International Council of Air Shows Annual Convention - ICAS 2026
Event Date
December 7–10, 2026
Location
Las Vegas, NV
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryThe International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Annual Convention is the air show industry's premier business gathering, bringing together performers, event organizers, and support service providers from across North America and beyond. ICAS is a 501(c)(6) trade association dedicated to building and sustaining a vibrant air show industry, with work focused on professionalism, education and training, industry advocacy, safety, improved business practices, and professional ethics, while providing forums for the air show community to meet, learn from, and do business with one another.
The convention draws hundreds of air show professionals for shared insight, ideas, and practical tools attendees can apply to future season planning. From the exhibit hall and networking sessions to forums and education, the convention delivers a productive, efficient business meeting—refined over five decades and focused on helping attendees build safer, smarter, more successful air shows.
The event is geared toward performers, organizers, support providers, and marketers, combining a large exhibit hall, dozens of education sessions, awards, and dedicated networking into a single annual meeting on the Las Vegas Strip.
Show Highlights
- 46,000-square-foot exhibit hall: A hall filled with performers, support service providers, and consultants, featuring focused hours with no competing programming while the hall is open, direct access to subject-matter experts, and—year after year—the top-rated element of the convention.
- Education sessions: Dozens of sessions fine-tuned over nearly 50 years, ranging from day-long pre-convention workshops to hour-long breakouts covering air/ground operations, marketing, safety, logistics, and more.
- Pre-convention workshop: An introductory workshop on air show air/ground operations for those newer to the industry.
- Industry awards: Recognition programs including the Sword of Excellence, the Art Scholl Memorial Showmanship Award, and the Bill Barber Award, plus Hall of Fame honors administered through the ICAS/air show community.
- Networking: Structured sessions and forums designed for performers, organizers, and vendors to connect and conduct business.
Attendance
The convention draws hundreds of air show professionals each year. The official website does not publish precise attendance totals or detailed audience demographics for the 2026 event.
Registration
Registration is open through the ICAS Convention registration page, where attendees can secure their spot and access the full slate of exhibits, sessions, and networking opportunities.
Key points:
- The ICAS Convention is a networking event for air show professionals who belong to a current ICAS member organization.
- Current members sign in with their login credentials to begin the convention registration process.
- Those who do not belong to a current ICAS member organization can join to create an ICAS membership or join an existing organization before registering.
For exhibitors, the 2026 ICAS Exhibitor Prospectus is available to download, and booth space can be reserved online while limited booths remain.
History
ICAS traces the birth of the modern air show industry to its own founding, after which a spirit of cooperation among air shows and performers allowed the industry to take a more business-like approach to organizing and promoting itself, giving the industry a single forum to discuss common concerns, share ideas, and conduct business.
ICAS became a natural point of contact for working with governmental regulators such as the FAA and with the military in both the United States and Canada, a relationship that helped military bases thrive as air show locations and gave military demonstration teams like the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds, and Snowbirds a platform for recruitment.
At the heart of the organization has always been the annual ICAS Convention, which has seen steady growth over the years as a once-a-year opportunity for shows and performers to share ideas, conduct business, and advance the industry. In the nearly 60 years since ICAS was founded, its work has focused on professionalism, education and training, industry advocacy, safety, improved business practices, and professional ethics.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the 2026 ICAS Convention?
The 2026 ICAS Convention takes place December 7–10, 2026, at Paris Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Who should attend the ICAS Convention?
The convention is designed for air show professionals, including performers, event organizers, support service providers, and marketers. It functions primarily as a business and networking meeting for the air show industry.
How do I register for the ICAS Convention?
Registration is handled online and is intended for members of a current ICAS member organization. Members sign in to register, while non-members can join ICAS first through the website before registering.
What happens at the ICAS Convention?
Attendees can visit a 46,000-square-foot exhibit hall, attend dozens of education sessions and workshops covering operations, marketing, safety and logistics, take part in networking forums, and attend the industry's awards presentations.
How can I exhibit at the ICAS Convention?
Exhibitors can download the 2026 ICAS Exhibitor Prospectus and reserve booth space online while limited booths remain. For booth questions or support, ICAS provides a dedicated contact email.
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