The National Championship Air Races (NCAR) has announced that tickets for the 2026 National Championship Air Races are now on sale, which will run from September 16 to 20 at Roswell Air Center. The program is expected to include seven racing classes, along with static aircraft displays, military demonstrations, vendors, and food stands. More than 100 aircraft and pilots are set to take part. The USAF Thunderbirds are also scheduled to appear, marking their first performance at the Roswell venue. The National Championship Air Races are held each September and are organized by the Reno Air Racing Association, a nonprofit group. The event began in Northern Nevada, where it spent decades building a reputation as one of the top air racing competitions before relocating to Roswell, New Mexico.
“2025 was our first year hosting the National Championship Air Races in Roswell, and we were overwhelmed by the support we received from the community and from the state of New Mexico,” said Tony Logoteta, president and COO of the Reno Air Racing Association (event producers of NCAR). “This year will be a whole new experience for attendees with the participation of all seven classes, civilian and military performers, and the debut of the USAF Thunderbirds in Roswell. We’re thrilled to reunite our September family for this momentous 61st year of our event.”
Tickets are now available online at early bird rates, with options ranging from single-day entry to weeklong passes and VIP packages. Click HERE to get your tickets. While accommodation in Roswell is often limited during the event, you could look to nearby towns such as Artesia, Ruidoso, Alamogordo, and Portales. On-site RV camping has also been expanded for 2026, giving you another option for staying close to the venue. If you’re planning to arrive by air can reserve aircraft parking through the airport’s fixed-base operator, Avflight. In addition to racing, the event will include interactive exhibits such as the STEM Education Discovery Zone, along with military and civilian flight demonstrations. STOL Drag racing is also set to return for its sixth year as part of the program. For more information and to support the Reno Air Racing Association, click on this link: airrace.org.
