Manitoba Airshow on pause in 2027 with no Snowbirds

Participants at the 2024 Manitoba Airshow.

The Manitoba Airshow will take a one-year hiatus in 2027, driven by extensive local construction and the federal government’s recent decision to ground the Canadian Forces Snowbirds.

The airshow’s board of directors announced the postponement on June 30, citing event planning requirements, available resources, and operational hurdles. One of the largest challenges is the absence of the Snowbirds, the country’s iconic aerial demonstration squadron, which serves as the airshow’s traditional headline act.

The federal government announced in May that the Snowbirds fleet of CT-114 Tutor jets will be permanently retired following the 2026 flying season due to aging airframe and engineering challenges. A replacement fleet of modern CT-157 Siskin II aircraft is not expected to be fully operational until the early 2030s, leaving the team grounded for years.

Nathan Peto, CEO of Southport Aerospace Centre Inc., said the loss of the headliner forced organizers to re-evaluate.

“When the Snowbirds decided they weren’t going to continue with their season, they’re typically our headliner, and we just made the decision to take a year off,” Peto said.

Local infrastructure changes also played a major role. Peto noted that Southport is experiencing a significant “transformation on site” with ongoing construction projects that heavily restrict the space needed to properly stage and host large crowds.

The postponement is expected to deal a blow to regional tourism. The biennial two-day event drew more than 20,000 visitors during its last iteration in 2024, providing a massive boost to the local economy and highlighting the region’s deep aviation roots.

“Ultimately, if we’re going to do it, we want to do it right,” Peto said, emphasizing that a high-quality event is paramount to their success. “We just don’t feel like we can successfully deliver to that level in 2027.”

The board stated the pause will allow the organizing team to focus on long-term sustainability. Organizers are now looking ahead to 2028 with hopes of bringing the exhibition back to the skies over Southport.

Renee Lilley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Portage Graphic Leader