Zhuhai Airshow 2026 at a glance

Airshow China, officially the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (中国国际航空航天博览会), is China’s biggest air and space show. Most people simply call it the Zhuhai Airshow (珠海航展), after the city in Guangdong where it has always been held. It takes place every two years, and 2026 is a show year.

If you had November 2026 in your calendar, update it. On 24 July 2026, the organiser, Zhuhai Airshow Group, announced that the 16th Airshow China will be held from 7 to 13 December 2026 in Zhuhai (official announcement). When the previous show ended in 2024, the next edition had been reported for 10–15 November 2026, so older blog posts and travel pages may still show the wrong dates. Global Times also reported the change and noted that 2026 marks the show’s 30th anniversary.

Here is what is confirmed, what is not yet published, and how to plan a visit as a foreign traveller.

What is confirmed (as of 8 October 2026)

• Dates: 7–13 December 2026 (official website banner and announcement).
• City: Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, on the west side of the Pearl River estuary, next to Macau.
• Organiser: Zhuhai Airshow Group Co., Ltd., which runs the official website airshow.com.cn.
• Ticket details: not yet published. The official ticket notice page currently says that ticket information for the 16th Airshow China has not been released.
• Visitor hotline: the official site lists 400-8800-113 and 0756-3375371 for the public visitor team.

Some third-party ticket sites already list “public days” and prices for 2026. Treat them with caution. Until the organiser publishes its ticket rules, there is no official confirmation of which days are open to the general public or what tickets will cost.

How the 2024 show worked (a useful guide for 2026)

The best preview of 2026 is how the last edition was run. According to a China News Service report from the day tickets went on sale in September 2024:

• The 15th Airshow China ran from 12 to 17 November 2024 at the Zhuhai International Airshow Center.
• The first three days (12–14 November) were professional (trade) days. The last three (15–17 November) were public days.
• Opening hours each day were 9:00–17:00.
• All tickets were real-name, and foreigners could buy with their passport.
• There was no on-site ticket sale. You had to buy in advance.
• Main venue tickets were sold in phases with set quotas. Public-day prices were 500 yuan for an individual ticket and 350 yuan for a concession ticket (over-60s and under-18s), with package tickets that added the ground equipment display area.
• Tickets went on sale on 19 September 2024, about eight weeks before the show.

Because the 2026 show has moved to December, a similar timetable would put ticket sales somewhere in autumn 2026. That is an expectation, not an announcement. Watch the official website and the “中国航展” WeChat account for the real date.

How to buy tickets as a foreigner

The official FAQ for previous editions lists these channels for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan residents and foreign visitors (official FAQ):

• The official website, www.airshow.com.cn
• The “中国航展” (Airshow China) WeChat official account
• The “珠海航展” (Zhuhai Airshow) WeChat mini program
• The “珠海航展” app

Other rules from that FAQ that are likely to matter again:

• Bring the same passport you used to buy the ticket. Entry is checked against the original document.
• Tickets are valid only on the date you choose. You cannot use a Friday ticket on Saturday.
• The flying display is included with a normal admission ticket. The ground equipment demonstration area needed a separate package ticket at past shows.
• Display times are usually published about a week before the show and can change with weather and air traffic control.

Pay attention to the payment step. WeChat Pay or Alipay with a linked foreign card is usually the smoothest option on Chinese platforms; our Alipay and WeChat Pay guide for visitors explains the setup. Do it before ticket day, because popular days can sell out.

Getting to Zhuhai

Zhuhai is easy to reach from Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou:

• From Macau: cross at the Gongbei or Hengqin border checkpoints. Our Zhuhai and Hengqin day-trip guide explains the crossings, and our Macau first-visit guide helps if you base yourself there.
• From Hong Kong: cross-boundary coaches use the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge, and ferries run to Zhuhai’s Jiuzhou port. See our mainland, Hong Kong and Macau ferry guide.
• From Guangzhou: the Guangzhou–Zhuhai intercity railway runs to Zhuhai station near Gongbei. Book on 12306 (our 12306 booking guide walks you through it).

