With the unstoppable tides of time having swept us into a new week and washed us up on the shores of July 13, we are now just seven days away from the start of the Farnborough International Airshow 2026. Taking place next week from Monday, July 20 to Friday, July 24 at Farnborough Airport (FAB) in the English county of Hampshire, the show is often one that makes the headlines in the summer.

As ever, Simple Flying will be offering comprehensive coverage of the Farnborough International Airshow, bringing you the the latest and greatest news of events both on the ground and in the air. Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect from the event this year!

Aircraft On Display

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As with all airshows, Farnborough is an ideal chance for planemakers to display their wares, both in the air and on the ground. Much excitement was generated when the show revealed its first wave of aircraft that would be involved in the flying display. The military headliners include the US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II and the Rolls-Royce Vickers Supermarine Spitfire PR.Mk.XIX.

On the commercial side, Airbus’s top attraction is the A350-1000. While certain operators will be bringing commercial Boeing jets to the show, Boeing itself doesn’t plan to focus on this, with its current lineup leaning more on the military side. Qatar Airways was going to bring a Boeing 777-300ER and a Gulfstream G700, but has pulled out following the death of a former Qatari Emir. The airshow explains that:

“Showcasing frontline military capability, heritage aviation to next-generation commercial platforms and emerging advanced air mobility aircraft, the flying display will reflect the ambition of the international industry today.”

Aircraft Orders

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Away from the static and airborne aircraft displays, airlines and aircraft manufacturers are also no strangers to making headlines when it comes to announcing orders at airshows. Farnborough is no exception to this trend, and rumors have already begun to swirl with regard to the kind of deals that we can expect to see this time around. These often generate considerable excitement on account of the high values.

Most notably, it is thought that Etihad Airways and Boeing will confirm a deal for ten more widebody twinjets from the US planemaker’s 787 Dreamliner series at this year’s iteration of the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow. The airline is already a big fan of this family, with both the mid-sized 787-9 and the stretched 787-10 models in its fleet, and a new order would serve both it and Boeing very well indeed.

While, if such an order is placed, it will make headlines, the reality is that it will be one of many multi-million or even multi-billion-dollar orders confirmed during this year’s show. Indeed, the last iteration, in 2024, saw airlines place orders that amounted to a combined $105 billion in list prices. 2026 has been a tough year for aviation, but you would expect that airlines will still be prepared to get their wallets out.

Ground Exhibits

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As previously mentioned, some of the aircraft that are being displayed at the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow will only appear on a static basis. While perhaps not as exciting as a flying display, this does give visitors more flexibility in terms of viewing these aircraft, as well as a better chance of seeing them up close. With that being said, there are plenty of other ground-based exhibits for you to savor.

For instance, Boeing highlighted today that “an interactive exhibit featuring a full-size 777X cabin section” would be among its ground-based exhibits, as well as “a T-7 flight simulator in the Boeing Exhibit Pavilion.” Needless to say, there will be plenty to keep all visitors busy, regardless of whether you lean more towards commercial or private aviation, and you can read about it all here on Simple Flying!