OSHKOSH – The skies are quiet again.
The roads are clear and traffic diversions are no longer a thing.
Yup, the aviation world is no longer in town!
You can finally rest at ease knowing Oshkosh won’t have to deal with the inconvenience otherwise known as EAA AirVenture for another 12 months after the world’s biggest fly-in convention officially shut shop earlier this week.
But just in case you happen to be an aviation enthusiast, you actually don’t have to pine for a full year just to get your fill of planes.
AirVenture always lives on in the Northwestern.
Here are our most impactful stories surrounding aviation’s biggest spectacle as we relive yet another historic edition of AirVenture.
Which celebrities showed up for Cirrus at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh?
Ian Somerhalder and Howie D of the Backstreet Boys helped Cirrus bring a pop-culture moment to the start of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026.
NFL quarterback Josh Dobbs; NBA coach Rick Carlisle; F-16 fighter pilot Lt. Col. Dan Rooney; professional golfer Maverick McNealy; actress and social media star Sarah Daniels; actor Ian Somerhalder; aviator Mike Goulian; aerobatic pilot Nigel Lamb; and actor Rob Riggle were also a part of a Cirrus ambassador video released July 19.
Near the end of the presentation, Howie D took the stage and led the crowd in a rendition of “I Want It That Way.”
Tyler Hubbard references ‘coolest’ air show during AirVenture concert
The U.S. Air Force and AirVenture 2026 attendees celebrated America’s 250th birthday July 20 with country music star Tyler Hubbard at Theater in the Woods.
Hubbard sang several of his own songs and paid homage to Florida Georgia Line, performing hits including “Meant to Be” and “Cruise.”
He took time to speak to the crowd throughout the show, stating he was enthusiastic to be spending his night in Wisconsin and at one of the “coolest” air shows in the country.
Pilot killed after flying home from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
A Colorado pilot died in a plane crash outside of Sioux City, Iowa, after flying back home from EAA AirVenture July 23.
The Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the news in a Facebook post, saying a crash near the city of Lawton resulted in one fatality when a single-occupant aircraft was overdue for arrival.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board did not confirm the victim’s identity, but multiple news outlets identified the pilot as 64-year-old Dennis Elkins.
How a hidden trailer helps run AirVenture’s busiest airport
The Northwestern detailed how a temporary control tower in a trailer near Fisk, Wisconsin, manages most aircraft arriving for AirVenture.
Controllers use visual flight rules, guiding pilots to line up along a railroad track before approaching the airport.
As part of the unique AirVenture tradition, pilots rock their wings to acknowledge controller instructions without verbal response.
Fans travel across the country to ride Goodyear Blimp at AirVenture
Wingfoot One returned July 24, day five of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, and the airship’s 40-minute laps around Wittman Regional Airport were hard to miss.
Even though rides were open only to a select few, several attendees made long journeys for the chance to say they rode the blimp.
EAA breaks ground on Discovery Park at AirVenture Oshkosh
EAA broke ground July 20 on Discovery Park, a youth aviation education hub planned for the AirVenture grounds.
The project, unveiled on opening day of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, marks a major expansion of the organization’s youth aviation education programs during the annual fly-in convention.
Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@usatodayco.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @justinmarville.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: AirVenture 2026 brought celebrities, tragedy & blimp rides to Oshkosh
Reporting by Justin Marville and Emma Johnson, Oshkosh Northwestern / Oshkosh Northwestern
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Justin Marville and Emma Johnson, Oshkosh Northwestern | USA TODAY Network
