Farnborough Airshow 2026 Opens Monday With Defence Sharing Top Billing

The Farnborough International Airshow opens its gates on Monday, July 20, for a five-day run that organisers describe as the biggest in the show's 78-year history. More than 1,400 exhibitors and over 100,000 visitors are expected at the Hampshire airfield, where exhibition space "sold out twice over" and a sixth hall had to be added.

The most telling shift is on the show floor. Farnborough's traditional 60/40 split between commercial aviation and defence has narrowed to nearly 50/50 as European rearmament pushes military hardware to the front of the chalets. Roughly 22 per cent of exhibitors are first-timers, many from artificial intelligence, aviation finance and supply chain logistics.

"Exhibition space has sold out twice over, with unprecedented industry demand from a wide range of aerospace sectors," said Gareth Rogers, chief executive of Farnborough International. One tradition will be missing: incoming prime minister Andy Burnham skips the customary opening to meet the King.

Defence hardware anchors the week. The UK-Italy-Japan Global Combat Air Programme arrives with a £4.6 billion contract for its detailed design phase secured, while Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat "loyal wingman" drone makes its Farnborough debut in mock-up form. A US Air Force F-35A flies daily in its only public European display of 2026.

On the commercial side, the real fight is between engine makers jockeying for the next-generation single-aisle jet to succeed the 737 MAX and A320neo. CFM International will talk up its RISE open-rotor design, while Rolls-Royce is pitching a scaled-down UltraFan 30 as its route back into the narrowbody market. Airbus wants a 2030 launch; Boeing says only when the market is ready.

Airbus arrives with 351 first-half deliveries, its strongest since 2019, against an industry backlog of more than 17,000 airliners. Rumoured deals include a Philippine Airlines split order for 15 Boeing 787s and nine Airbus A350-1000s, plus talks that could see Singapore Airlines commit to 50 widebodies, among the year's largest if confirmed.

The flying display adds a first: two electric aircraft. BETA Technologies will fly its CX300, and Britain's Vertical Aerospace is seeking final clearance to demonstrate its VX4 air taxi alongside it. Joby Aviation brings an S4 mock-up and a Blade helicopter shuttle from London Battersea.

The show runs Monday, July 20 to Friday, July 24. The first four days are trade-only; Friday's Pioneers of Tomorrow opens to the public, with free entry for under-21s and flying displays from 12:30 pm.

Whether the week is remembered for mega-orders or for pointed questions about engine durability and the oldest airline fleets on record, the centre of the aerospace world will once again be a one-time Army balloon field in Hampshire.