Event Schedule
Racing Dates
September 16-20, 2026
Roswell, New Mexico | Roswell Air Center
The National Championship Air Races bring heart-pounding excitement throughout the entire week of racing. But while each day is exciting, no two days are the same.
Unique thrills can be found each and every day, as the week builds toward its climactic conclusion and another set of names being etched into history.
2026 National Championship Air Races Daily Schedule
(Subject to change, check back often!)
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
8:00AM – 8:30AM
IF1 – Heat 1B
8:30AM – 9:00AM
Biplane – Heat 1B
9:00AM – 9:30AM
IF1 – Heat 1A
9:30AM – 10:00AM
STOL Drag – Heat 1
10:10AM – 10:40AM
Biplane – Heat 1A
11:35AM – 12:15PM
Welcoming Ceremony
12:15PM – 12:45PM
STOL Drag – Heat 2
1:00PM – 1:30PM
Sport – Heat 1B
1:40PM – 2:10PM
Jet – Heat 1C
2:10PM – 2:20PM
T-6 1 v1 Drags (Quarter Finals) – Heat 1 & 2
1:50PM – 2:00PM
Jim Peitz
2:00PM – 2:10PM
Smoke N’ Thunder
2:10PM – 2:20PM
Philipp Steinbach with Gamebird GB1
3:35PM – 4:05PM
Sport – Heat 1A
4:15PM – 4:55PM
Jet – Heat 1B
Thursday, September 17, 2026
8:00AM – 8:30AM
STOL Drag – Heat 3
8:30AM – 9:00AM
Biplane – Heat 2B
9:00AM – 9:30AM
IF1 – Heat 2B
9:30AM – 10:00AM
STOL Drag – Heat 4
10:55AM – 11:25AM
Civilian Performers
11:25AM – 12:10PM
Welcoming Ceremony
12:10PM – 12:40PM
Sport – Heat 2B
12:40PM – 1:10PM
Jet – Heat 2C
1:10PM – 1:55PM
Thunderbirds non-aerobatic site survey
2:55PM – 3:25PM
T-6 – Heat 1A
1:50PM – 2:05PM
Jim Peitz
2:30PM – 2:45PM
Palm Springs Air Museum
2:45PM – 2:50PM
Military Fly-by
2:50PM – 3:05PM
Philipp Steinbach with Gamebird GB1
3:35PM – 4:10PM
Sport – Heat 2A
4:15PM – 4:45PM
Jet Heat – 1A
Friday, September 18, 2026
8:00AM – 8:30AM
Biplane – Heat 2A
8:30AM – 9:00AM
IF1 – Heat 2A
9:00AM – 9:30AM
STOL Drag – Heat 5
9:30AM – 10:00AM
Sport – Heat 3B
10:10AM – 11:10AM
TBD
11:20AM – 11:55AM
STOL Drag – Heat 6
11:55AM – 12:35PM
Welcoming Ceremony
12:35PM – 12:45PM
T-6 1v1 Quarter Finals #2
12:45PM – 1:15PM
Jet – Heat 2B
1:15PM – 1:45PM
Unlimited – Heat 1B
1:45PM – 2:00PM
Jim Peitz – Smoke N’ Thunder – Philipp Steinbach with Gamebird GB1
2:00PM – 2:30PM
Palm Springs Air Museum
2:00PM – 2:30PM
T-6 – Heat 2A
2:30PM – 3:00PM
Jet – Heat 2A
3:00PM – 4:15PM
USAF Thunderbirds full demo practice
4:15PM – 4:45PM
Unlimited – Heat 1A
Saturday, September 19, 2026
8:00AM – 8:30AM
IF1 – Heat 3B
8:30AM – 9:00AM
Biplane – Heat 3B
9:00AM – 9:30AM
STOL Drag – Heat 7
9:30AM – 10:00AM
IF1 – Heat 3A
10:10AM – 10:45AM
STOL Drag- Heat 8
10:55AM – 11:25AM
Biplane – Heat 3A
11:25AM – 11:35AM
T-6 1v1 Semi-Finals – Two 1v1 Heats
11:35AM – 12:15PM
Welcoming Ceremony
12:15PM – 12:45PM
Unlimited – Heat 2B
12:45PM – 12:55PM
Jim Peitz
12:55PM – 1:25PM
T-6 – Heat 3A
1:25PM – 1:35PM
Smoke N’ Thunder – Philipp Steinbach with Gamebird GB1
1:35PM – 2:05PM
Sport – Heat 3A
2:05PM – 2:35PM
Jet Race – Bronze Medal
2:35PM – 3:05PM
Unlimited – Heat 2A
3:05PM – 4:20PM
USAF Thunderbirds Full Performance
4:20PM – 4:50PM
Jet Race – Silver Medal
Sunday, September 20, 2026
8:00AM – 8:30AM
STOL Drag – Heat 9
8:30AM – 9:00AM
Biplane Class – Silver Race
9:00AM – 9:30AM
IF1 Class – Silver Race
9:30AM – 10:00AM
Biplane – Gold Race
10:00AM – 10:10AM
T-6 1v1 Finals #1 & #2
10:20AM – 10:40AM
IF1 – Gold Race
11:30AM – 12:15PM
Welcoming Ceremonies
12:15PM – 12:45PM
Unlimited Race – Silver Medal
12:55PM – 1:25PM
Sport Race – Silver Medal
1:30PM – 1:40PM
Smoke N’ Thunder / Jim Peitz
1:40PM – 2:10PM
T-6 – Gold Race
2:10PM – 2:20PM
Philipp Steinbach with Gamebird GB1
2:20PM – 2:30PM
Sport Race – Gold Medal
2:30PM – 3:00PM
Jet Race – Gold Medal
3:00PM – 3:05PM
Richland Motors
3:00PM – 4:00PM
USAF Thunderbirds Full Performance
4:00PM – 4:30PM
Unlimited Race – Gold Medal
4:30PM – 5:10PM
Palm Springs Air Museum
5:15PM – 5:45PM
Gold Race Trophy Awards
