Members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Images from the 2026 Chicago Air and Water Show along the lakefront at North Avenue beach on Aug. 15-16.
This year’s showcase included demonstrations from the U.S. Army Parachute Team, nicknamed the Golden Knights, and the Thunderbirds. A lineup of military and civilian performers from the Coast Guard, the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Fire Department and more also took to the skies.
Both Saturday and Sunday saw late starts, with performances pushed back by several hours due to low-lying clouds and rainy conditions. Spectators arrived early despite the delays, turning Lincoln Park’s North Avenue Beach into a colorful patchwork of towels and umbrellas by mid-morning.
Thousands gather at North Avenue Beach during the Chicago Air and Water Show on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)A member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team jumps from a plane during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team perform during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team land on the beach during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds pass the former John Hancock Center during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Members of the U.S Coast Guard perform a search and rescue demonstration during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)A member of the Chicago fire department jumps in the water from a helicopter while demonstrating a rescue during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach Sunday Aug. 16, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)People sit near Lake Michigan during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)People look up at the sky during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Chicago police helicopters perform during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)A member of the Trojan Phlyers Flight Demonstration Team passes over Lake Michigan during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)A member of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds performs during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)An Illinois Air National Guard KC-135 passes over Lake Michigan during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach Sunday Aug. 16, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)An F-16 performs during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)RJ Gritter performs during the Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach on Aug. 16, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III flies across the Chicago skyline during the 2026 Chicago Air and Water Show on Aug. 15, 2026. (Arthur Maiorella/Chicago Tribune)An F-22 Raptor creates a “shock collar” during the 2026 Chicago Air and Water Show over Lake Michigan on Aug. 15, 2026. “Shock collars” or “Vapor Cones” occur when air pressure suddenly drops around a plane making high-speed maneuvers. (Arthur Maiorella/Chicago Tribune)A stunt pilot performs above North Avenue Beach during the 2026 Chicago Air and Water Show on Aug. 15, 2026. (Arthur Maiorella/Chicago Tribune)Air show viewers crowd the concrete beach around the Montrose Harbor Observation Point to see the 2026 Chicago Air and Water Show on Aug. 15, 2026. (Arthur Maiorella/Chicago Tribune)U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds fly through dense cloud cover during the 2026 Chicago Air and Water Show over the Lake Michigan waterfront on Aug. 15, 2026. The Thunderbirds' performance would be cut short by worsening weather. (Arthur Maiorella/Chicago Tribune)A Chicago Fire Department helicopter and boat practice maneuvers Aug. 14, 2026, in Lake Michigan near Oak Street Beach ahead of the Chicago Air and Water Show. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)A military jet steaks over Lake Michigan on Aug. 14, 2026, in preparation for the weekend Chicago Air and Water Show. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)A crowd watches a military plane over Oak Street Beach a day before the Chicago Air and Water Show on Aug. 14, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)A U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds jet streaks over Lake Michigan a day ahead of the Chicago Air and Water Show on Aug. 14, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)A man watches helicopters practice maneuvers at Oak Street Beach a day ahead of the Chicago Air and Water Show on Aug. 14, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)A fighter jet streaks over Lake Michigan during Chicago Air and Water Show practice on Aug. 14, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
