The Branson Wings of Pride Air Show runs September 5 to 7, 2026 at Branson Airport in Hollister, Missouri, with gates at 9 AM and flying from 11 AM each day. Stay in a Branson cabin or condo with a full kitchen, and book parking with your ticket, because the airport sells no parking on the day.
Last Updated: August 12, 2026
Table of Contents
When Is the Branson Wings of Pride Air Show 2026?
Who Is Flying at the 2026 Air Show?
What Tickets Do You Need, and Why Does Parking Sell Out First?
What Can You Bring Into the Air Show?
Where Should You Stay for the Air Show Weekend?
What Else Is Worth Doing in Branson That Weekend?
Frequently Asked Questions
When Is the Branson Wings of Pride Air Show 2026?
The show runs Friday September 5 through Sunday September 7, 2026 at Branson Airport in Hollister, Missouri. Parking and gates both open at 9 AM, aerial performances are scheduled to begin at 11 AM, and gates close at 5 PM. The schedule is the same on all three days.
The organisers ask that you do not arrive before 9 AM, since crews are still setting up the flightline. That single instruction shapes the whole day, because it means there is no early queue to beat and no advantage in leaving your rental at dawn. A short drive from a Branson base is enough, and VacationStar has properties across Branson, Hollister and the Table Rock Lake side of town.
Daily schedule, all three days:
Time | What happens |
9:00 AM | Parking opens |
9:00 AM | Gates open |
11:00 AM | Aerial performances scheduled to begin |
5:00 PM | Gates close |
Because all three days share the same hours, Friday is the only one of the three that falls outside the weekend. Full details sit on the official Wings of Pride schedule page. If you are working out timings across the area, our guide to real drive times in Branson is more useful than a mapping app during an event weekend.
Who Is Flying at the 2026 Air Show?
The USAF Thunderbirds headline, joined by the USAF C-17 Globemaster III East Coast Demo Team and the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, plus a civilian lineup of 12 more acts.
Three military teams anchor the card. The Thunderbirds are the U.S. Air Force demonstration squadron, the C-17 Globemaster III East Coast Demo Team flies a four-engine strategic transport through a manoeuvring routine, and the Golden Knights are the U.S. Army parachute team.
Confirmed civilian performers for 2026:
Kirby Chambliss, aerobatic pilot
Tom Larkin, Mini Jet Airshows, SubSonex Jet JSX003
Bob Carlton, FoxJet twin-engine jet sailplane
Aarron Deliu, aerobatic performer
Rich Dawe, 1971 MK5 BAC Jet Provost
Erik Edgren, T-Clips Aerobatics, 1939 T-Clips
Matt Younkin, Beech 18
Jeff Shetterly, 1945 NA SNJ-6 Texan
Joe Shetterly, RV8
Greg Shetterly, DR 107 One Design
Jarrod Lindemann and RAD Aerosports, Jet Waco
Emma McDonald, Beyond Gravity, Edge 540
That is 15 acts in total across military and civilian, which is a deep card for a regional show, and it is worth checking the performer list again closer to the date, since lineups move.
What Tickets Do You Need, and Why Does Parking Sell Out First?
You need an admission ticket and a separate parking pass, and parking must be bought in advance because none is sold at the airport on the day. Gold Club is already sold out for Saturday.
This is the part that catches people out. Parking is not included with admission, and it is capped. The organisers state that parking capacity is limited and must be purchased ahead of time, and that anyone buying a parking pass also needs a ticket to get in. Turning up with a ticket and no parking pass is the one mistake that can end a trip at the gate.
The four things you can buy:
Type | What you get | Children |
General Admission | Outdoor viewing area, bring your own lawn chair or blanket, first come first served | 5 and under free |
Silver Seating | Folding chair, shade tent access, private restrooms, unobstructed flightline view | 2 and under free on a lap |
Gold Club | Tented seating, catered Southern Missouri lunch, two drink tickets, unlimited water and soda, private restrooms, prime flightline seating | 2 and under free on a lap |
On-Site Parking | Required for every vehicle, limited accessible spaces, must be bought with tickets | n/a |
Book early rather than late. The organisers price advance tickets at the lowest available rate with scheduled increases as the date gets closer, all sales are final, and there are no refunds for weather. Gold Club Saturday has already sold out, which tells you how the premium tiers are moving. Current availability and pricing sit on the official ticket page. The same booking logic applies to lodging, and it is the pattern we saw around PBR Thunder Days, where the well-located properties went first.
What Can You Bring Into the Air Show?
Bags must be smaller than 16 by 16 by 8 inches, you may bring one factory-sealed water bottle of 1 litre or smaller per person, and hard-sided coolers, outside food, drones and pets are all banned.
Air show security is stricter than most people expect, and the list below is worth reading before you pack the car rather than in the parking queue.
