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San Javier presents the 2026 International Air Show on the shore of the Mar Menor
A weekend of spectacular flying culminates in the main event on Sunday May 3
The 2026 International Air Show of San Javier has been officially presented by local Mayor José Miguel Luengo, Councillor Héctor Verdú and the director of the festival, Pablo González, with details beginning to emerge of the schedule on the shore in Santiago de la Ribera between 1st and 3rd May.
The main event of the festival, the air show itself, takes place on Sunday 3rd May between 10.30 and 15.00 with the promise that this year’s spectacle will surpass even that of 2024, with aircraft coming from as far afield as the UK, Portugal and Italy (in the shape of the WeFly Team, three of whose members are physically handicapped).
Possibly the star of the show is the Eurofighter, the last to take to the skies over the Mar Menor, while earlier on there is a display by the Spanish Air Force’s PAPEA parachute acrobatics team.
Although the Patrulla Águila aerobatics team will not be present, having been discontinued on 15th June 2025, they will be replaced by the Formación Mirlo, whose pilots fly the Pilatus PC- 21 craft which is now favoured by the Air Force’s officer training school, and other aircraft on display include amphibious craft, firefighting planes, the Canadiar, the Airbus A400M and the army NH Lobo helicopter.
Also taking part are the Guardia Civil también with their light aircraft such as Airbus H-135 Helicopters and the giant CN-235-300MP, which is used for border control and anti-drug trafficking operations, while other participants include a 112 emergency services helicopter, planes belonging to the Aeroclub Mar Menor and the Real Aeroclub de Sevilla as well as sports and acrobatic planes from England and Italy.
Exhibitions will be given by aerobatic pilots Camilo Benito, Jorge Loureiro (from Portugal) and Juan Velarde.
Practice flights will be taking place on Friday 1st May between 10.00 and 14.00 and from 16.00 to 20.00, and on Saturday 2nd May from 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.00 to 18.00, while on the Saturday evening there is a “Sunset Exhibition” as the British Aerostar pilots and Camilo Benito fly at dusk in a colourful display.
Other entertainments include concerts on Friday 1st May by indie group La Banda de Ases on the Explanada Barnuevo and on Saturday 2nd May by a band paying tribute to La Oreja de Van Gogh. At the same venue a weekend of poster signings and a Play Zone await all the family, with the latter including flight simulators, VR goggles and games for all the family. Actual planes are to be displayed on the Paseo Colón.
As Sr Luengo says, this range of attractions makes the event more than just an air show, it has become a far larger project, reflecting the pride San Javier feels in having been selected by the Air Force as the location for the officer training school over 80 years ago, and the town is more than ready to welcome more than the estimated 200,000 people who flocked to the shore of the Mar Menor for the festival in 2004!
At the same time, it is worth remembering that San Javier is also hosting the National Drone Festival in September of this year, while the former airport terminal buildings have been named as a European Space Agency hub!
Further information regarding the International Air Show of San Javier will be published on these pages as soon as it becomes available.
For more local events, news and visiting information contact the tourist offices of San Javier (main contact number 661 572285) or go to the home page of San Javier Today.
Address
Calle Padre Juan. Centro Cultural Principe de Asturias 30720 SAN JAVIERTel: 968 571 704
Oficina de Turismo de San Javier
The municipality of San Javier has three main offices giving tourist information to visitors, as well as two information points. The tourist offices are located in Santiago de la Ribera, on the ground floor of the town hall in San Javier and at the start of La Manga. There is also a summer tourist information point located on the seafront in Santiago de la Ribera as well as one at kilometre 12-13 of La Manga del Mar Menor next to Playa Mistral.
Due to its location on the fringes of the Mar Menor and Mediterranean, San Javier has a period of intense summer tourism activity during the peak summer months, although it is popular with retirees of all nationalities out of peak season.
Tickets for the annual San Javier Jazz Festival can be purchased at the Festival office in San Javier Town Hall, Plaza de España.
Timetables summer 2024:
Tourist office Santiago de la Ribera (Calle Padre Juan 30720, Santiago de la Ribera)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Telephone: 661 572285
Email: turismo@sanjavier.es
La Manga del Mar Menor (Gran Vía Km. 0 30380, La Manga del Mar Menor):
May 1 to September 30:
Weekdays 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.30 to 13.00
Telephone 968 128955 ext. 2
Tourist information point of San Javier (Plaza de España, 30730 San Javier):
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00
968 573 700 ext #5351
Email: concejaliadeturismo@sanjavier.es
Tourist information point of Santiago de la Ribera (Paseo Colón on the seafront)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Tourist information point of La Manga del Mar Menor (Playa Mistral, km 12)
Weekdays 11.00 to 18.00
Weekends and public holidays 11.00 to 14.00
