In break from tradition, Thunderbirds to return to Chicago’s Air and Water Show for second year straight
Air Force Thunderbirds will return for a second consecutive year to this month’s Air and Water Show in Chicago, the city’s cultural affairs department announced Monday.</p><p>Historically, the Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels have traded off years appearing at the Chicago show, which regularly draws upwards of <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment-culture/2025/08/13/2025-chicago-air-water-show-golden-knights-thunderbirds-headliners" target="_blank" ><u>1 million spectators</u></a> to the city’s lakefront</p><p>The city said the break in tradition, which was first reported by <a class="Link" href="https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/u-s-navy-blue-angels-unlikely-to-headline-2026-chicago-air-and-water-show/3943903/" target="_blank" ><u>NBC Chicago</u></a>, is due to a scheduling issue on the part of the Blue Angels.</p><p>“This year, the U.S.
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
Air Force Thunderbirds will return for a second consecutive year to this month’s Air and Water Show in Chicago, the city’s cultural affairs department announced Monday.</p><p>Historically, the Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels have traded off years appearing at the Chicago show, which regularly draws upwards of <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment-culture/2025/08/13/2025-chicago-air-water-show-golden-knights-thunderbirds-headliners" target="_blank" ><u>1 million spectators</u></a> to the city’s lakefront</p><p>The city said the break in tradition, which was first reported by <a class="Link" href="https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/u-s-navy-blue-angels-unlikely-to-headline-2026-chicago-air-and-water-show/3943903/" target="_blank" ><u>NBC Chicago</u></a>, is due to a scheduling issue on the part of the Blue Angels.</p><p>“This year, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds were available to participate, while the U.S. Navy Blue Angels had existing commitments,” a spokesperson for the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events said in a statement.
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- Air Force Thunderbirds will return for a second consecutive year to this month’s Air and Water Show in Chicago, the city’s cultural affairs department announced Monday.</p><p>Historically, the Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels have traded off years appearing at the Chicago show, which regularly draws upwards of <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment-culture/2025/08/13/2025-chicago-air-water-show-golden-knights-thunderbirds-headliners" target="_blank" ><u>1 million spectators</u></a> to the city’s lakefront</p><p>The city said the break in tradition, which was first reported by <a class="Link" href="https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/u-s-navy-blue-angels-unlikely-to-headline-2026-chicago-air-and-water-show/3943903/" target="_blank" ><u>NBC Chicago</u></a>, is due to a scheduling issue on the part of the Blue Angels.</p><p>“This year, the U.S.
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In break from tradition, Thunderbirds to return to Chicago’s Air and Water Show for second year straight
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times