Blue Angels Pensacola Beach air show may be in for biggest crowds yet

If crowds at Wednesday's packed-out "Breakfast with the Blues" flyover is any indication of what's to come, the 2026 Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show is shaping up to be one of the biggest.

Visit Pensacola Beach announced that the Casino Beach parking lot closed at 7:15 a.m., just 15 minutes before the Blue Angels were scheduled to circle the beach and mark the show's coordinates and center points.

The Bob Sikes Toll Facility reported Pensacola Beach reached an all-time high on June 27, with 28,283 vehicles passing through the toll. The total surpasses the previous record of 27,690 cars set just this past May.

The team will be back at 2 p.m. on Thursday to perform a full practice routine. Friday's dress rehearsal will kick off the first of two full days of expanded air shows, which culminate on Saturday.

Blue Angels parking: Here's how to reserve a Pensacola Beach parking spot for Blue Angels

Thursday and Friday's shows will have clear skies, but Saturday could see some short-lived pop-up storms. Staying cool in extreme heat will be the biggest obstacle. Friday and Saturday's highs are expected to reach 97 degrees, with heat indices up to 106 degrees.

Here's what to know about the 2026 show.

Blue Angels 2026 Pensacola Beach Air Show will start earlier

Due to the expanded schedule this year, flight demonstrations will begin earlier than usual. Lifeguards and public safety personnel will clear spectators and vessels from Gulf waters inside the marked aerobatic box at 10:35 a.m. Friday and Saturday, ahead of the opening act at 10:46 a.m. Spectators will later have a brief 20-minute water break from 1:30 to 1:50 p.m. before the Gulf is cleared again for the Blue Angels’ 2 p.m. performance.

Weather forecast for Blue Angels weekend

The weather forecast for the Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show has cleared up for Thursday and Friday, but Saturday still has a 40% chance of seeing pop-up storms that could have an impact on the show. Heat is more likely to be the biggest issue for beachgoers this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Thursday: Thursday is forecast to be mostly sunny. Early morning temperatures will start around 76 degrees at 6 a.m. and then jump up to 92 degrees by 9 a.m. High temperatures will peak at 95 degrees, with a heat index around 104 degrees, at 3 p.m.

Friday: Friday's forecast cleared up and is also expected to be mostly sunny. Temperatures will start about the same as Thursday, with highs peaking at 97 degrees (105 degrees heat index) between 1 and 5 p.m.

Saturday: Saturday has a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mostly after 1 p.m. Saturday will have a high of 96 degrees, with feels-like temperatures reaching 106 degrees by mid-afternoon.

Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show week schedule

The Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show schedule for the week remains unchanged from previous years.

Thursday's practice flight will feature the Blue Angels performing the same maneuvers fans will see on Friday and Saturday. It's a great option for anyone who just wants to see the Blue Angels perform. There will be fewer crowds, but don't expect an empty beach.

The full air show takes place on Friday and Saturday, with flight demonstrations starting 30 minutes earlier than they normally do. The air show on Friday is nearly identical to Saturday's, with a couple of exceptions marked in the daily schedule below.

• Thursday – 2 p.m.: Practice flight
• Friday – 10:30 a.m. Full dress rehearsal
• Saturday – 10:30 a.m. Official Pensacola Beach Air Show

Blue Angels 2026 Pensacola Beach Air Show schedule

The 2026 Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show will start at 10:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, which is about 30 minutes earlier than usual, due to an expanded lineup. The Blue Angels are still set to fly at 2 p.m.

