A pilot’s shortlist of global and regional aviation events in 2026.

Short guide to the major aviation and flight sim events in 2026 (and 2027), grouped by region, with dates and links for pilots planning their year.

Below are notable 2026 events, grouped by region. Dates and details may shift, so always check the official sites before you book.

Show Past Events (Pre-May 2026)
Jan 27–29 APACE 2026
Kuching, Malaysia
High-level policy & defense. Go if you need to understand where regional regulators are steering the industry.
Jan 28–31 Wings India 2026
Hyderabad, India
Industry players gather to show off aircraft, tech, and business opportunities.
Feb 3–8 Singapore Airshow
Changi, Singapore
The region's marquee trade show. Essential for networking with OEMs and seeing new tech in the flesh.
Mar 1 Tyabb Airshow
Tyabb, Australia
Grassroots warbird preservation. Hands-on cockpit access and family-friendly aerial displays.
Mar 1 JASDF Komaki Open Base Air Festival
Komaki Air Base, Japan
Features the JASDF Blue Impulse aerobatic team.
Mar 20–22 FlightSimWeekend
Lelystad, Netherlands
The world's largest flight simulation event. A must for serious simmers looking to test high-end hardware and cockpit builds.
Mar 25–26 Aviation Festival Asia
Suntec, Singapore
Airline & airport tech focus. Useful context for how the wider commercial ecosystem is shifting.
Mar 27–29 Fly'n For Fun
Parkes, Australia
Australia's premier recreational gathering. If you fly RAAus or LSA, this is your tribe.
Apr 22–25 AERO Friedrichshafen
Germany
Europe's GA flagship. The best place globally to compare new light trainers and avionics side-by-side.
Jun 12–14 FlightSimExpo
Saint Paul, USA
North America's largest flight sim convention. Major product reveals and hands-on hardware demos.
Jul 20–26 EAA AirVenture
Oshkosh, USA
The pilgrimage. Thousands of aircraft, deep safety seminars, and total immersion in GA culture.
Jul 21–23 Global Gender Summit
Luanda, Angola
ICAO-led summit on diversity. Critical for those working on workforce and representation policy.
Aug 14–16 Pacific Airshow
Gold Coast, Australia
Beachside spectacle. Less "industry," more "community." Great for casual networking in a relaxed setting.
Oct 8–11 PMOPA Convention
Colorado, USA
Type-specific deep dive for Piper M-class owners. The gold standard for owner-pilot safety culture.
Nov 24–28 AERO Middle East x Sand & Fun 2026
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Brings together GA and business aviation.
Looking ahead to 2027
Mar 16–17 Aviation Festival Asia 2027
Bangkok, Thailand
The region's leading airline and airport technology event moves to Bangkok for its 2027 edition.
Apr 3–4 FlightSimWeekend 2027
Utrecht, Netherlands
Premier simulation event moving to Expo Houten. Key for testing simulation hardware and community networking.

Related Guides

Discovery

How discovery flights work in Thailand

Thailand has the widest range of discovery flight options of any country in Southeast Asia — from 15-minute microlight rides over Chiang Mai's rice fields to full "pilot for a day" Cessna flights near Bangkok, plus helicopter scenic tours over Phuket.

Guides

Discovery flights in South Korea: a tourist's guide

Korea is one of the most accessible places in Asia for a tourist discovery flight — also called an experience flight, or 체험비행 locally. No license required, instructor flies with you, most operators charge a flat per-flight fee rather than by the hour.

Guides

When to make a radio call

A student pilot piece on what radio calls in the pattern are actually for — positional awareness vs. visual identification, and the airmanship principles underneath.