Allowed | Not allowed |
Bags, purses and backpacks under 16 x 16 x 8 inches, subject to inspection | Hard-sided coolers and oversized bags |
Folding or camping chairs, General Admission only | Outside food and drink, other than the sealed water bottle |
Blankets for seating | Drones, the site is a designated no drone zone |
Small personal umbrellas | Weapons, fireworks and pocket knives |
Strollers and soft-sided wagons | Pets, other than service animals |
Wheelchairs and motorised scooters | Aerosol products, including aerosol sunscreen |
One factory-sealed water bottle, 1 litre or smaller, per person | Noisemakers, lasers and view-obstructing items |
Small soft-sided coolers for medical or baby items only | Cigarettes and e-cigarettes |
Accessible parking is available in the general on-site parking area for guests with a state-issued disability tag or placard. The full rule list is on the event FAQ. One practical note: aerosol sunscreen is banned but September sun on an open airfield is not, so pack a lotion sunscreen instead.
Where Should You Stay for the Air Show Weekend?
Stay in a cabin, condo or lodge with a full kitchen rather than a hotel room, because gates close at 5 PM all three days and you will want somewhere to cook, spread out and regroup afterwards.
A 9 AM to 5 PM day on an airfield is a long one, especially with children. The practical case for a rental over a hotel is simple: fully equipped kitchens mean you can pack your own lunch on Saturday and cook dinner instead of joining the post-show restaurant rush, and washer and dryer access matters after three days outdoors. Ozark Mountain cabins suit families and groups who want space and a grill, and many have hot tubs, which is a better end to an airfield day than a hotel lobby.
Branson condos work well for couples and smaller parties, and pool access is a useful backup if anyone wants a quieter morning while the rest of the group heads back for day two. If you are travelling with several generations and need to narrow down neighbourhoods first, our breakdown of the best family-friendly areas in Branson is the place to start.
Booking direct is worth doing here for a second reason beyond price. Guests who book direct get discounted show and attraction tickets, which matters on a weekend when you may want to add a Branson show to the Friday or Sunday evening once the gates close at 5 PM. There is also 24-hour maintenance and an on-site concierge if something needs sorting mid-trip.
What Else Is Worth Doing in Branson That Weekend?
Early September sits at the front edge of Branson's fall season, so you can pair the air show with Silver Dollar City's Harvest Festival, which opens September 11, 2026, or build the weekend around a second event.
The air show weekend lands just before Branson's busiest stretch of the year. Silver Dollar City's Harvest Festival opens on September 11, 2026, so an air show trip in the first week of the month arrives a few days early for it, which is either a reason to shift your dates or a reason to enjoy a quieter town. For the wider picture of what the season brings, what to expect from Branson in fall covers the weather, the crowds and the foliage timing.
September is also a heavy month for events at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in nearby Ridgedale, including the Monster Energy SMX World Championship Final later in the month. If you are considering stacking two trips or picking between weekends, our SMX World Championship lodging guide covers that side of the county. Either way, lodging across Branson tightens through September, so the earlier you lock a property the better your choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the exact dates of the Branson Wings of Pride Air Show 2026?
The show runs Friday September 5 through Sunday September 7, 2026 at Branson Airport in Hollister, Missouri. All three days follow the same schedule.
What time do gates open and close?
Parking and gates both open at 9 AM, aerial performances are scheduled to begin at 11 AM, and gates close at 5 PM. The organisers ask that you do not arrive before 9 AM, because crews are still preparing the site.
Are the Thunderbirds performing in 2026?
Yes. The USAF Thunderbirds are confirmed for 2026, alongside the USAF C-17 Globemaster III East Coast Demo Team and the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team.
Can I buy parking when I arrive at the airport?
No. Parking must be purchased in advance with your ticket, and no on-site parking is sold on the day. Parking capacity is limited, and anyone buying a parking pass also needs an admission ticket to enter.
Can I bring a cooler and my own food?
No hard-sided coolers and no outside food or drink, with two exceptions. You may bring one factory-sealed water bottle of 1 litre or smaller per person, and small soft-sided coolers are allowed for medical or baby items only.
Are children free?
Children aged 5 and under are free in General Admission. In Silver Seating and Gold Club, children aged 2 and under are free on a parent's lap.
Where should we stay, and how far in advance should we book?
Book as early as you can, since Gold Club has already sold out for Saturday and lodging tightens across September. A cabin or condo with a full kitchen suits a 9 AM to 5 PM airfield day better than a hotel room. To talk through options, contact the VacationStar team.
What happens if the weather is bad?
All sales are final and no refunds are offered, including for weather. Plan for an open airfield with limited shade, and note that aerosol sunscreen is banned, so bring lotion sunscreen instead.
Ready to book your air show weekend? Call VacationStar on (877) 495-4991 and we will match you with a property that fits your group.