The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), one of the United Kingdom’s major annual airshows, will move permanently to a new venue. Organizers announced that future editions will take place at MOD Boscombe Down, around a 90-minute drive from RAF Fairford and roughly equidistant from London.
2026 cancellation hastened the move
The decision follows the cancellation of the 2026 show, which had been scheduled for RAF Fairford. The air base, which hosted RIAT for four decades, was being used by US B-1 bombers operating against Iran. The aircraft were later moved back to the United States amid concerns about a potential Iranian terrorist attack on the base.
Organizers said Boscombe Down offers the “space, capability and flexibility” needed to support the event’s future development.
Official backing for RIAT’s future
The announcement included statements of support from Luke Pollard, the UK’s Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry; Rupert Pearce, the National Armaments Director; and Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, Chief of the Air Staff.
Smyth said the move “secures the future of the airshow for decades” and allows the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust to continue its work inspiring future generations. The Royal Air Force, he added, looks forward to maintaining its partnership with the trust and supporting future editions of RIAT.
An increasingly prominent defence showcase
For many years, RIAT was seen primarily as a public airshow. Over the past decade, however, the defence establishment has increasingly used the event to showcase capabilities and make announcements—sometimes at the expense of the biennial Farnborough Airshow.
The first RIAT at Boscombe Down is scheduled for July 16–18, 2027.
