Air show cancelled as organiser faces liquidation

A new air show has been cancelled with less than a week to go, with the event organiser expected to go into liquidation.

Hampshire Air Festival had been due to take place at Thruxton Aerodrome, near Andover, Hampshire, on Saturday and Sunday.

Montserrat Events, which was behind the Victory Festival and Air Display at Lee-on-the-Solent, said it was with "profound sadness" that it announced the cancellation.

Ticket holders have been told to contact their card provider to recover their payment.

Promoters of the new event, announced in October 2025, had promised biplanes, warbirds, fast jets, formation aerobatics and pyrotechnic aircraft, along with a light show, drone display and fireworks.

Tickets have been on sale since December, with camping and premium hospitality upgrades also available.

The event's website pages are displaying a statement that says: "It is with profound sadness that the directors of Montserrat Events & Festivals Limited have to announce the cancellation of the Hampshire Air Festival 2026.

"As a consequence, steps are being taken to put the business into liquidation with the directors taking independent legal and insolvency advice.

"Ticket holders should contact their debit or credit card provider directly regarding their ticket purchase and to discuss the options available to them for recovering their payment.

"Suppliers and other stakeholders will be contacted with further information regarding the process and any relevant claims or enquiries."

In December, Jonathan Moore of Montserrat Events told BBC Radio Solent that the demise of Bournemouth Air Festival had created a "great opportunity" for a new event.

He said: "We can attract a great number of people to come and enjoy what we feel will be a really good air show."

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