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Eglin AFB Opens Its Gates for an Air Show in April 2027, With the Thunderbirds

Eglin Air Force Base holds its first open house air show in over 15 years on April 10-11, 2027, with the Thunderbirds. Dates and what is known so far.

By Airshow Guide · · 2 min read

Illustration of four red, white and blue Thunderbirds F-16 jets flying in formation with white smoke trails, side view
Illustration of Thunderbirds-style F-16s, not a photo of a real flight.

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds have a new date on their 2027 calendar. Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle will hold the Eglin AFB Open House Airshow on April 9-11, 2027, with the Thunderbirds as the headline act, according to a 96th Test Wing news release reported by Get The Coast on November 12, 2026. The base says it is the first such open house in more than 15 years.

The dates

  • Friday, April 9: a STEM day and practice show, not the public air show.
  • Saturday and Sunday, April 10-11: the open air show, with flying displays by the Thunderbirds and other performers.

Back in June, a 96th Test Wing spokesperson already told the Santa Rosa Press Gazette: “Yes, the Thunderbirds will be here in April.” That report said it had been more than 10 years since Eglin opened its gates to the public for an air show; the base’s own release now says more than 15.

What we do not know yet

The base has not published the rest of the performer line-up, the daily schedule, admission details, access rules or parking. It says these will be posted at eglin.af.mil/Airshow. Until then, plan only around the dates; we will add the details to the show page when they are out.

The Thunderbirds in 2027 so far

Eglin is now the earliest of the nine 2027 dates that show organizers have announced with the Thunderbirds. The team itself has not released its full 2027 schedule yet; it usually does so around December. All dates we list, with their sources, are on our Thunderbirds 2027 schedule page and the Thunderbirds team page.

Sources

Written by Airshow Guide in our own words from the sources above. Checked November 13, 2026.

Worth bringing

  • Hearing protection Fast jets are very loud, especially for children. Ear defenders or foam plugs make the day much nicer.
  • Sun protection Airfields have little shade: hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, even on cloudy days.
  • Folding chair or blanket You may stand or sit for hours. Check the show rules first – some sites limit chairs near the crowd line.

Check each show’s own rules for allowed items. Full list: what to bring to an airshow.