RIAT will return to RAF Fairford in July 2026, and the flying display list grew again this week with three more additions. The Italian Air Force’s Reparto Sperimentale Volo will be back over the airfield with the C-27 Spartan, F-2000A Typhoon and T-346A Master, while the Qatar Emiri Air Force will bring the Leonardo AW139 to the show for its RIAT debut.
The Qatar Emiri Air Force will also field the C-17A Globemaster, Hawk and Typhoon, giving the line-up a mix of transport, trainer and combat aircraft. The Typhoon also sits within this year’s Fighter Meet theme, keeping the jet at the center of one of RIAT’s main crowd draws.
Those additions arrived in Week 14 of the Take Off Thursday updates, less than two months before the show returns to RAF Fairford. RIAT, the Royal International Air Tattoo, uses the weekly release to build out its July 2026 programme, and this latest batch strengthens both the ground and flying displays.
The latest ticket update shows demand is still moving. First Class Lounge tickets for Saturday have sold out, while general admission and Altitude tickets remain available for all three days. For visitors still planning a trip, that leaves options open, but the premium Saturday package is gone.
The timing matters because RIAT is now in the final stretch before it opens its gates again, and the aircraft list is settling into shape. The return of the Italian display unit and the arrival of Qatar’s AW139 suggest the organizers are still adding recognizable names, even as one of the weekend’s top ticket tiers disappears.
