Athens Flying Week 2026 returns to Tanagra Air Base

The Athens Flying Week - Tanagra International Air Show 2026 returns to Tanagra Air Base on September 5 and 6.

According to the organisers, the two-day air show will feature numerous international participants, as well as all the aircraft and other aerial assets of the Hellenic Armed Forces, CE Report quotes ANA-MPA.

This year’s show will feature a standout appearance by Fursan Al Emarat, the aerobatic team from the United Arab Emirates, which will make its debut with new aircraft and perform a full flying programme on Saturday and Sunday. On both days, audiences will have the opportunity to watch the “ Knights of the Emirates” perform aerobatics and high-precision manoeuvres at breathtaking speeds.

For the first time, audiences will also be able to see up close the state-of-the-art Chinese-built Hongdu L-15 jet aircraft operated by Fursan Al Emarat. According to the organisers, a total of seven such aircraft will be airborne simultaneously, “ painting” the sky with the team’s highly pigmented yet fully environmentally friendly smoke. The smoke used by Fursan Al Emarat contains fully biodegradable materials that are safe for the ecosystem and naturally disperse in the air without leaving residues.

The “Knights of the Emirates” use coloured smoke in the colours of their national flag: red, green, white and black. During their aerial choreography, the aircraft leave coloured trails across the sky, creating a unique spectacle.

Members of Fursan Al Emarat are not selected at random, the organisers emphasise, but represent the absolute elite of UAE's aviation community. With their impressive aircraft, they represent their country at the world’s largest air shows, including in Greece.

The team has adapted its technologies in line with international commitments to environmental protection and sustainability, and follows “ green” aviation standards. In addition to the spectacular Fursan Al Emarat, individual participants include the Finnish F-18 Hornet Display, making its first appearance in Greece; the Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon, also making its Greek debut; and German Typhoon and Tornado aircraft, which will perform full flying programmes.

Other highlights include the imposing A400Ms from Belgium and Germany, Austrian and Slovenian Pilatus aircraft, Canadian parachutists, an Italian AW-139 helicopter and an F-35 on static display, as well as the legendary F-4 Phantoms, the F-16 ZEUS and T-6 Daedalus, warbirds and, of course, all the aerial assets of the Hellenic Armed Forces, including the EMB-145H AEW&C, M-346s, Mirage 2000-5s and Rafales of the 114 Combat Wing, which is hosting this year’s event.

The Army Aviation’s Apache helicopters will also take part with an impressive display, alongside Kiowa, NH-90 and Chinook helicopters, as well as the Hellenic Navy’s S-70 Aegean Hawks and MH-60 Romeos. Personnel and assets from the Hellenic National Defence General Staff’s Special Warfare Command will once again promise a spectacular demonstration of operational capabilities which, according to the organisers, is guaranteed to take the audience’s breath away.

Aegean Airlines could not be absent from the biggest aviation celebration, and will once again participate in this year’s Athens Flying Week with a surprise flight, alongside Olympic Air.

Among the civilian participants, highlights include world champion Luca Bertossio, with gravity-defying manoeuvres; Frank Van Houten, who impresses audiences with his aerobatics year after year; and the Euroavia team from the National Technical University of Athens, which will be present at the static display with its own aircraft.

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