Name: Farnborough International Airshow 2028
Start: 2028-07-17
End: 2028-07-21
Location: Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre

Britain's aerospace and defence week, held every even July on the Hampshire airfield where the industry was born, with one public day at the end.

An event page tells you when it happens (with how sure we are of the date), why it matters, how the week around it feels, when to arrive and leave, where people stay, how access works, and which events come before and after it on the circuit.

Farnborough is the British half of the aerospace industry's biennial pair, alternating with Paris and staged on the airfield in Hampshire where much of British aviation was developed. The show runs Monday to Friday across a 280-acre site combining exhibition halls, an outdoor static park and a flight line, with a flying display each afternoon.

The structure is unambiguous about who it is for. Monday to Thursday are trade days, closed to under-16s and to the general public; the announcements, order signings and government delegations belong to those four days. Friday is the public day, branded Pioneers of Tomorrow and aimed at families, schools and enthusiasts, with a longer flying display from lunchtime. All passes must be bought online in advance — the organiser does not sell at the gate — and they are non-transferable.

01Why it matters

Farnborough and Paris between them carry the commercial aviation order book, and in even-numbered years Farnborough is where the manufacturers make their case. It matters to Britain in particular: the show is the annual shop window for a large aerospace and defence sector and the setting for government procurement and export announcements.

02The week around it

Farnborough is a Hampshire town of about 60,000 and the show is by far its largest annual event; the M3 corridor, the local rail stations and the hotels of Farnborough, Fleet, Camberley and Guildford all feel it. The airfield's business-aviation operation, normally one of the busiest in Europe, is given over to the show.

03When to arrive

Trade visitors should take Tuesday or Wednesday, the fullest days for meetings and the best-attended flying displays.

04Where to stay

Farnborough's own hotels are limited and are taken by exhibitors first. Fleet, Camberley and Basingstoke are within fifteen to twenty-five minutes and are the practical bases; Guildford and Winchester are further but pleasanter towns to spend an evening in.

05Access and hospitality

All admission is bought online in advance and there is no on-site sale. Trade passes cover Monday to Thursday and are for business professionals; under-16s are not admitted on those days.

06Where the social activity happens

During the show the chalet line is the social centre and is entirely private. The public Friday is different in character: families and enthusiasts on the public enclosures, and the atmosphere of a large outdoor event rather than a trade fair.

07Getting there

Commercial aviationHeathrow is about 40 km north-east, roughly 45 minutes by road outside peak times; Gatwick is a similar distance to the south-east.

RailFarnborough Main is on the South Western Railway line from London Waterloo, about 50 minutes, with a shuttle bus to the showground.

CarThe site is off the M3 south-west of London.

Private aviationFarnborough Airport is one of the busiest dedicated business-aviation airports in Europe and is the show's own airfield, so its normal operation is suspended or restricted for the duration.

HelicopterHelicopter arrivals operate to the site by prior arrangement during the show and are otherwise routine at Farnborough.

08Practicalities

DressBusiness dress on the trade days, with a coat and shoes that cope with wet grass and a long walk down the flight line; English July is not reliable.

WeatherLate July in Hampshire is typically warm and changeable, with afternoon highs commonly in the low to mid-twenties Celsius, and a real chance of both heat and heavy showers within the same week.

Getting aroundThe rail-and-shuttle route from London Waterloo via Farnborough Main is the reliable way in; road access is congested and parking must be booked ahead.

HotelsLocal hotel stock is small and is taken by exhibitors months ahead, with rates rising sharply for the week.

RestaurantsCatering on site is exhibition catering and chalet hospitality; restaurants in Farnborough, Fleet and Guildford are booked out on trade evenings.

Reservation timingLocal hotels are commonly taken six months or more ahead of an airshow year; public Friday tickets sell out months in advance.

TicketsEverything is sold online in advance by the organiser, with separate trade passes for Monday to Thursday and a public ticket for the Friday Pioneers of Tomorrow day.

HospitalityChalets on the flight line, exhibition space and static positions are sold to exhibitors by the organiser, and hospitality within them is private.

09History

The show descends from the Society of British Aircraft Constructors' display, which moved to Farnborough in 1948 and became biennial in 1962, settling into its alternation with Le Bourget.

10Who is there

Airframe, engine and systems manufacturers; airline and lessor fleet teams; defence ministries and procurement agencies; space and unmanned-systems companies; suppliers and subcontractors; government trade delegations; aerospace press; and, on the Friday, families and enthusiasts.

Edition

Dates

Status

Source

Verified

2028 · FIA2028

July 17–21, 2028 · FIA2028

ConfirmedAnnounced by the organiser as 17-21 July 2028. There is no 2027 edition: the show runs in even-numbered years, alternating with the Paris Air Show.

Farnborough International Airshow ↗

6 September 2026

2026 · FIA2026

July 20–24, 2026 · FIA2026

CompletedHeld 20-24 July 2026 at Farnborough. Monday to Thursday were trade-only days with under-16s excluded; Friday 24 July was the public day, branded Pioneers of Tomorrow. Flying displays ran daily, from 13:30 on the Monday and 14:15 on the Tuesday to Thursday.

Farnborough International Airshow FAQs ↗

6 September 2026

Confirmed means the organizer or governing body has published the dates. Expected and Historical pattern are estimates from the event’s usual timing and can move. Date pending means nothing reliable can be said yet.

Sources