Plans for the 2026 edition of Festa al Cel were formally presented on 19 February at the Museo de Aeronáutica y Astronaútica (Aeronautics and Astronautics Museum), Madrid, Spain, confirming the Spanish air festival will return to Salou for a second consecutive year on the weekend of September 19. Representatives from the festival organisation, local authorities, and aviation partners used the event to reflect on last year’s debut in the coastal city and to preview what visitors can expect this time around.
Salou Mayor Pere Granados described the festival as a key addition to the city’s events calendar, particularly outside the peak summer period. Organisers estimate that more than 300,000 spectators attended the 2025 edition, a figure the municipality hopes to exceed if conditions cooperate. Colonel Félix Manjón focused on the broader role airshows play within aviation culture, pointing to their ability to spark interest and inspire future professionals. Joan Nogueroles of the Barcelona-Sabadell Aeroclub echoed those remarks and briefly revisited the festival’s origins in 1992, when it began evolving from Barcelona’s traditional kite-flying gatherings into a dedicated aviation event.
Festival director Daniel Ventura González framed Festa al Cel as a reflection of aviation enthusiasm rather than simply a display programme. He also pointed to what organisers see as a continuing gap in aeronautical awareness in Spain, noting that the festival frequently attracts significant interest from international audiences. Several programme elements introduced in 2025 will return, including the sunset aerial pyrotechnic display. This year’s concept is expected to grow, with Aerosparks, Scandinavian Airshows, Flying Dragons, and Cástor Fantoba mentioned among participants linked to the segment.
Organisers also indicated that efforts are being made to create a clearer narrative flow throughout the display sequence, aiming to maintain audience engagement between performances rather than presenting acts in isolation. The event will again run across two days and combine aerial demonstrations with a seafront static exhibition area. From a viewing standpoint, organisers highlighted Salou’s south-facing coastline as advantageous for spectators and photographers, as it prevents backlighting during much of the display period.
Only limited participant confirmations were provided at the presentation, though Spanish Air and Space Force teams PAPEA and ASPA are expected to attend. Any decision regarding Mirlo participation will be communicated separately by the service. With more than 28 years of history, Festa al Cel remains Spain’s longest-running civil air festival and one of the more established events of its kind in southern Europe. The 2026 edition is being positioned as another step in consolidating Salou as its long-term host while strengthening the festival’s standing internationally.
The event will be organised by Salou City Council, directed by the Barcelona-Sabadell Aeroclub, and produced by Escudería Targa Iberia. PortAventura World returns as sponsor, with institutional support from the Spanish Air and Space Force, ENAIRE, AENA through Reus Airport, the Catalonia Aeronautical Park Foundation, Aeroclub de Reus, the Spanish Army, the Spanish Navy, and the Catalan aerospace cluster AeroS. For information and to support The Infante de Orleans Foundation, click on this link: fio.es.
