RIAT Will Relocate to MOD Boscombe Down From 2027

Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises said the Royal International Air Tattoo will relocate to MOD Boscombe Down for RIAT27 and future events. RIAT27 is listed for 16-18 July 2027. RAFCTE said it will remain headquartered in Fairford, that flying operations will move, and that Fairford will remain the home of the organisation. Already-booked tickets remain valid for the show at Boscombe Down. Enclosure packages and upgrades are temporarily unavailable while options are finished; existing enclosure bookers will be told of changes and their choices.

Gavin Gager, chief executive of RAFCTE, said the decision is about securing the airshow's future and the charitable impact it generates. Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, Chief of the Air Staff, said RAF Fairford had supported delivery of RIAT for the last 40 years. Wiltshire Council leader Ian Thorn said the move would attract thousands of visitors and boost local businesses and the visitor economy.

Key details

• Under-18s remain free with a ticket-holding adult.
• FRIAT will be at RIAT27. Friday Futures will still be hosted, with details due in early 2027.
• Pre-paid parking will be refunded, with priority booking if parking is offered at Boscombe Down. A campsite adjacent to the airfield has been secured.
• Discounted local-resident passes will be offered, as they were at Fairford, with details in early 2027.

The decision to move RIAT to Boscombe Down is about much more than a new location. It is about securing the future of the world's greatest military airshow and the charitable impact it generates for future generations.

Why it matters

The 2026 show was called off after discussions with the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force about access to Fairford amid the situation in the Middle East, the first such halt after the event arrived at the Gloucestershire base. In 2025, ticket sales helped the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust deliver more than 500,000 STEM engagements for young people across the United Kingdom.