Duxford’s flagship commemorative weekend. Advance tickets only; parking permit required. Verify on the IWM site.
Dates, venue and tickets
| When | 12 September 2026 – 13 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Where | IWM Duxford, Cambridgeshire |
| Adult ticket | £49.50 |
| Official site | iwm.org.uk/events/duxford |
About Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show
Duxford became an RAF fighter station in 1925. In August 1938 No. 19 Squadron there became the first to fly the Spitfire. From July 1940 it was a sector station in 12 Group during the Battle of Britain. The USAAF’s 78th Fighter Group arrived in 1943.
The Imperial War Museum took over the whole site in February 1976, and regular air shows have run here since 1973. The Battle of Britain show is held in September, close to the battle’s anniversary. The 70th-anniversary show on 4–5 September 2010 drew more than 40,000 people. Four Hurricanes and sixteen Spitfires flew in formation.
What to expect
- Spitfires and Hurricanes, often in numbers, plus other Second World War types.
- Flying from Duxford’s own runway, with the crowd along the airfield.
- The museum’s hangars and the American Air Museum open as usual.
- Advance tickets; on air show days parking must be bought separately.
Getting there
- By road, M11 junction 10, where it meets the A505 beside the museum.
- Nearest stations are Whittlesford Parkway, Royston and Cambridge; the 7A bus from Whittlesford runs Monday to Saturday.
- On Sundays the Myall’s 132 bus runs from Cambridge station.
- Parking is free on normal days but must be bought separately on air show days.
The museum on site
| Museum | Adult entry | Airframes | Headline exhibit |
|---|---|---|---|
| IWM DuxfordCambridge, Cambridgeshire | £29 | 146 | Concorde 101 (G-AXDN), the pre-production development aircraft and the fastest Concorde of them all at Mach 2.23 — plus an SR-71A… |
Frequently asked
When is the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show 2027?
We could not confirm a 2027 date. The show is normally held in September; check the IWM Duxford website.
Why is it held at Duxford?
Duxford was a Fighter Command sector station in 1940, and the first RAF squadron to fly the Spitfire was based here in 1938.
Do I need to buy parking?
Yes. Parking at Duxford is free on ordinary days but must be bought separately for air shows.