Mark your calendars for the return of spectacular aerial performances, entertainment, and family-friendly fun
The Wildwoods, NJ – September 24, 2025 – The highly anticipated Thunder Over the Waves Airshow will return to the Wildwoods in 2026, on September 11 (practice day) and September 12 (main event), the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA) announced today.
“We’re thrilled to bring the Airshow back next year. The 2026 Airshow promises to be bigger and better than ever, featuring an expanded lineup of impressive performers. The debut of our inaugural Thunder Over the Waves Airshow exceeded all expectations. Our goal was to present a family-friendly event that would entice visitors to return to our island the weekend after Labor Day. The Airshow rivaled the attendance and excitement of our largest midsummer weekends,” explained Louis M. Belasco, GWTIDA Executive Director.
The 2025 Airshow attracted over 133K visitors to the resort and generated an estimated $33.2M in economic impact.
The inaugural Airshow debuted in the Wildwoods earlier this month, on September 5 & 6, thrilling spectators while kicking off the Wildwoods’ ‘Second Season’ schedule of fall events. The vibrant autumn months following summer in the Wildwoods are filled with exciting events and festivals, less summer crowds, lower hotel rates, mild temperatures, beautiful beach days, and great dining options. With the success of the Thunder Over the Waves Airshow, along with the destination’s already-packed fall calendar of events, visitors have even more reasons to experience the Wildwoods well beyond the typical summer season.
The Thunder Over the Waves Airshow featured 15 headline aerial acts executing aerobatic performances ranging from custom built planes to military aircraft and highly skilled aerialists and impressive parachuters. Crowds were treated to the thrill of the airshow performers in addition to multiple island-wide events that took place throughout the weekend.
Funding for the Wildwoods Thunder Over the Waves Airshow came from a combination of sources, including the Title Sponsor: The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA).
For more information about the 2026 Thunder Over the Waves Airshow, contact GWTIDA at 609-729-9000 or email at [email protected]. For the Wildwoods fall events schedule, please visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com
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