The Royal International Air Tattoo will leave RAF Fairford after more than 40 years and move to MOD Boscombe Down from 2027, organisers have announced.
The relocation will bring the long-running military airshow’s time at the Gloucestershire base to an end. The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE), which organises RIAT, said the move was intended to secure the event’s long-term future and create room for further growth.
Why RIAT is moving
Organisers said MOD Boscombe Down, in Wiltshire, provides the space, capability and flexibility needed to develop the show. They said the new site could support improvements to the visitor experience, attract more international participants and allow new attractions to be introduced.
RIAT is one of the world’s biggest aviation events, bringing military aircraft, air forces and aviation enthusiasts together. Its departure will therefore affect more than the airshow’s operating location, although the announcement did not set out specific changes for visitors travelling from Gloucestershire or the Stroud area.
The first Royal International Air Tattoo at MOD Boscombe Down is due to take place in 2027. Further details about RIAT27, including participating aircraft, international delegations and visitor experiences, are expected to be released over the coming months.
Charitable work to continue from Fairford
Organisers stressed that RIAT’s role extends beyond the annual event. Each ticket sold helps fund the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, which works with young people through education and engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
In 2025, RIAT helped the charity deliver more than 500,000 STEM engagements with young people across the UK. RAFCTE also confirmed that it will keep its headquarters in Fairford and remain committed to the town, its community and the wider region.
Gavin Gager, RAFCTE chief executive, described the relocation as a major moment in RIAT’s history. He said:
“The decision to move RIAT to Boscombe Down is about much more than a new location. It is about securing the future of the world’s greatest military airshow and the charitable impact it generates for future generations.”
Tributes to RAF Fairford
Mr Gager also paid tribute to RAF Fairford, the United States Air Force and the local community for their contribution to the airshow over more than four decades.
“We will always be proud of that shared history,” he added.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, Chief of the Air Staff, also praised the base and its personnel. He said his first role as a newly commissioned RAF officer, in the summer of 1991, was on RIAT’s air display operations desk at RAF Fairford. He said the support he received there had been “superb” at the time and every year since.
The announcement also prompted a positive response from Wiltshire Council. Council leader Cllr Ian Thorn called the move fantastic news for the county, saying that hosting RIAT would put Wiltshire on the national and international stage, attract thousands of visitors and benefit local businesses and tourism.
For Fairford and the surrounding area, the move marks the end of a defining chapter. However, the organisers’ decision to retain RAFCTE’s headquarters in the town means the charitable trust’s base and stated commitment to the local community will remain after the airshow relocates.
