Update, November 8, 2026: on November 6 NASA, Florida and Space Florida announced CAPEWEEK, a separate annual aerospace expo with an air show on the same runway. The first edition runs March 27 to April 2, 2028, with public days on April 1 and 2. What we know about CAPEWEEK 2028.
For the first time in years, an air show flies from the old Space Shuttle runway at Kennedy Space Center. NASA calls the weekend MAX POWER: an air show with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, a technology park and the Kennedy visitor complex, on November 7 and 8, 2026. It is not one ticket and one gate, though. Here is how the weekend works, so you buy the right tickets and see the jets.
Three parks, three tickets
MAX POWER is split into three parts, and each one sells its own ticket. You can go to one, two or all three.
- The air show (run by Air Dot Show) on the Launch and Landing Facility, the former Shuttle Landing Facility with its 15,000-foot runway. Military aircraft, NASA flyovers, the Thunderbirds and aircraft on the ground. Gates open at 9 a.m.; the flying runs from about 1 to 4:30 p.m.
- The technology park (run by UP.Summit): aircraft, drones, robots, self-driving vehicles and space hardware, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with its exhibits and bus tours behind the gates to the Vehicle Assembly Building, the Apollo/Saturn V Center and the launch gantry area.
NASA’s page sends you to each organizer for tickets: air.show for the air show, upsummit.day for the technology park and kennedyspacecenter.com for the visitor complex. Prices for the air show and the technology park are on those sites; NASA does not list them.
The Thunderbirds and who else flies
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds head the flying. NASA also lists flyovers by its own aircraft and by the Department of War, and reports say several military branches will fly demonstrations. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, a pilot himself, said he plans to fly in the show. On Sunday at 3 p.m., Thunderbirds pilots are booked for an “In the Cockpit” talk on the air show’s main stage.
The detailed flying order is not published on NASA’s page. It usually appears in the event app close to the day.
A short timetable
- Friday, November 6: only the visitor complex is open for MAX POWER, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. One report mentions a Thunderbirds meet-and-greet there at 9:30 a.m.
- Saturday, November 7: air show gates 9 a.m., flying about 1-4:30 p.m. NASA talks include the X-59 quiet supersonic jet (11:15 a.m.) and an astronaut Q&A (12:45 p.m.) on the air show stage.
- Sunday, November 8: same hours. Talks on NASA aircraft research (11:15 a.m.), another astronaut Q&A (12:45 p.m.) and the Thunderbirds pilots (3 p.m.).
Getting there and moving between parks
- Air show parking is at the Shuttle Landing Facility. The technology park and the visitor complex are on Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island.
- Shuttle buses run between the parks, but only for people holding a ticket for the park they are going to. Pick-up points are in the free MAX POWER app (iOS and Android, or maxpower.kennedyspacecenter.com in a browser). Install it before you leave home; phone signal at big events is often weak.
- Kennedy is about an hour’s drive east of Orlando International Airport. The Space Coast tourism office expects more than 50,000 visitors from out of town, so book a room early and leave early in the morning.
- At the visitor complex, parking was reported at $15 a car, $5 a motorcycle and $20 for an RV, opening 30 minutes before the gates. Check the complex’s own site, as event days can differ.
What to plan for
- Pick your parks first. If you only want the jets, the air show ticket is enough. If you want the rockets too, add the visitor complex; its bus tours are the only way behind Kennedy’s gates.
- Time the day. The flying starts after lunch, so a morning at the technology park or the visitor complex fits before it.
- Florida sun. A runway has no shade. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water, and hearing protection, especially for children: the Thunderbirds’ F-16s are loud.
Dates, the venue and directions are on our MAX POWER event page, with hotels near Kennedy. NASA says it hopes MAX POWER becomes “the first of many”, so a 2027 edition is possible but not announced; we will add it to the calendar if NASA confirms it.
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.
Sources
- NASA: MAX POWER (official dates, hours, parks, talks, app)
- AVweb: NASA announces MAX POWER Aerospace Expo at Kennedy
- Deep Arrival: how tickets work at Kennedy
- Florida Today (via Yahoo): Max Power expo to feature tech companies and the Thunderbirds
Written in our own words from the sources above. Times and talks come from NASA’s MAX POWER page; parking prices and the Friday meet-and-greet come from one report and are not confirmed by official sources. Checked November 3, 2026.