Last November the crowd at Witham Field watched aerobatics and vintage aircraft. The two fighter jets on the poster never showed up. CBS12 was there and talked to a visitor who was disappointed that the F-35A Lightning II and the F/A-18 Super Hornet were missing. Another visitor hoped the jets would return the following year.
Next year is now about five weeks away. The 2026 Stuart Air Show runs November 13 to 15, and the United States Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team is the headliner. A military jet is back at the top of the card. Last year also showed which parts of this weekend the show controls itself. Those are the parts worth building your plans around.
What Grounded the Jets Over Stuart
The 2025 show was the 36th, and the original plan was for military jets to break the sound barrier over Stuart. The Air Force was bringing its F-35 Lightning II. The Navy's VFA-122 Flying Eagles were scheduled to fly the F/A-18 Super Hornet, a jet Hometown News described as capable of Mach 1.8. The federal shutdown was already hitting military teams nationwide by then. The Blue Angels had stopped performing, and Fort Bliss in Texas had canceled its own October air show.
By the time the show opened, the organizers had put out a statement: "Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, our U.S. military demonstration teams and static displays are unable to participate this year." CBS12 reported that the Department of Defense counts the event as a community outreach activity, and community outreach isn't funded during a shutdown.
That category explains a lot. The jet demos aren't booked the way a civilian act is. They depend on whether the federal government is funding outreach that week, and nobody at Witham Field controls that.
What Flew Anyway
The show didn't shrink to fill the gap. A show representative told WPTV that "those jet teams aren't going to be included in the show, but the show will go on." The station reported that the lineup would lean on aerobatic squadrons, mini jet shows, parachuting teams and more civilian aircraft than usual.
The weekend that followed featured Northern Stars Aeroteam, Mini Jet Airshows, Titan Aerobatic Team, Friends of Army Aviation helicopters and the Round Canopy Parachuting Team. Hometown News reported that thousands of people attended. Visitors could also ride a UH-1 Huey helicopter or climb aboard an interdiction fast boat.
The show's 2026 preview in Stuart Exposure looks back on that year. It says the shutdown "presented unexpected challenges and uncertainty for air shows across the country" and thanks the sponsors, volunteers and attendees who came anyway.
The 2026 Card, Split by Who Books It
The September 2026 preview lists two groups of acts. The military group is the F-16 Viper Demo plus appearances by the C-17 Globemaster III and the KC-46 Pegasus. The second group is the civilian performers. Two of them were among the acts named in 2025 coverage.
| Performer | What the show says they bring | Named in 2025 coverage |
|---|---|---|
| USAF F-16 Viper Demonstration Team | Headliner; military jet demo | No |
| C-17 Globemaster III, KC-46 Pegasus | Military aircraft appearances | No |
| Red Bull Helicopter and Red Bull Air Force | Civilian performers | No |
| NextGen Eagles | Formation aerobatics in a pair of Christen Eagles | No |
| Coleman Aerosports | Kevin Coleman in an Extra 300 | No |
| Titan Aerobatic Team | Three North American AT-6 Texans | Yes |
| Jim Tobul's F4U-4 Corsair | Historic military aircraft | No |
| Round Canopy Parachute Team with C-47 "Tico Belle" | Tribute jump from a historic transport | Yes |
| GhostWriter Airshows, Kyle Fowler Aerosports, RJ Gritter Airshows | Aerobatics, smoke and speed | No |
The table shows how much of the 2026 weekend comes from private performers. The F-16 and the two big transports headline. The program underneath them is the same kind of program that flew in 2025 without them.
A note on the tanker: both the September and October 2026 previews name the KC-46 Pegasus. The performer page on the show's own website was still carrying 2025 material during our research, so check closer to the weekend which aircraft is actually on the ramp.
Friday Night Is the Part the Show Controls
During last fall's uncertainty, the show's director of operations made a specific promise. If the shutdown kept military participants away, Hometown News quoted her, there would still be "an amazing weekend full of exciting civilian performances—plus our fan-favorite Friday night fireworks and drone show!" The post-show coverage described a weekend of aerobatics and fireworks.
For 2026, Friday, November 13, again opens with a twilight air show as the sun goes down. Illuminated aircraft fly after dark, and the night ends with fireworks and a drone show finale. The show's FAQ lists Friday gates as 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with flying starting around 5:00. Saturday and Sunday run 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with opening ceremonies around 11:30 a.m.
For anyone who lives within a short drive of Witham Field, Friday is a different outing from the weekend days. It's a few hours long and runs into the evening. The previews also describe it as built around lights, pyrotechnics and drones rather than the military demos. If you only go once this year, Friday is the night that worked last year with no help from Washington.
What Each Day Costs
All three days have their own general admission ticket on the official ticket page, and adult and youth prices are the same every day. Senior and veteran pricing differs on Sunday. Sunday is Veteran Appreciation Day, presented by DMG Global.
| General admission | Fri., Nov. 13 | Sat., Nov. 14 | Sun., Nov. 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult, 13 and up | $40 | $40 | $40 |
| Youth, 4 to 12 | $15 | $15 | $15 |
| Kids 3 and under, with a ticketed adult | Free | Free | Free |
| Senior, 55 and older | $15 | $15 | $15 |
| Active military, veterans, first responders and up to 3 immediate family members | $15 | $15 | Free |
Seniors and veterans need valid ID at the gate, and every person needs their own ticket, including the free Sunday tickets.
General admission doesn't include a chair, and the ticket page suggests bringing folding or camping chairs. The upgrades are priced for different group sizes:
- Spectator Seating, $35: a chair waiting for you for the day
- Photo Pit, $80: front-row seating in the spectator area
- Family Table for 4, $180: new for 2026
- Spectator Table for 6, $270: new for 2026
- Flightline Club, $105: premium shaded seating, a Zaxby's meal, two drink tickets and air-conditioned restrooms
- Premium Parking, $40 per car on Saturday and Sunday: reserved parking near a dedicated entry gate, plus priority exit
All upgrades require a general admission ticket too. On Friday the premium option is the TD Dirty Flight Suit Party at $160. It includes front-row viewing of the night show, fireworks and drones, a buffet dinner, an open bar from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., and time with the pilots after the flying ends.
The Discover Martin event listing shows a $5 ticket price, which doesn't match the official seller. Go by the prices on the show's own ticket page.
Getting In Off Monterey Road
These are the arrival details from the FAQ:
- General admission parking is included with your ticket and is free.
- Both drive-in gates are off Monterey Road, and the Martin County Sheriff's Office directs traffic.
- Free shuttles run from the parking lot to the gates. The trams have no set schedule.
Our research didn't find a 2026 road-closure map or a published schedule for practice flights. Hometown News reported in 2025 that performers and aircraft rehearse in Stuart in the days before the show. If you hear aerobatic engines over town early in that week, that's the likely explanation.
The show runs on more than 600 volunteers, alongside its sponsors and community partners. Last year they ran a full weekend without the military jets. The F-16 is scheduled for November, and the Friday twilight show, fireworks and drone finale are scheduled to follow sunset on the 13th.
If you're hosting family for air show weekend and they start asking what a home near Witham Field or the river would cost, The Stracuzzi Team is glad to help. We've followed this town's calendar for decades. Schedule a Consultation, and we'll talk through Stuart one street at a time.
