Quick answer: The Blue Angels open their 2027 season at NAF El Centro, California, on 13 March 2027 and close it at the Homecoming Air Show at NAS Pensacola on 5–6 November. The Thunderbirds’ preliminary 2027 schedule starts at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, on 20–21 March and ends at Sanford (Orlando), Florida, on 30–31 October. Both teams fly at The Great New England Air Show at Westover ARB, Massachusetts, which runs 21–23 May. Schedules can change, so check the official team pages before you travel.
The US Navy Blue Angels and the US Air Force Thunderbirds are the headline acts of the American air show season. This guide lists every 2027 date we could confirm, explains where the two schedules overlap, and gives practical tips for a jet team show day. It is part of our Air Shows 2027 guide; for the opening show, see our dedicated guide to the Blue Angels 2027 season opener at El Centro.
Making a trip of it? Find airports and airfields and aviation museums near each show in the AviatorFinds directory.
Blue Angels 2027 schedule
These dates come from the official Blue Angels 2027 show schedule, checked in November 2026.
| Month | Dates and location |
|---|---|
| March | 13 NAF El Centro, CA; 20–21 Sacramento, CA |
| April | 3–4 MCAS Beaufort, SC; 10–11 SUN ‘n FUN, Lakeland, FL; 17–18 Robins AFB, GA; 24–25 Fort Worth, TX |
| May | 1–2 Ocala, FL; 8–9 Des Moines, IA; 15–16 Fort Lauderdale, FL; 22–23 Westover ARB, MA; 26 US Naval Academy, MD; 29–30 Atlantic City, NJ |
| June | 12–13 Eau Claire, WI; 19–20 Topeka, KS; 26–27 Duluth, MN |
| July | 3–4 Traverse City, MI; 10–11 Columbus, OH; 17 Pensacola Beach, FL; 24–25 Milwaukee, WI |
| August | 7–8 Seattle, WA; 14–15 MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI; 21–22 Great Falls, MT; 28–29 Montgomery, NY |
| September | 4–6 Branson, MO; 18–19 NAS Oceana, VA; 25–26 MCAS Miramar, CA |
| October | 2–3 Lake Tahoe, NV; 9–10 San Francisco Fleet Week, CA; 16–17 Houston, TX; 23–24 Jacksonville Beach, FL; 30–31 Hammond, LA |
| November | 5–6 Homecoming Air Show, NAS Pensacola, FL |
Thunderbirds 2027 schedule (preliminary)
The Thunderbirds released a preliminary 2027 schedule at the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) convention in December 2025. The dates below are from that release, as reported by Air Show Center and Airshow News. The team’s own website could not be checked when we wrote this, so confirm each date on the official Thunderbirds schedule before you book.
| Month | Dates and location |
|---|---|
| March | 20–21 Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ; 27–28 March ARB, Riverside, CA |
| April | 3–4 Nellis AFB, NV; 10–11 Eglin AFB, FL; 17–18 Cocoa Beach, FL; 24–25 Augusta, GA |
| May | 1–2 JB Langley-Eustis, VA; 8–9 Seymour Johnson AFB, NC; 15–16 Wantagh (Jones Beach), NY; 22–23 Westover ARB, MA; 27 US Air Force Academy, CO |
| June | 12–13 Scott AFB, IL; 19–20 Ocean City, MD; 26–27 Dayton, OH; 30 June–4 July Battle Creek, MI |
| July | 10–11 Harrisburg, PA; 17–18 Ypsilanti, MI; 24 Vance AFB, OK; 25 F.E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, WY |
| August | 7–8 Gary, IN; 14–15 Chicago Air & Water Show, IL; 21–22 Fargo, ND; 28–29 McMinnville, OR |
| September | 4–6 Cleveland National Air Show, OH; 11–12 Carolina Beach (Wilmington), NC; 18–19 JB Andrews, MD; 25–26 Salinas, CA |
| October | 2–3 Huntington Beach, CA; 9–10 El Paso, TX; 16–17 Little Rock AFB, AR; 23–24 Homestead ARB, FL; 30–31 Sanford (Orlando), FL |
The Cleveland National Air Show has separately confirmed the Thunderbirds for 4–6 September 2027.
Where to see both teams in 2027
The two schedules only meet once on the published dates: The Great New England Air Show at Westover ARB, Chicopee, Massachusetts. The team schedules list it for 22–23 May 2027, and the show organiser lists 21–23 May 2027, saying both teams will fly on all three days. If you want to see both teams in one weekend, that is the show to plan around. General admission is free, with paid premium seating and advance parking passes required for all vehicles, according to the official Great New England Air Show website. Joint appearances like this are rare, so check the show’s own website for confirmation and ticket details as the date approaches.
Other pairings are close in time and distance. In late May, the Blue Angels fly at the US Naval Academy on 26 May and the Thunderbirds at the US Air Force Academy on 27 May, both at graduation events with limited public access.
How to plan a jet team show day
- Arrive early. Big military shows draw large crowds, and parking and security queues build quickly.
- Check whether the show is ticketed. Many base open houses are free but have strict security rules; civilian shows often sell tickets and premium seating.
- Read the prohibited items list. Military bases often ban bags above a certain size, drones and weapons.
- Protect your hearing. Fast jets are very loud, especially for children. Bring ear defenders.
- Expect changes. Weather, operational needs and maintenance can cancel or shorten a display at short notice.
- Stay for the whole display. The solo jets often fly the most dramatic passes, sometimes late in the routine.
What the teams fly
The Blue Angels fly the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, supported by their Lockheed Martin C-130J “Fat Albert”. The Thunderbirds fly the General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16C/D Fighting Falcon.
Planning a show trip? Browse airshows and events in the AviatorFinds directory, or find airports and airfields near each show.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Blue Angels 2027 season start?
The Blue Angels open the 2027 season at NAF El Centro, California, on 13 March 2027.
When does the Thunderbirds 2027 season start?
The preliminary schedule starts with Thunder and Lightning Over Arizona at Davis-Monthan AFB on 20–21 March 2027.
Can I see the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds at the same show in 2027?
Yes. Both teams are listed for The Great New England Air Show at Westover ARB, Massachusetts. The organiser lists the show for 21–23 May 2027 and says both teams will fly on all three days.
When is the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show in 2027?
The 2027 Homecoming Air Show at NAS Pensacola is listed for 5–6 November 2027.
Are these schedules final?
No. Team schedules can change through the season. The Thunderbirds’ 2027 dates are still described as preliminary.
Official sources
Further reading
- Air Shows 2027: UK dates and the best shows worldwide
- Blue Angels 2027 season opener at NAF El Centro
- Best airshows in the USA
- Oshkosh AirVenture guide
Dates were checked against the official Blue Angels schedule and published reports of the Thunderbirds’ preliminary schedule in October 2026. Always confirm with the team and the show organiser before you travel.
Where to stay for a Blue Angels show
Pensacola is the Blue Angels’ home, and the Homecoming Air Show is one of the most popular dates of the year. Book early for show weekends.
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