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STIHL National Championship Air Races

The world's only multi-class pylon air racing championship. Now hosted at Roswell International Air Center after 60 years at Reno-Stead, the National Championship Air Races run annually in September with six racing classes, military and civilian aerobatic performances, and a substantial GA static display.

September 16–20, 2026Roswell International Air Center, Roswell, United States~100,000 attendees

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What to expect

The National Championship Air Races moved from Reno-Stead Airport (where the event ran for 60 years through 2023) to Roswell International Air Center for 2025 and beyond, organised by the Reno Air Racing Association. Five days of pylon racing across six classes — Unlimited, Jet, T-6, Sport, Formula One, and Biplane — with morning qualifying and afternoon racing. Military demonstration teams, civilian aerobatic performances, and warbird flybys round out the schedule. The Roswell venue brings the event closer to a broader Southwest US audience while preserving the format and competitive structure that made Reno the centre of pylon racing for decades. The static display includes warbirds, GA aircraft, and a flight-school recruiting concentration.

Quick facts

Dates

September 16–20, 2026

Location

Roswell International Air Center
Roswell, United States

Estimated attendance

~100,000

Exhibitors

~80

Registration

from USD 35 day pass

Languages

Regulatory focus

FAA

Also known as

National Championship Air Races, Reno Air Races, STIHL National Championship Air Races, Reno Air Racing, National Championship Air Races Roswell

Who attends

GA pilots from across the US, warbird community, racing pilots and crews, prospective student pilots and aviation enthusiasts, flight schools, A&Ps, aviation media, and a substantial family-attendance contingent during the public-access days.

Why flight schools attend

The National Championship Air Races combine a strong recruiting audience (current and prospective pilots) with the warbird and racing community that overlaps with high-end flight school clientele. Schools located within driving range of Roswell — particularly New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma — find the recruiting cost-per-contact favourable.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Reno Air Racing Association announced after the 2023 event that 2023 would be the final year of pylon racing at Reno-Stead Airport. The Association evaluated multiple host venues and selected Roswell International Air Center starting in 2025. The format, racing classes, and competitive structure carry over from Reno; the venue and date pattern are the primary changes.

Yes for schools located within driving range of Roswell — particularly New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and Oklahoma schools. The audience combines current and prospective pilots with the warbird and racing community that overlaps with high-end flight school clientele. Schools beyond regional driving range find the cost-benefit thinner than for AirVenture or Sun 'n Fun.

The National Championship Air Races feature six classes: Unlimited (P-51 Mustang, F8F Bearcat, Sea Fury, etc.), Jet (T-33, L-39), T-6 (North American T-6 Texan), Sport, Formula One, and Biplane. Each class races on its own course geometry and is judged separately.

Racing runs September 16–20, 2026 at Roswell International Air Center in Roswell, New Mexico. Tickets, camping, and travel information are available at airrace.org.

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