The Red Arrows have returned to the UK following their tour of the United States, with a busy run of summer displays now under way. The RAF Aerobatic Team is set to appear at airshows and major events around the country, giving spectators the chance to see its famous Hawk T1 jets in action.
Their journey home was disrupted by poor weather in Canada, forcing a delay to their planned return to RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire. The team instead arrived safely in Scotland before getting back to their UK commitments.
Upcoming displays and schedule
The schedule began with a special flypast in Sweden, held as part of celebrations marking 100 years of the Swedish Air Force. The team has since resumed its programme of displays across the UK and Europe.
Among the upcoming appearances are the Clacton Airshow on August 27 and 28, Sidmouth Regatta and Airshow on August 28, and Southport Airshow this weekend.
Wing Cdr Sasha Nash, the first woman to command the Red Arrows, welcomed the team’s return and said they were looking forward to performing at the remaining events of the season.
Aircraft and formation details
For their 2026 aerobatic displays, the Red Arrows are operating seven aircraft, numbered Reds 1 to 7. For certain flypasts, the team uses a larger formation of nine jets.
The first five aircraft, Reds 1 to 5, make up the lead formation, known as “Enid” in tribute to children’s author Enid Blyton, who created the Famous Five series. Reds 6 and 7 form the “Synchro Pair”, performing opposing and mirrored manoeuvres during the second half of the display. The pair is known as “Hanna”, a nod to Red Arrows founder Ray Hanna.
Display formats explained
The team has three display formats available, with the leader deciding which to use based on the weather and cloud base: full, rolling or flat.
When visibility is good and cloud is above 5,500ft, the Red Arrows can carry out their full display, which includes the team’s looping manoeuvres. If cloud levels are lower, a rolling display may be used, replacing some of the looping sequences with wing-overs. Where the cloud base falls below 2,500ft, the team switches to a flat display, consisting mainly of flypasts and steep turns.
Full 2026 display schedule
- 27–28 August: Clacton Airshow
- 28 August: Sidmouth Regatta and Airshow
- 29 August: Southport Airshow
- 30 August: Southport Airshow
- 4–5 September: The International Ayr Show – Festival of Flight Display
- 9 September: Guernsey Air Display
- 10 September: Jersey International Air Display
- 12 September: Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow Display
- 13 September: International Sanicole Airshow
- 19–20 September: NATO Days in Ostrava, Czech Republic
- 27 September: Le Touquet Airshow, France
- 3 October: Duxford Flying Finale Display
Want to know when the Red Arrows are coming to your area? Explore the interactive 2026 map to see the full schedule and find your nearest display.
