Will Bournemouth Air Festival go ahead in 2025?

The first air show was held in 2008 and since then has welcomed millions of people from across the country to our shoreline.

But, as has been well publicised, BCP Council is no longer funding it because of budgetary pressures.

Will Bournemouth Air Festival go ahead in 2025?

The short answer is no. Because BCP Council cut funding for next year's show this year, there has been little time to make alternative arrangements of finding an operator in time or ways to raise the money needed.

However, talks have been taking place with an operator to bring it back for 2026. Organisers of California-based Pacific Airshow have confirmed to the Echo that it is interested.

Pacific Airshow is the “largest air show in the United States by attendance” when it is held annually on Huntington Beach in Orange County, Los Angeles. 

Like Bournemouth Air Festival, the Pacific Airshow is held every year on a beach near a pier showcasing the “world’s finest display teams”.

What could 2026's show look like?

Nothing is in concrete now and no decision has been made - but initial talks have suggested that a future air show could be a "different beast", culture cabinet member Andy Martin said.

Previously, BCP Council has said the potential new operator – which it has not named – would like to host a new show across three days, between Friday and Sunday. 

The Pacific Airshow hosts its events across three days in early October, as well as a three day show on Australia's Gold Coast every August.

Cllr Martin also said it would be commercialised, specifically between the two piers. 

Pacific Airshow is described as having “on-sand entertainment, signing sessions with your favourite air show performers, beach bars, music and much more”. 

Why did BCP Council axe funding for the air show?

Funding for 2024’s air festival was capped at £200k with the rest made up of sponsors, parking charges and more.

It currently costs the authority between £400k and £500k to fund the typically four-day event, however, funding for next year’s festival would be for three days.

When the 2024/25 budget was being sorted out, town hall officials had to close a £44m gap.

The medium term financial plan is a four-year plan and also means there is simply not the funds available to continue pumping money into the air show year after year.

Just £273 was made from public donations to contribute towards this year’s Bournemouth Air Festival, the Echo found out in October.

In addition to the public donations, £52,800 was made from donations by Aerobates, Rolls Royce, South-Western Railway and Coastal BID. 

Of the total commercial activity, £67,265 was made onsite with the remainder before the event – although some invoices are being finalised so this isn’t a full account. 

An Echo Freedom of Information revealed £448,829 in addition to the above sponsorship and donation income (£501,902 total) was brought in.