Orlando Air Show 2026 Is Coming to Sanford: F-22 Raptor, Super Hornet & What Families Need to Know

One of Central Florida’s biggest aviation weekends returns September 26–27 at Orlando Sanford International Airport. The 2026 Air Dot Show Orlando will feature the Air Force F-22 Raptor, Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, Navy SEAL Leap Frogs and civilian performers. Here’s what it costs, when to arrive and what to bring.

If you’ve ever wanted to see an F-22 Raptor perform at full power, you won’t have to drive to an Air Force base to do it.

One of Central Florida’s biggest aviation events returns next weekend.

The Air Dot Show Orlando takes place Saturday and Sunday, September 26–27, 2026, at Orlando Sanford International Airport. The official 2026 lineup is headlined by the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team and also includes the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet demonstration. (Air Show)

For Orlando families, aviation enthusiasts and anyone looking for something substantially different from another weekend at the theme parks, this is worth putting on the calendar.

And there are a few things you’ll want to know before heading to Sanford.

The F-22 Raptor Is the Headliner

The biggest attraction this year is the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.

The F-22 demonstration isn’t simply an aircraft flying past the crowd.

The Air Force demonstration is designed to show off the fighter’s unusual combination of speed, maneuverability and thrust-vectoring capability.

Expect steep climbs, high-speed passes and maneuvers that look particularly strange when performed by an aircraft as large as the Raptor.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s current 2026 military demonstration schedule confirms the F-22 demonstration for Sanford on September 26–27. (Federal Aviation Administration)

For children interested in airplanes—or adults who never quite stopped being interested in airplanes—this is the aircraft we’d make sure not to miss.

The Navy Is Bringing the Super Hornet

The F-22 isn’t the only frontline fighter scheduled to appear.

The current Orlando lineup also includes the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet Demo, sometimes called the Rhino Demo. (Air Show)

That gives spectators an unusual opportunity to see two very different modern American fighters perform during the same event.

The F-22 was designed primarily around air dominance and stealth.

The Super Hornet is the Navy’s carrier-based multirole fighter.

Seeing them back-to-back is one of the reasons this year’s lineup should appeal beyond hardcore aviation enthusiasts.

Navy SEALs Are Coming From Above

The U.S. Navy SEAL Leap Frogs parachute team is also currently listed among the 2026 performers. (Air Show)

The Leap Frogs are the Navy’s parachute demonstration team and typically perform precision freefall demonstrations before landing near the show area.

For younger children, this can actually be easier to follow than some of the fighter demonstrations.

You can watch the jumpers descend toward the field rather than trying to keep track of a fighter traveling hundreds of miles per hour.

There Are Civilian Performers Too

Not everything flying will be military.

The currently announced lineup also includes the Catch 22 T-6 Demo, aerobatic pilot Galen Killam and additional specialty performances. (Air Show)

The organizer says additional performers may still be announced.

That’s worth remembering because air-show lineups are always subject to change.

Aircraft availability, maintenance, weather and military requirements can alter schedules even relatively close to show day.

We’d check the official schedule again the night before attending.

When Does the Orlando Air Show Start?

The gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The aerial portion of the show is scheduled to run from approximately noon until 4 p.m. (Air Show)

Don’t interpret that to mean you should arrive at 11:55.

Thousands of people have to enter the airport property, park, pass through security and find somewhere to sit.

If seeing the major demonstrations matters to you, arriving early is the safer strategy.

The organizer says the specific daily flying sequence is normally published approximately one to two weeks before the event, while all major announced acts are expected to perform both days. (Air Show)

How Much Are Tickets?

As of September 15, the official event page lists advance general admission beginning at $32 for adults age 13 and older. (Air Show)

Children ages 6–12 require a child ticket.

Children 5 and younger are admitted free. (Air Show)

General admission is open seating, so you’ll need to bring your own chairs.

One important benefit is included:

Parking.

A complimentary parking pass is included with each general-admission ticket order and is required to access the airfield. (Air Show)

That’s useful when comparing the ticket price with other Central Florida events where parking can become another substantial expense.

Current ticket options and prices are available from the official Air Dot Show Orlando website.

Families of Four Have Another Interesting Option

If you’re attending with several people, don’t automatically assume individual general-admission tickets are your best choice.

The show also sells Lawn Boxes.

Each box provides a private 10-by-12-foot viewing area for four people, and the official Orlando page currently advertises them from approximately $42.25 per person. Parking is included. (Air Show)

For a family planning to spend most of the day at the airport, paying somewhat more for a defined space may be worth considering.

There are also preferred reserved seats and much more expensive VIP packages.

But for most local families, we’d compare General Admission with the Lawn Box before looking at anything more elaborate.

You Must Buy Tickets Before Arriving

This is important.

The organizer says tickets must be purchased online or by phone before arrival. (Air Show)

Don’t drive to Sanford assuming you’ll simply buy admission at a conventional ticket window.

Buy ahead.

Make sure you have your parking pass.

Then go.

What Should You Bring?

The official event FAQ makes several useful recommendations.

Bring:

Sunscreen.

Ear protection.

A sealed bottle of water up to one liter.

And, if you’re using general admission, your own chairs. (Air Show)

A personal handheld umbrella is also permitted.

Large tents, awnings and canopies are not allowed because they obstruct other spectators’ views. (Air Show)

Backpacks and bags are permitted but are subject to security inspection.

Take the Ear-Protection Advice Seriously

We’d emphasize this one—particularly for children.

