Councillors Mull ‘Combining’ Airshow With Armed Forces Day

Councillors have suggested merging next year’s Armed Forces Day with the International Airshow. Causeway Coast and Glens Council learned last year that its bid to host Northern Ireland’s 2026 celebration for servicemen and women had been successful.

The Commemorations and Celebrations subcommittee has been making preparations. Minutes from an April meeting held behind closed doors record suggestions of a merger with the Airshow.

The DUP’s Mark Fielding said he “could see no reason for not combining the events,” according to the minutes. Chair Michelle Knight McQuillan agreed, saying the idea “sounded like a sensible option” since “both events complemented each other.”

Members were told that the Airshow is booked for September 2026 while Armed Forces Day is scheduled for June. The minutes also note that in the previous mandate the Airshow was held in June and Alderman Fielding suggested the weather could be better at that time of year.

Armed Forces Day, formerly known as Veterans Day, was established as an annual celebration of the contributions of past and present members of the British Armed Forces. It takes place each year at the end of June throughout the United Kingdom. Backed by the Ministry of Defence, it is billed as an opportunity for the public to show support for serving troops, service families, veterans and cadets.

The date for Armed Forces Day 2026 is thought to be Saturday, June 20, which is one week before the rest of the UK. This timing will allow Causeway Coast and Glens Council “to maximise assets that might be used in other parts of the UK were it to be held on the same day,” according to the committee minutes.

The Airshow has traditionally been held in September to extend the summer season trade. It returned in 2024 after a five-year absence from the council’s events calendar at a reported cost of more than £500,000. A biennial revival had been planned in 2022 to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee but the event was cancelled when the monarch died two days before it was due to take place.