• 10:46 to 10:56 a.m. — The show opens with a Red Bull Air Force flag jump set to the National Anthem and a high-energy teaser featuring Red Bull Air Force helicopter aerobatic pilot Aaron Fitzgerald, aerobatic champion Kevin Coleman in the Extra 300, and precision jumpers.
• 10:58 to 11:02 a.m. Friday; 10:58 to 11:08 a.m. Saturday — Shannon Elliott will perform in the historic SNJ-5, showcasing the power and grace of the classic military trainer.
• 11:04 to 11:08 a.m. Friday — A four-plane formation of U.S. Air Force T-6 Texan IIs will take to the skies, highlighting precision formation flying in the modern military trainer.
• 11:10 to 11:20 a.m. — The Pink Jet, a striking pink Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros flown by Stephanie Goetz and Olga Sannikova, combines unforgettable aerial performance with a powerful message of breast cancer awareness and community outreach.
• 11:22 to 11:32 a.m. — Frank Kimmel will fly his rare 1949 F4U-5 Corsair, one of fewer than 24 airworthy examples remaining worldwide out of more than 12,000 built. The Corsair remains one of World War II’s most iconic aircraft.
• 11:34 to 11:44 a.m. — 187th Fighter Wing F-35s based at Dannelly Field in Montgomery, Alabama, will showcase the F-35A Lightning II’s unmatched stealth, sensor fusion and combat capability. Known as the “Red Tails,” the wing proudly carries forward the legacy of the WWII Tuskegee Airmen.
• 11:46 to 11:58 a.m. — Carol Pilon with Third Strike Wingwalking will perform atop a vintage Stearman biplane, executing daring acrobatics thousands of feet above the beach in a tribute to classic barnstorming tradition.
• Noon to 12:10 p.m. — RJ Gritter will fly his Bellanca Decathlon in a routine filled with crisp loops, rolls, hammerheads and smoke-trailed maneuvers that highlight technical skill and dynamic showmanship.
• 12:12 to 12:24 p.m. — Father-and-son duo Ken and Austin Rieder with Redline Airshows will perform in matched RV-8 aircraft with opposing passes, tight formation flying and synchronized aerobatics.
• 12:26 to 12:39 p.m. — Titan Aerobatic Team will fly three WWII-era AT-6 Texan aircraft in tight, precision formation maneuvers that honor the legacy of the iconic military trainer.
• 12:41 to 12:51 p.m. — Skip Stewart returns with his highly modified biplane, Prometheus, delivering aggressive snap rolls, vertical climbs and his signature inverted low-level pass along the beach.
• 12:53 to 1:18 p.m. — Red Bull Air Force returns for a featured performance combining helicopter aerobatics, Kevin Coleman’s specialized Extra 300SHP and precision skydiving from the Red Bull Air Force Jump Team led by Luke Aikins.
• 1:20 to 1:30 p.m. (Friday only) — The sound of freedom returns as the 28th Bomb Squadron brings two legendary B-1B Lancers back to Pensacola Beach. Known for their unmistakable roar, sweeping wings and unmatched presence, the “Bones” are set to once again shake the coastline.
• 1:20 to 1:24 p.m. Saturday only — A four-plane formation of U.S. Air Force T-6 Texan IIs will take to the skies over Pensacola Beach, showcasing the precision, power and teamwork of the Air Force’s premier pilot training aircraft.
• 1:26 to 1:30 p.m. Saturday only — The Veterans Flight, organized by Pensacola attorney and pilot Roy Kinsey, will serve as a moving aerial tribute honoring 101-year-old Korean War Medal of Honor recipient and legendary U.S. Navy fighter pilot Capt. Royce Williams and all World War II and Korean War veterans.
• Starting at 1:30 p.m., spectators will have a short, 20-minute window to cool off in the Gulf before the show’s grand finale. At 1:50 p.m., lifeguards and public safety personnel will begin clearing everyone from the water in anticipation of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Spectators are urged to cooperate immediately when asked to exit the Gulf so the air show can continue safely and on schedule.
• 2 to 2:45 p.m. — Closing out the show Friday and Saturday will be the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flying in their F/A-18 Super Hornets. For 80 years, the Blue Angels have represented the highest standards of excellence, teamwork and service within the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Spectators will witness signature maneuvers including the Diamond Dirty Loop, Double Farvel, Vertical Pitch, Fleur de Lis, Opposing Knife Edge Pass and crowd-favorite Sneak Pass.

When will the Blue Angels fly?

The Blue Angels will perform between 2 and 2:45 p.m. this year.

Will Fat Albert perform at the air show?

Fat Albert isn't performing at the Pensacola Beach Air Show this year. The Blue Angels' support plane is grounded for the 2026 air show season to undergo maintenance on its center wing box.

Installing the new center wing box, produced by Lockheed Martin, should extend Fat Albert's life by over 20 years, according to Marshall. If the component is not repaired, Fat Albert would need to be grounded indefinitely.

What time should you head to the Pensacola Beach Air Show?

If you're hoping to get a parking spot at Casino Beach's main parking lot on Saturday, you'll almost need to camp out. Escambia County Sheriff's Office reported that the main lot closed between 3-3:30 a.m. in 2024, more than an hour earlier than it closed in 2023 (4:37 a.m.).

Friday's show is usually just as packed as Saturday's, but finding parking can be a bit easier. Last year, the main lot closed at 6:45 a.m., which is later than previous years.

Blue Angels 2026 Pensacola Beach Air Show lineup

The Blue Angels will return over Pensacola skies alongside 15 military and civilian aerobatic performances. Here's a look at who you will spot this weekend.

• Aaron Fitzgerald with Red Bull Air Force
• B-1B Lancer
• Carol Pilon and Third Strike Wingwalking
• F-35A Lightning II
• Frank Kimmel
• Kevin Coleman with Red Bull Air Force
• The Pink Jet
• Red Bull Air Force Jump Team
• Redline Airshows
• RJ Gritter
• Shannon Elliott
• Skip Stewart
• Titan Aerobatic Team
• U.S. Air Force T-6 Texan IIs
• Veterans Flight

Can you watch the Pensacola Beach Air Show by boat?

Yes. In fact, watching by boat is one of the best ways to watch the Pensacola Beach Air Show. Prior to the air show, the U.S. Coast Guard will mark off areas of the water directly beneath the show, but you'll find plenty of spots to anchor and get a great view of the show.

Two of the most popular spots are near Quietwater Beach (on the east side of the Bob Sikes Bridge) and Little Sabine. Your view will be slightly obscured by some of the condos and hotels, but you'll have your own space onboard your boat and you won't have to deal with the regular traffic.

Pensacola Beach trolley schedule

During Blue Angels weekend, the SRIA extends its trolley schedule to help alleviate parking and traffic concerns with show.

On July 17, the full dress rehearsal of the show, the SRIA's three open-air trolleys will begin their routes at 7:30 a.m., extending to Park East until 6 p.m. On July 18, the official air show, the three trolleys along with four buses will run from 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.

All trolley stops are designated with a bright Escambia County Area Transit-branded feather flag.

After the air show, trolleys servicing Portofino Resort and Park East will be staged on Via de Luna Drive in front of Sideline's Sports Bar. Trolleys for Park West will be staged on Fort Pickens Road in front of Surf & Sand Hotel and The Sandshaker.

Contributing: Mollye Barrows, Jim Little – Pensacola News Journal.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels Pensacola Beach air show may be in for biggest crowds yet