We’re counting down to SUN ’n FUN 2026, and this year we’re going Red, White & Blue at 52! 🇺🇸 Here's your weekly updates filled with news, highlights, and sneak peeks of what’s in store at everyone’s favorite Aviation Expo and Airshow! | | | |
Get ready for precision and pulse-pounding formation flying — the Full Throttle Formation Team, is joining the performance lineup at SUN ’n FUN 2026!
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, their pilots are seasoned aviation professionals with more than 300,000 combined flight hours in military and commercial aircraft.
Flying "Van’s Aircraft" experimental airplanes — many of which were built by the pilots themselves — this team delivers an incredible display of skill, teamwork, and craftsmanship in every performance.
You won’t want to miss the Full Throttle Formation Team lighting up the skies at SUN ’n FUN 2026!
Learn more about them at fullthrottleairshows.com.
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FLORIDA RESIDENTS - DON'T MISS OUR WEEKEND BOGO DEAL!
If you live in Florida, you can take advantage of our Buy One, Get One Free weekend offer—buy a ticket for Saturday and come back Sunday on us! It’s the perfect way to enjoy two full days of aviation excitement for the price of one.
A special thank-you to Guard Construction, our local partner and proud sponsor of the Florida Resident Ticket.
| | | BUY ONLINE AND SAVE $$ WITH EARLY BIRD PRICING! | | As one of the largest aviation events in Florida and a major stop on the global airshow circuit, SUN ’n FUN brings together thousands of pilots, families, and enthusiasts for a week of unmatched excitement. To help you plan your visit, we’ve compiled helpful information about travel, accommodations, and on-site transportation options so you can make the most of your SUN ’n FUN experience. | | | GETTING HERE, STAYING HERE, AND GETTING AROUND AT SUN 'N FUN! | | |
GETTING HERE AND PARKING 🚗 🚙
We have three parking lots and two main admission gates for your convenience.
- Parking Lot 1 (Main Lot) – located off Pipkin Road. For the most accurate directions, enter 3875 W. Pipkin Rd., Lakeland, FL 33811 into your map program.
- Parking Lot 2 – reserved for sponsors, exhibitors, and media, located off Medulla Road.
- Parking Lot 3 (East Main Parking Lot) – located off Airside Center Drive.
ADDITIONAL PARKING INFO HERE!
We recommend snapping 📷 a photo or pinning your location📍 to avoid any confusion when you return to your vehicle.
Parking lots open at 7:00 AM, and admission gates open at 8:00 AM.
Skip the line and save 50% when you pre-purchase parking online — you’ll thank us later when you roll right in and get straight to the fun!
| | STAY YOUR WAY: CAMPING, HOTELS & MORE! | | Planning to stay for a few days? SUN ’n FUN offers a variety of accommodation options both on and off campus. | | |
ONSITE CAMPING ⛺️
Experience the event right in the heart of the action! Visit our CAMPING PORTAL to reserve your premium campsite, which includes electric and water hookups.
ONLY 33 PREMIUM SPOTS LEFT!! GET THEM BEFORE THEY'RE GONE!
| If you’re looking for a more economical option, we also offer dry tent camping and RV spots without electric or water hookups that are available first come, first serve. | | HOTELS, MOTELS & VACATION HOMES 🏠 | | Our exclusive destination partner, Visit Central Florida, has you covered with area hotels, motels, and vacation rentals close to the event. The Central Florida Convention and Visitors Bureau offers a lodging brochure and website that links to many of the properties in the area, including over 7,000 vacation rental homes, most of which offer all the amenities of an exclusive resort! Their website contains extensive information on all the other interesting things to see and do in Polk County and beyond, whether you’re looking for theme parks, antique shopping or a relaxing day of golf. | | SUN ’n FUN’s Preferred Accommodation Partners include: | | GETTING AROUND ONSITE & BEYOND | | |
ON-CAMPUS 🚋
Our SUN ’n FUN trams, proudly sponsored by Bristell, make it easy to get from one end of the event to the other.
There are four routes running continuously throughout the day, with more than 22 stops across the campus, so you’re never far from your next adventure.
All routes include handicap-accessible trams, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the full SUN ’n FUN experience comfortably and conveniently.
2026 Tram map coming soon!
| | Need to get to your hotel or explore Lakeland? We’ve teamed up with The Citrus Connection to bring you the SUN ’n FUN Express, offering FREE public transit and convenient routes to area hotels, Lakeside Village Shopping Center, and Downtown Lakeland. | | | | |
RIDE SHARE AVAILABLE
We also offer a designated Ride Share
drop-off and pick-up zone at The Island for your convenience.
| | | ☀️ Lakeland skies are calling — start planning your SUN 'n FUN Adventure today! | | |
ScaleWings creates the world’s most accurate flying reproduction of the legendary P‑51 Mustang, combining authentic design with modern engineering and craftsmanship. Their elite team of engineers and aviation specialists works with singular focus to deliver a Mustang that is as captivating on the ramp as it is in the air.
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, ScaleWings introduces the Stella Blue Replica—a striking tribute to American independence and aviation heritage. Dressed in a bold patriotic livery and built to uncompromising standards, Stella Blue honors the legacy of freedom while bringing the spirit of the Mustang vividly to life.
See this Patriotic beauty at SUN 'n FUN - BOOTH LD-11.
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Designing the Perfect Paint Scheme
Presented by Craig Barnett
Craig Barnett is the founder of Scheme Designers, the leading paint scheme design company. Over the past 29 years, Craig has designed over 18,500 unique paint scheme designs worldwide. Craig is an artist, engineer and commercial pilot.
Learn the fundamentals of aircraft paint and vinyl scheme design. Craig will cover design from stylistic direction development through specification for application on your aircraft. Learn about the nuances of aircraft drawings and how to set yourself up for design success. Explore best practices against basic design elements and understand and develop your design approach across the whole plane. Learn FAA regulatory limitations in design and cost implications of design and color decisions.
| | EXHIBITORS GET THE CHANCE TO PREVIEW YOUR PRODUCTS! | | Take center stage and show the aviation world why you deserve to be called an Aviation Innovator. Each Innovation presenter will be featured in individual (no more than 5 minute) snippets, one per company, and will feature ONLY SUN ‘n FUN exhibitors and vendors with NEW products and programs to announce, or otherwise to be seen for the first time, in 2026. Deadline to sign up is February 16. Contact j...@aero-news.net for more info. | | |
Monday, April 13 at 4:00 PM ET
SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Pavilion
Open to all credentialed media, and a worldwide livestream is available at airborne-live.net
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