Military fighter demonstrations are extremely loud.

That’s part of the experience.

It’s also why bringing hearing protection makes sense.

Over-the-ear hearing protectors are especially convenient for younger children because they’re easy to put on and remove as aircraft approach.

Don’t wait until an F-22 is passing directly in front of you to discover your four-year-old doesn’t like loud noises.

Bring the protection.

Central Florida Sun May Be the Bigger Challenge

An air show is essentially several hours spent looking toward the sky from an airport ramp or grass viewing area.

Shade is limited.

The organizer explicitly warns that shade is limited because the viewing area is in the middle of the airfield. (Air Show)

September in Central Florida can still feel very much like summer.

Use sunscreen before you arrive.

Bring the permitted water.

Wear a hat.

Take advantage of whatever shade is available.

And pay attention to children and older family members.

The aircraft may be the attraction, but heat can quickly become the thing that determines whether everyone has a good day.

What Happens if It Rains?

Anyone living in Orlando already knows the answer:

It might.

Late September remains within Central Florida’s wet season.

Air-show flying is particularly dependent on weather conditions, visibility and wind.

That doesn’t necessarily mean an afternoon shower cancels an entire show, but individual performances and schedules can change.

Our advice is simple:

Check the official event information the morning you leave.

Don’t rely on a screenshot of the schedule you saved a week earlier.

Friday Could Be Interesting Even Without a Ticket

Here’s something Sanford residents should know.

Aircraft typically arrive and practice before the weekend.

The organizer says Friday practice schedules aren’t published because they change frequently, but residents may see aircraft flying around the area throughout the week leading up to the show. (Air Show)

That means if you live or work around Sanford, don’t be surprised if the sky becomes considerably louder during the days before September 26.

It also means aviation photographers may want to keep their eyes open.

Just don’t assume anything you see Friday will follow a predictable schedule.

Don’t Confuse Sanford With Orlando International Airport

This catches visitors occasionally.

The Orlando Air Show is not at Orlando International Airport near Lake Nona.

It’s at Orlando Sanford International Airport in Sanford.

The airport is northeast of downtown Orlando.

If you’re staying around the Disney tourist corridor, that’s a meaningful drive.

Give yourself time.

For Orlando-area residents, the location also creates an opportunity to turn the air show into a Sanford weekend.

Make a Sanford Day Out of It

If you’re already driving north, consider spending some time in downtown Sanford after the show.

Historic downtown Sanford sits along Lake Monroe and has developed into one of Central Florida’s more interesting restaurant, brewery and entertainment districts.

Walk along the lakefront.

Explore Sanford Avenue.

Have dinner downtown.

Then head home after the biggest traffic surge leaving the airport has passed.

That’s often a better way to approach Central Florida events than racing everyone else toward I-4 at exactly the same moment.

The Show Is Part of America’s 250th Anniversary Year

The 2026 Orlando event is also being presented as part of the broader celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The official local tourism listing describes the event as a celebration of America’s 250th birthday centered around military and civilian aviation. (Orlando North SCVB)

That makes the military demonstrations particularly appropriate this year.

The Air Dot Show Tour is visiting multiple locations around the country during 2026. (Air Show)

Aviation Is Part of Central Florida’s Identity

An air show in Central Florida also feels particularly appropriate.

We tend to associate the region primarily with tourism.

But aviation and aerospace are deeply embedded in Central Florida as well.

Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral are to the east.

Major aerospace and defense companies operate throughout the region.

Orlando has a large modeling, simulation and training industry.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is just up I-4 in Daytona Beach.

And Sanford itself has a long aviation history.

For a child fascinated by aircraft, events like this can be more than entertainment.

Seeing an aircraft up close—or watching a professional pilot demonstrate what one can do—can be the moment that turns curiosity into an interest in engineering, aviation or military service.

Our Advice: Don’t Treat This Like a Two-Hour Event

If you’re buying tickets, plan for the day.

Arrive early.

Bring chairs.

Bring hearing protection.

Bring sunscreen.

Bring permitted water.

Watch the demonstrations.

Take pictures.

Let the kids see the different aircraft.

Then have dinner in Sanford afterward.

Trying to arrive just before the F-22 performs is a recipe for spending more time looking at brake lights than airplanes.

Orlando Air Show 2026: The Basics

Dates: Saturday–Sunday, September 26–27, 2026

Location: Orlando Sanford International Airport, 1200 Red Cleveland Blvd., Sanford

Gates open: 9 a.m.

Flying: Approximately noon–4 p.m.

General admission: Currently advertised from $32 for adults

Children: Ages 5 and younger free; child tickets required for ages 6–12

Parking: Parking pass included with general-admission orders

Bring: Chairs for general admission, sunscreen, ear protection and up to a one-liter sealed water bottle

Tickets: Purchase before arriving

The official Orlando Air Show FAQ has the latest information about permitted items, accessibility, parking and schedules.

One of September’s More Unusual Orlando-Area Outings

Central Florida has no shortage of weekend festivals.

Food festivals.

Art festivals.

Pumpkin festivals.

Beer festivals.

The Air Dot Show is different.

There aren’t many weekends when you can take the family to a local airport and watch an F-22 Raptor and F/A-18 Super Hornet demonstrate what modern fighter aircraft can actually do.

September 26–27 provides that opportunity.

And whether you’re an aviation fanatic or simply looking for something your children haven’t already done ten times, this may be one of the more memorable Central Florida outings of the month.

Just remember the ear protection.