Expo to Return to Lakeland Following the Debut of the Affordable Flying Expo

The legendary SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo is getting ready to celebrate America’s birthday with its 52nd annual return to Lakeland next April… but not before it lends a helping hand to launch year one of the Affordable Flying Expo.

Despite the widely recognized airshow season coming to an end, SUN ‘n FUN is sticking around. Sport aviation enthusiasts can return to one of the most iconic airshow campuses in the world for the inaugural Affordable Flying Expo from November 6 to 8, 2025. The timing couldn’t be better; with MOSIAC officially announced, AFE stands to be the best opportunity for the community to get involved, ask questions, and see all the industry has to offer. 

After a few months off, from April 14 to 19, Lakeland will be reopened for business to celebrate ‘Red, White, and Blue at 52,’ honoring the 250th birthday of the USA. Tickets for SUN ‘n FUN 2026 are already on sale, with proceeds supporting educational initiatives through the Aerospace Center for Excellence.

“We are going to have a jam-packed year,” said SUN ‘n FUN President and CEO Gene Conrad. “The Thunderbirds are coming back. We are also working to coordinate some special fly-bys and some special static aircraft for next year. I don’t want to give too much away, but a lot of planning is going into the affair right now.”

The 2026 expo follows a record-breaking 2025 event, which drew over 200,000 attendees and featured major military demonstration teams including the Blue Angels, F-35A Demo Team, and the F-16C Viper Demo Team.

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