Confidence remains that Airshows Downunder Shellharbour will still go ahead. Photo: Mark Jessop.
The organisers of Airshows Downunder Shellharbour have stepped away from the Illawarra’s popular aviation event just one month after announcing the dates for the 2026 show.
The AMDA Foundation took over operations of the event formerly known as Wings Over Illawarra in 2023 and hosted almost 13,000 attendees at the rebranded and first biennial Airshows Downunder Shellharbour in March last year.
But after just one event, AMDA has announced it will no longer deliver the show due to shifting priorities and a reshaped strategy for the organisation.
“Staging a major airshow requires significant operational planning and resourcing,” AMDA Foundation CEO Justin Giddings said. “We believe a new operator, with an existing presence in the region, will provide a better product.”
Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) President and Chief Pilot Bob De La Hunty was surprised by the move but understood there were significant challenges for the operators managing the event from interstate.
He hoped a change of operators would see the show return to being an annual spectacular rather than every two years.
“It’s been a wonderful tourist attraction and has put Shellharbour on the map in many respects,” he said.
“People visiting our museum often say, ‘When’s the next airshow on, when’s the next airshow on?’
“I think it is pretty important for the event to be held.”
AMDA is in discussions with prospective organisers, with the foundation still committed to offering an education program for young people with an interest in aviation about potential industry careers, from pilot training and aircraft engineering to roles in defence, space and STEM industries.
“While AMDA is confident a new airshow operator will be found, we will continue organising the careers and skills program,” Justin said.
“AMDA aren’t totally disappearing from the scene; they’re still going to be involved in the schools event which is on the Friday, where there’s estimated to be 3000 schoolchildren coming,” Bob said.
The show was due to run at Shellharbour Airport from 13 to 15 March 2026, with the dates only announced last month.
Despite not having a confirmed operator less than nine months from the big weekend, there is still hope the event will go ahead.
“We want to reassure the aviation community and the greater Illawarra region that the airshow has a strong future,” Justin said.
“The potential airshow operator is well known to all of us but it’s still not been clarified because there’s lots of discussions still to be had,” Bob said.
“Without trying to guess too much, I think we can be pretty confident that it will be run very well, it will be very spectacular and be enhanced by the local participation.”
