in service across Europe include many Airbus A320 and Dassault Falcon variants, along with Boeing 737, Gulfstream, Airbus A310, A330 and A350.
US VIP military aircraft based in Europe in the form of C-21 or C-37 may attend; In fact, it is not unprecedented for one of these aircraft to fly over the weekend if any high-ranking US military personnel attend the event itself, although many will hope that organizers will pull a figurative rabbit out of the hat and arrange an overseas appearance for one of the 89th Airlift Wing’s famous VIP-design C-32 or C-40.
TO @usaairforce Gulfstream C-37B recorded landing 06-0500 at RAF Fairford before the flying display began on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/nztthJyq7X
—DanteMan (@EGLLSpotter) July 22, 2024
RIAT 2022 was considered a big year for the show in many ways, but one of the main star attractions was the first international air show appearance of a Boeing E-4B Nightwatch. Although its function goes far beyond simple VIP transportation, it would certainly fall within the scope of the topic and ensure the satisfaction of many aviation enthusiasts if a repeat visit could be achieved.
As RIAT organizers reiterate each year, the process of “booking” aircraft to attend the air show is incredibly complex. VIP aircraft, by their very nature, will be one of the most prized and closely guarded aircraft in the inventories of many air forces, and not a type that routinely tops the list at air shows. Those at Douglas Bader House, RIAT’s year-round office address, will no doubt have their work cut out for them on this issue, but we’re excited to see what magic they can perform.
