AirVenture Unveiled: Bigger and Better Than Ever

Record Attendance at EAA AirVenture 2025

This year’s EAA AirVenture, held from July 21 to July 27, set a new record with over 704,000 attendees, surpassing the previous high of 686,000 in 2024. The event, themed “One Week-Endless Possibilities,” lived up to its name as visitors experienced a wide range of aviation-related activities.

EAA CEO and Chairman Jack Pelton highlighted the significance of the event, noting that it showcased aviation history, innovation, and camaraderie in numerous ways. He also emphasized that the highlights of this year's event laid the groundwork for future developments in the world of flight.

Saturday, July 26, saw particularly high attendance, which Pelton attributed to the efforts of the 6,000 volunteers and EAA staff and partners who made the event possible.

Key Statistics from AirVenture 2025

Aircraft

Over 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin. During the period from noon CDT on July 17 to noon CDT on July 28, there were 16,246 aircraft operations at KOSH. This averages about 108 takeoffs and landings per hour when the airport is open, with planes landing approximately every 17 seconds during peak times.

Show Planes

The event featured 2,543 show planes, including: - 995 vintage aircraft - 910 homebuilt aircraft - 361 warbirds - 101 ultralights and light planes - 75 aerobatic aircraft - 74 seaplanes and amphibians - 18 rotorcraft - 9 balloons

Campground Users

Approximately 40,000 visitors used 15,000 campsites for aircraft and drive-in camping.

Volunteers

Nearly 6,000 volunteers contributed nearly 300,000 hours. Their roles included helping park airplanes, policing the grounds, providing ground transportation using golf carts, feeding on-site volunteers, and teaching classes and seminars.

Commercial Exhibitors

A record number of 962 commercial exhibitors participated in the event.

Forums, Workshops, and Presentations

More than 1,600 sessions were hosted across 65 venues during the week.

Social Media, Internet, and Mobile

The event reached more than 21.2 million people through EAA’s social media channels. Engagement surpassed 2 million, and total video views reached 20.3 million, an increase of 19 percent compared to 2024. The EAA also gained 44,000 new social media followers.

International Guests

AirVenture attracted 2,305 attendees from 94 countries outside the U.S., including the first registered visitor from Senegal. The actual number of international visitors is likely higher, as many do not officially register at the International Visitors Tent.

Media

The event was covered by 901 media representatives from six continents.

Fundraising

The EAA Aviation Foundation’s annual fundraising event attracted over 1,000 people and raised $2.49 million to support its education programs.

Local Economic Impact

The event generated an estimated $257 million for the five counties in the Oshkosh region (Winnebago, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Brown). This figure is based on a recent University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh economic impact study for the 2024 event.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Mark your calendars for AirVenture 2026, scheduled for July 20 to July 26. Pelton expressed excitement about the future of the event, stating that ideas come from EAA members, attendees, partners, and the volunteer corps and staff. While the team will take time to celebrate this year’s achievements, they will soon begin planning for next year’s edition of “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.”