Winner of the Best in Britain award opens the Southport Air Show as Southport Town Crier

Key Points

• The Southport Air Show will be officially opened by Kevin Ruane MBE, Southport’s Town Crier, on Saturday 29 August and Sunday 30 August 2026 at 10 am each day.
• Ruane was judged best in Britain in the ‘Best Home Cry’ category at the British Town Crier Championships last weekend.
• On both days,s the RAF Red Arrows will be available, plus the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (Spitfire, Hurricane, Dakota), RAF Typhoon (Sunday only), AeroSuperbatics Wingwalkers and much, much more.
• Gates open at 10 a,m and displays are provided from around 12 pm to 17:00; car parking is from 09:00 am onwards.
• Under-16s are admitted free, and tickets can be purchased at the gate or online through Visit Southport.
• Ruane was a personal favourite of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and has welcomed the return of the Red Arrows.
• It is held on the seafront/Marine Drive in Southport, and features ground entertainment, Military Village, and family activities.

Southport (Britain Today News) August 29, 2026 – The Southport Air Show, in partnership with Visit Southport, will be officially opened each day by Southport Town Crier Kevin Ruane MBE at 10 am on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August 2026, after he was crowned best in Britain in the ‘Best Home Cry’ category at this year’s British Town Crier Championships.

Who will open the Southport Air Show 2026 and why does it matter?

Southport’s official Town Crier, Kevin Ruane MBE, has been confirmed as the ceremonial opener of the 2026 Southport Air Show, a role that places local heritage and civic pride at the heart of one of the region’s biggest summer events. As reported by local coverage on Stand Up For Southport, Ruane earned top place in the ‘Best Home Cry’ section at the British Town Crier Championships last weekend, a category designed to allow town criers to promote their town, city or borough to the nation. Organisers said he is now

“preparing his loudest voice to proclaim the 2026 Southport Air Show officially open”

at 10 am on both days of the event.

What award did Kevin Ruane MBE win and what does ‘Best Home Cry’ mean?

Kevin Ruane MBE was judged best in Britain in the ‘Best Home Cry’ category at the annual British Town Crier Championships, according to event reporting by Stand Up For Southport. The category gives town criers a platform to promote their locality on a national stage, aligning with Ruane’s long-standing role as Southport’s civic announcer. In comments cited by the same outlet, Ruane described the national recognition among his peers as “the icing on the cake” that makes his public role “all worthwhile”.

When and where does the Southport Air Show 2026 take place?

The Southport Air Show 2026 runs on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August on Southport’s seafront, with gates opening at 10 am and aerial displays scheduled to run from around midday until 17:00. Car parking will be open from 09:00 to accommodate early arrivals, according to official event information shared via Visit Southport and local briefings. The event is staged along Marine Drive, offering spectators a seaside backdrop for the flying programme.

Which aircraft and display teams are flying at Southport Air Show 2026?

The 2026 line-up includes the world-famous RAF Red Arrows on both days, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight featuring the Spitfire, Hurricane and Dakota, and the RAF Typhoon on Sunday only, according to multiple local and aviation news reports. Also confirmed are the AeroSuperbatics Wingwalkers, The Starlings formation team, the RAF Tutor, the Hawk T1, the Otto helicopter with pyrotechnics, the Richard Goodwin Jet Pitts, the Strikemaster Display Team, the Gazelle Squadron, and historic warbirds including the A-26 Invader and P-51 Mustang. As noted by Manchester Evening News, the Red Arrows are due to fly at 15:30 each day, with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight closing Saturday’s programme and the Typhoon closing on Sunday, subject to weather.

What has Kevin Ruane MBE said about the air show and his favourite aircraft?

In statements carried by Stand Up For Southport, Kevin Ruane MBE said:

“I’m excited to be back at Southport Air Show this weekend! I loved being there last year – I’ve been to the Southport Air Show many times. It’s a fantastic event. I really enjoy it.”

He added that

“There are some wonderful aircraft on display”.

his personal favourite is the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight because “it sits with me”. Ruane recalled giving a presentation about the last RAF Lancaster to crash in World War II for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight team in Lincoln, and said they “kindly gave me a look inside the Dakota”, so he is “looking forward to seeing it flying at Southport Air Show this weekend”. On the Red Arrows, he said:

“It’s brilliant to see the RAF Red Arrows returning this year too; they are something else.”

adding that he first watched them “when I was a kind [child] and being absolutely mesmerised”, and still feels “that same sense of amazement”.

How can visitors buy tickets and what are the entry rules for 2026?

Tickets for the Southport Air Show 2026 are available at the gate or online via Visit Southport, with under-16s admitted free, according to official event details. Gates open at 10 am, with displays starting at approximately 12:00 and running until 17:00, while car parking opens from 09:00 to help manage traffic flow on Marine Drive and surrounding routes. Organisers advise that timings can change due to weather, and encourage visitors to follow the show’s social media channels for updates on the flying schedule.

What ground activities and attractions are available beyond the flying displays?

Beyond the aerial programme, the Southport Air Show offers ground attractions along Marine Drive and within a Military Village where visitors can explore equipment from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, and speak with service personnel and local Air Cadets. The site also features flight simulators, replica aircraft, and a range of stalls offering crafts, military souvenirs and refreshments, alongside family-friendly amusements such as trampolines and bumper cars. As described by The Guide Liverpool, the event is positioned as one of the region’s major summer highlights, drawing families and aviation enthusiasts to the coast for a full day out.

Why are the Red Arrows’ 2026 appearances at Southport significant?

The RAF Red Arrows’ return to Southport on both days of the 2026 show is significant because the team had taken a break from the event in 2025, according to local reporting by Manchester Evening News. National coverage has listed Southport among the Red Arrows’ final UK display dates of the 2026 season, underscoring the event’s place on the team’s summer circuit. Event bosses previously said seven aircraft were due to appear and that the Red Arrows “never fail to impress”, a sentiment echoed by Ruane’s praise for their displays.
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How does the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight fit into the 2026 programme?

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is scheduled to fly on both days, featuring iconic aircraft including the Spitfire, Hurricane and C-47 Dakota. As noted by The Guide Liverpool, the flight commemorates those who lost their lives in service and operates a range of historic types flown by regular and reserve RAF aircrew. In Saturday’s published schedule, the Memorial Flight is listed at 16:00, closing the day’s flying before the final ground wrap-up.

What should attendees know about schedules, timings and travel?

Published schedules indicate displays commence around 12:30 and conclude by 16:00–17:00, with the Red Arrows typically slotted for 15:30 each day, though organisers caution that timings can change due to weather. Eye on Southport’s weekend briefing reiterated that gates open at 10 am with displays expected from midday to 5 pm, and highlighted the inclusion of the RAF Typhoon on Sunday. Visitors are advised to plan for early arrival given parking opens at 09:00 and to check official channels for any last-minute programme changes.