Air festival thrills crowds with aerobatics, aircraft and family fun. Photo Credit: ÁLVARO RM / YouTube
The Costa Calida was the hub of aviation in Spain over the weekend, as Santiago de la Ribera hosted the 2026 edition of the San Javier International Air Festival, taking to the skies and turning the Mar Menor skyline into a spectacular backdrop for aerobatics, incredible aircraft, and activities for the whole family to take part in.
A major aviation festival dazzles in the skies of the Mar Menor
The aviation festival took place at the Barnuevo Esplanade, the Paseo Colón, and the Mar Menor skyline. The festival featured a variety of activities, workshops, and interesting talks for aviation hobbyists. One of the major highlights of the event was the special Sunset Show, taking place just as the sun was setting over the sky and featuring sunset acrobatics with coloured smoke and standout visual effects.
Another major fixture was the Grand Air Show, the most anticipated moment of the festival. This major aviation event featured more than 15 national and international participants and aircraft, including aircraft from England, Portugal, and Italy, the Italian WeFly Team Patrol, which puts pilots with disabilities into the spotlight, the Eurofighter aircraft, other military aircraft including the Airbus A400M, the Canadair, and NH Lobo helicopters, and extremely skilled aerobatic pilots.
In addition to the aviation spectacle, the weekend also featured free concerts, autograph sessions with the pilots, a family Play Zone complete with simulators, VR setups, and children’s activities.
An aviation hotspot on the Costa Calida
During this weekend, Santiago de la Ribera was transformed into the epicentre of aviation on the Costa, combining air shows, live music, interactive experiences, simulations, and family entertainment in a major spectacle that could be enjoyed by both seasoned aviation hobbyists and newbies. All in all, the San Javier International Air Festival was a booming success in the municipality, and future editions are sure to be even grander, more exciting and more impressive still.
