New parking process designed to improve traffic flow, base access and overall guest experience
Col. Aaron Gray, Offutt Air Force Base installation commander, made the announcement during a press conference at The Pointe Event Center in Bellevue.
The 2026 show will mark the return of public air show parking on the installation. During the previous air show, public parking was located off base, requiring attendees to use bus shuttles to access the event. That process was put in place because of the historic 2019 flood and its impact on Offutt’s infrastructure.
“Returning air show parking to the installation is a direct reflection of the progress Team Offutt has made in our flood recovery efforts,” Gray said. “It also gives us the opportunity to welcome our community back to Offutt Air Force Base in a meaningful way and thank them for the support they continue to provide our Airmen, civilians and families.”
As part of the updated process, attendees will be required to obtain a free Base Pass through the official air show website, www.offutt.af.mil/air-show, before arriving. The Base Pass is not a ticket. The air show remains free and open to the public. The pass is designed to help organize parking, manage traffic and direct guests to their assigned gate and parking area.
Each Base Pass will include a QR code with directions to a specific entry gate, which may include the Flag Gate, Meyer Gate or STRATCOM Gate. Attendees are asked to follow the directions on their Base Pass and use only their assigned gate to help reduce traffic delays and support a safe, orderly arrival process.
Gates are scheduled to open at 8:30 a.m. The flying portion of the show is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.
Parking lots will be located across the installation and organized into three color groups: red, blue and orange. After parking, guests are encouraged to save the location of their vehicle on their phone and note the color and number of their assigned parking lot sign.
Each parking group will include designated parking for vehicles with ADA tags or placards. However, attendees should be prepared to walk up to half a mile from some parking areas to the air show entrance.
The 2026 Defenders of Freedom Air & Space Show will also support the national America 250 commemoration by highlighting the U.S. military’s enduring role in defending freedom, supporting national security and serving the American people.
“As our nation prepares to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we are reminded that freedom has never been free,” Gray said. “For nearly two and a half centuries, generations of Americans have answered the call to serve, sacrificed for this nation and defended the freedoms we hold dear. That legacy continues today through the men and women who wear the uniform, the civilians who serve beside them and the families who carry the weight of service at home.”
Gray said the air show is also an opportunity to recognize the bond between Offutt and the surrounding community.
“Offutt Air Force Base does not stand alone,” Gray said. “The support we receive from Bellevue, Omaha, Sarpy County and communities across Nebraska means more than words can express. The Defenders of Freedom Air & Space Show gives us the chance to open our gates, share our mission and say thank you to the community that stands beside us every day.”
Additional information, including event dates, performer announcements, Base Pass registration details and prohibited items, will be released at www.offutt.af.mil/air-show and through Offutt Air Force Base communication channels as planning continues.
For more information, visit www.offutt.af.mil/air-show or contact the 55th Wing Public Affairs Office at 402-294-3663 or 55WG.PA@us.af.mil.
