EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026: Record-Breaking Attendance with 734K Visitors
The world’s premier aviation celebration, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, has outdone itself by breaking its own attendance record. The seven-day event held at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, welcomed an astounding 734,000 visitors, surpassing the previous record of 704,000 set in 2025.
Aviation enthusiasts from 98 countries flocked to the event. Over 10,000 aircraft arrived at Oshkosh-area airports, with Wittman Regional Airport recording an impressive 15,527 aircraft operations between July 16 and July 27. This equates to an average of roughly 101 takeoffs and landings per hour during open hours.
On the showgrounds, a record-breaking 1,021 commercial exhibitors set up displays. They were accompanied by 2,851 showplanes, which included 1,346 vintage aircraft, 875 homebuilts, and 360 warbirds.
The EAA Aviation Foundation’s annual fundraiser, The Gathering, also reached new heights by raising a record $2.85 million to support aviation education programs. According to a study by the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, the event generated an estimated $257 million in economic impact for the five-county Oshkosh region. EAA CEO and Chairman Jack Pelton described the week as “unforgettable”. Planning for AirVenture 2027, scheduled for July 26–August 1, is already in progress.
Source: WSAW – EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 Sets All-Time Attendance Record