The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration is living up to its moniker, as EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this week received the title of “2026 Best Air Show” in online voting during the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
“Every year, our team strives to make EAA AirVenture an experience unlike any other aviation event in the world,” says Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “This recognition reflects how what we call ‘Aviation’s Family Reunion’ creates an event that brings together aircraft and people in a way that is unmatched anywhere in the world. It’s a credit to our people, including the thousands of volunteers that make EAA AirVenture possible.”
EAA AirVenture 2025 saw a record-breaking total attendance of 704,000 from more than 90 countries. More than 10,000 aircraft flew into Wittman Regional Airport to experience the event headlined by two Goodyear Blimps, and a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Korean War.
Nominees for USA Today 10Best awards are compiled by a panel of industry experts and 10Best editors. The nominees are then presented to the public to vote for the winner over a month-long period that ended in late April. AirVenture previously was voted the Best Air Show in 2016.
The recognition also comes during National Travel and Tourism Week (May 3-9), which “recognizes the essential role travel plays in powering our economy, strengthening communities and connecting America.” An independent University of Wisconsin Oshkosh study in 2025 estimated AirVenture’s annual economic impact at $257 million for the immediate Fox Valley region of Wisconsin.
Tickets for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 are available now. Features and attractions already confirmed for the event include a commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, The USAF F-16 and F-22 demo teams, and a P-38 and DC-6 from The Flying Bulls aircraft from Austria.
