Thunder Over Louisiana Airshow Dates Announced

(KMDL-FM) Fans of fast-moving jets, high-flying aerial acrobatics, and breathtaking stunts will soon have another reason to gaze longingly into the beautiful Louisiana sky. Thunder Over Louisiana is coming. Okay, according to the official airshow website, we've still got a few days to wait. As this report, that number was 280 days, but the clock is running.

The Thunder Over Louisiana Airshow will be part of the 40th anniversary celebration at Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles. That facility has hosted many great air shows in the past. You might recall the most recent show planned for Chennault never got off the ground.

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That show, which was originally scheduled for October of this year, was cancelled in September of 2024 after an agreement with the venue could not be reached. Those in the know cited higher-than-expected costs and restrictive rules as the reason why the 2025 performance was cancelled.

The cancellation of this year's show was really a bummer because there was a planned appearance by the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy's Air Demonstration team; they are always a crowd pleaser, as are the USAF's Thunderbirds.

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Will the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds Be At Thunder Over Louisiana Air Show?

We did look at the Blue Angels schedule for 2026, and on the dates of the show in Lake Charles, they are scheduled to be in Chicago. The Thunderbirds did not have any 2026 dates posted on their website, so maybe? That's just speculation on my part. Check out this video, and you'll see why having the Thunderbirds would be a great get.

Will those demonstration teams be a part of Thunder Over Louisiana? We won't know officially until later next month. That is when the organizers of the airshow have plans to announce the official lineup. We do anticipate the show will feature a wide array of both civilian and military aircraft and demonstrations.

When Will Tickets for Thunder Over Louisiana Go On Sale?

Tickets for Thunder Over Louisiana will go on sale to the general public on December 16th at 8 am. Those who sign up as Air Show Insights members will be allowed to purchase tickets before that date. A presale for those members will begin on December 13th. The show itself is scheduled for August 28th through August 30th.

Chennault International Airport began as a military airfield in the 1940s. It was renamed Chennault Air Force Base to honor General Claire Chennault of the Flying Tigers fame. The airport adopted its current name in 1997.