Jones Beach Air Show Will Feature Historic Blue Angels and Snowbirds Dual Headline During Snowbirds’ Final CT-114 Season

History is coming to Jones Beach State Park this summer. The FourLeaf Air Show will do something rare—host two of the world’s premier military jet demonstration teams at once. The timing adds another layer of significance: the Canadian Forces Snowbirds are flying their final season in the iconic CT-114 Tutor.

Mark your calendar for Sunday, July 5 and Monday, July 6, 2026. The waterfront airshow will feature the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, and the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team. The shift from the traditional Memorial Day Weekend aligns with Fleet Week New York and America’s Semiquincentennial celebration—a deliberate choice that elevates the event’s national prominence.

“The 2026 FourLeaf Air Show at Jones Beach will be a spectacular tribute to America’s 250 years of freedom, courage, and innovation,” said FourLeaf Federal Credit Union President & CEO Linda Armyn. “With the Blue Angels leading an all-star lineup of military and civilian performers, we’re excited to present a thrilling air show showcasing the very best of American excellence.”

The Blue Angels Return Home to Long Island

This marks the Blue Angels’ eleventh appearance at Jones Beach since the show’s inaugural 2004 event. They last performed here in 2024, flying their current F/A-18 Super Hornet configuration. For Long Island families, the team’s precision diamond formation and high-speed maneuvers over the Atlantic have become a summer institution. The 2025 show alone drew over 300,000 spectators and generated $35.8 million in regional economic impact.

Snowbirds’ Farewell Season in the Tutor

What makes this show truly historic is the Snowbirds’ confirmed appearance—and the timing couldn’t matter more. The Canadian Department of National Defence announced that 2026 would be the final season for the Snowbirds’ legendary Canadair CT-114 Tutor, the aircraft that has defined the team since their demonstration career began in 1971.

“After more than six decades in service as both a trainer and demonstration aircraft, 2026 will mark the final season of the CT-114 Tutor aircraft fleet,” Defence Minister David J. McGuinty stated. “As Canadians gather over the next year to watch the Tutors fly one final time, we will also celebrate the generations of pilots, technicians, engineers and support personnel who made the Snowbirds one of the most respected air teams in the world.”

The numbers tell the story. Over 140 million spectators have watched the Snowbirds perform more than 2,700 air displays in the CT-114 across North America. The aircraft themselves—which first entered service with the RCAF as jet trainers in 1963—have been operating far beyond their intended lifespan. That’s why retirement is finally happening. Only approximately 26 Tutors remain in inventory or storage worldwide.

The Snowbirds’ 2026 schedule takes them from Montreal’s Grand Prix in early summer through Missouri, Ontario, and Canada’s capital before arriving in New York for the Fourth of July weekend show. After Jones Beach, they’ll conduct their final North American tour before October grounding.

The Future Takes Shape

Canada has committed to acquiring the CT-157 Siskin II—a turboprop variant of the Pilatus PC-21—to replace the Tutors eventually. But production and delivery timelines create a problem. The Snowbirds will likely remain grounded through the early 2030s, a gap that worries the Snowbirds Alumni Association. They fear losing operational expertise and continuity in one of Canada’s most important military outreach programs.

Additional Headliners and Show Details

The 2026 lineup extends well beyond the jet teams. Expect the U.S. Navy F-35C Lightning II Demo Team, the Royal Air Force Red Arrows (performing at FourLeaf for the first time), Australian aerobatic pilot Aarron Deliu, Mike Goulian’s aerobatic display, the American Air Power Museum Warbirds, and vintage civilian performers including the Skytypers’ WWII aircraft formation.

The show runs 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. both days at Jones Beach State Park, 1 Ocean Parkway, Wantagh, NY. A full practice show flies Friday, July 3. Admission is free; standard parking fees apply. Starting in 2027, the FourLeaf Air Show returns to Memorial Day Weekend.

Sources

• ICAS Air Shows Calendar
• New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Press Release (July 3, 2025)
• FourLeaf Federal Credit Union Official Announcement
• Canadian Department of National Defence Press Release
• LongIsland.com Performer Lineup Report (February 2, 2026)
• Royal Canadian Air Force Official Communications