The Chicago Air & Water Show is a free, two-day summer air show over Lake Michigan, centered on North Avenue Beach at the south end of Chicago’s Lincoln Park, with the viewing area stretching along the lakefront from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street. The 2026 show, the 67th, was held Saturday and Sunday, August 15–16, with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Army Golden Knights as headliners and a practice day on Friday, August 14. Dates for 2027 are not yet announced.
We checked Choose Chicago’s show guide, the Chicago Park District and 2026 news coverage in October 2026. Other annual events are on our Lincoln Park events calendar.
Good to know
| Next dates | 2027: not yet announced. 2026 was Sat–Sun, Aug 15–16, with a rehearsal Fri Aug 14. |
|---|---|
| Hours | 2026 schedule was 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m. both days (Sunday’s 2026 start was pushed to noon, running to about 5 p.m.) |
| Viewing area | Lakefront from Fullerton Ave. to Oak St.; hub at North Avenue Beach, 1601 N. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. |
| Cost | Free; no tickets or reservations |
| Organizer | City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) |
| Parking | No public parking at North Avenue Beach during the show; limited parking at Lincoln Park Zoo |
| Typical timing | Mid-August weekend |
| Source checked | Choose Chicago, Chicago Park District, Chicago Sun-Times and Fox 32 (Aug. 2026), checked October 2026 |
History and what to expect
The first Chicago Air & Water Show was held in 1959 with a Coast Guard demonstration, water skiers, a water ballet and a diving competition; the Thunderbirds first appeared the following year. It is now one of the city’s biggest free events, and the Sun-Times reports it usually draws upward of a million people along the lakefront.
The 2026 lineup, per Choose Chicago, included:
- Headliners: U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights
- Military demos: the F-22 Raptor and USMC F-35B demo teams, a U.S. Air Force C-17, an Illinois Air National Guard KC-135 and a U.S. Coast Guard search-and-rescue demonstration
- Civilian and local acts: Coleman Aerosports, Susan Dacy’s Super Stearman “Big Red,” Ed Hamill’s Folds of Honor biplane, the Trojan Phlyers, and Chicago Police and Fire Department air and water rescue teams
There is no public seating. People watch from the sand or the grass, from waterfront restaurants and rooftops, or from boats. American Airlines was the 2026 presenting sponsor.
Getting there
Take the CTA. There is no public parking at North Avenue Beach during the show, and in 2026 the city added extra trains and buses for the weekend.
- Buses: the 72 North runs on North Avenue, with some summer trips extending to North Avenue Beach; the 151 Sheridan runs along the lakefront side of Lincoln Park, and the 22 Clark runs up Clark Street
- Trains: Sedgwick (Brown Line) and Clark/Division (Red Line) are the nearest ‘L’ stations to the south end of Lincoln Park; walk east to the lake from there
- Rideshare: pickup and drop-off is at the northbound entrance to DuSable Lake Shore Drive; Fox 32 advises getting dropped off a distance away and walking in
- Driving: in 2026 Millennium Park garages offered a discount code and free shuttles to the lakefront; parking at Lincoln Park Zoo is limited
Accessibility: audio description is offered for blind and low-vision visitors, and there is an accessible viewing area near Castaways at North Avenue Beach. Restrooms are in the North Avenue Beach House and in portable units. More on CTA lines in Getting around Lincoln Park.
Viewing tips
- The lakefront opened to the public at 6 a.m. on 2026 show days.
- North Avenue Beach is the show’s center, but the official viewing area runs all the way north to Fullerton, so you have options beyond the beach.
- Bring chairs or blankets, sun protection and water; there are no bleachers.
- Friday’s rehearsal can be watched from the lakefront too, Choose Chicago notes.
- Schedules can shift: the 2026 Sunday start was moved to noon. Check city updates the morning of.
- If you live nearby, note that the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool closes Friday through Sunday of show weekend.
Nearby in Lincoln Park
- North Avenue Beach, the show’s hub, with the beach house and Castaways
- Theater on the Lake at Fullerton and the lake, the north end of the viewing area
- The Lakefront Trail, which links the whole viewing stretch
- The Hotel Lincoln, whose rooftop bar Choose Chicago names as a viewing spot
- Chicago History Museum at Clark and North, an indoor break a few blocks west
- Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool (closed show weekend)
For the rest of the shoreline, see Parks and the lakefront.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Chicago Air and Water Show 2027?
The 2027 dates are not yet announced as of October 2026. The show is held on a weekend in mid-August; in 2026 it ran Saturday and Sunday, August 15–16, with a practice day on Friday, August 14.
Where is the best place to watch the Air and Water Show?
North Avenue Beach in Lincoln Park is the center of the show, and the official viewing area runs along the lakefront from Fullerton Avenue south to Oak Street. You can watch from the beach, the park’s grass, waterfront restaurants, rooftops or boats.
Is the Chicago Air and Water Show free?
Yes. The Chicago Air & Water Show is free, with no tickets or reservations, and there is no public seating, so bring a blanket or chair.
Is there parking at North Avenue Beach during the show?
No. There is no public parking at North Avenue Beach during the show, and parking at Lincoln Park Zoo is limited. The city recommends CTA trains and buses (it added extra service in 2026); rideshare drop-off is at the northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive entrance.
What time does the Air and Water Show start?
In 2026 the show ran 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days, although Sunday’s start was moved to noon. The lakefront opened at 6 a.m. Hours for 2027 have not been posted.
Sources
- Choose Chicago: Chicago Air and Water Show (2026 dates, lineup, history, viewing, access)
- Chicago Sun-Times: What to know about the 2026 show (hours, attendance, accessible viewing)
- Fox 32: Chicago Air and Water Show 2026 (organizer, schedule change, parking, CTA)
- Chicago Park District: Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool (show-weekend closure)
- Chicago Park District: North Avenue Beach
Have a question we didn’t answer, or spot something out of date? Tell us and we’ll update the guide. Back to the Lincoln Park events calendar.
Last updated October 2026 by Live Lincoln Park.