The show is held at the Zhuhai International Airshow Center in Jinwan District, on the western side of Zhuhai, well away from the downtown hotels around Gongbei and Xiangzhou. Allow plenty of time.

Getting to the showground on the day

At past shows the city ran a special transport plan for public days, according to the official FAQ:

• Airshow shuttle lines from points across Zhuhai, including the city sports centre, Xiangzhou bus terminal, Jiuzhou port, Zhuhai railway station and the Hengqin port coach station. Riders had to reserve a free seat with their airshow ticket.
• Cross-city airshow coaches from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, Huizhou, Zhongshan and Jiangmen, booked in advance.
• Private cars had to reserve a space in an outer car park and take a shuttle bus in.

Bookings were made through the Zhuhai Airshow app and the “珠海交通” (Zhuhai Transport) WeChat account and app. Expect a similar system in 2026, and check the transport notice closer to the date. Ordinary taxis and ride-hailing cars may not be able to drop you at the gate on public days.

Visa basics for Zhuhai

Guangdong is one of the provinces covered by China’s visa-free transit scheme. The National Immigration Administration extended transit stays to 240 hours (10 days) in December 2024 for citizens of eligible countries travelling on to a third country or region. Many nationalities can also now enter for up to 30 days without a visa. Check your situation in our visa-free transit guide and our 30-day visa-free countries list.

If you enter from Hong Kong or Macau, remember that crossing into Zhuhai is an international-style border for immigration purposes. Carry your passport at all times.

Practical tips for a day at the airshow

• Book your hotel early. Rooms near the showground and in central Zhuhai fill fast in show week. Some visitors stay in Macau or Zhongshan.
• Dress for sun and wind. Much of the day is spent outdoors on open tarmac. Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, plus a light layer for the late afternoon.
• Protect your ears. Fast jets are extremely loud. Foam earplugs are cheap and very useful, and essential for children.
• Bring a long lens or binoculars if you want good photos of the flying display.
• Charge everything. You will need your phone for tickets, shuttle bookings and payments. Carry a power bank, and check the security notice in case it limits what you can bring in.
• Expect security checks. Past shows published a visitor and security notice with banned items. Read the 2026 version before you pack.
• Eat early. Food queues get long around noon. A snack and water in your bag will save time.
• Have a backup plan. Weather and air traffic control can change or cancel flying displays. The exhibition halls and static aircraft are still worth seeing.

Make a trip of it

December is a pleasant month to explore the Pearl River Delta. Walk Zhuhai’s seafront Lover’s Road, add a day in Macau, or continue to Guangzhou or Shenzhen. A China eSIM makes the border hops much easier.

FAQ

When is the Zhuhai Airshow in 2026?

The 16th Airshow China will be held from 7 to 13 December 2026 in Zhuhai, according to the organiser’s announcement of 24 July 2026. Earlier reports of November dates are out of date.

Which days are open to the public?

Not officially confirmed yet. In 2024 the last three days of the show were public days. Wait for the official ticket notice on airshow.com.cn before booking travel around a specific day.

Can foreigners buy Zhuhai Airshow tickets?

Yes. At past editions foreigners bought real-name tickets with their passport through the official website, WeChat account, mini program or app. Tickets were not sold at the gate.

How much are tickets?

2026 prices have not been published. For reference, 2024 public-day tickets were 500 yuan (individual) and 350 yuan (concession), according to China News Service.

How do I get to the showground?

At past shows, visitors used free airshow shuttle lines (reserved with a ticket), cross-city coaches or park-and-ride. Check the 2026 transport notice from Zhuhai’s transport authority closer to the date.

Lovely China was founded in 2025 to help English-speaking travellers and expats plan calmer, better-informed trips in China. Spotted an outdated detail? Email [email protected].

Cover photo: Windmemories / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). The Zhuhai International Airshow Center, Jinwan District, Zhuhai.