NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — Residents across Southern Maryland may spot a familiar blue-and-gold silhouette overhead Friday, Nov. 21, as a U.S. Navy Blue Angels jet arrives at Naval Air Station Patuxent River for planning meetings ahead of the 2026 Pax River Air Show.
Base officials said representatives from the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron are visiting Pax River to review logistics, flight operations and support needs for next summer’s show, scheduled for June 20-21, 2026. The Blue Angels are slated to headline the event, which will be held on base and is expected to draw large crowds from across the region.
Weather and operational needs will determine exact flight paths Friday, but community members are being encouraged to keep an eye on the sky for the single-jet arrival, which will offer an early preview of next year’s aerial demonstrations.
Formed in 1946, the Blue Angels perform high-precision maneuvers in F/A-18 Super Hornets at air shows around the country, serving as ambassadors for the Navy and Marine Corps and drawing tens of thousands of spectators at many stops on their annual schedule.
The 2026 Pax River Air Show — also promoted as the Pax River Air Expo — will showcase the Blue Angels alongside other military and civilian aircraft, with static displays, demonstrations and family-friendly activities on the flight line. Navy officials have described the show as a key opportunity for the public to see the work done at Pax River and to strengthen ties between the installation and the surrounding Southern Maryland community.
Local businesses are also being invited to take part. Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) officials at Pax River are offering sponsorship and advertising packages tied to the air show, giving companies a chance to place their brands in front of thousands of visitors while supporting one of the largest events planned for Southern Maryland in 2026.
More information about how to become a sponsor or advertising partner for the 2026 Pax River Air Show is available through Navy MWR Patuxent River at the sponsorship and advertising page on navymwrpaxriver.com.
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