AE 2026 SEA Event Guide:

AE 2026 SEA Schedule Information:

We recommend all attendees review the full AE 2026 SEA attendee schedule on our website before arriving. Be sure to bookmark the attendee schedule page so you can quickly reference marketplace hours, speaker sessions, tour times, etc. throughout the week. Click here to view the AE 2026 SEA attendee schedule.

2026 SEA Marketplace Hours:

Thursday, July 9: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (4-day attendee early access)

Thursday, July 9: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM (daily admission access)

Friday, July 10: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (all attendees)

Saturday, July 11: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (all attendees)

Hotel Shuttle, Parking & Where to Go:

Aviation Expo 2026 SEA will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport, located at 18740 International Blvd, Seattle, WA 98188. Please note that this is the DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport, not the DoubleTree Suites.

The complimentary hotel shuttle runs every 15–20 minutes from SEA Airport to the hotel. The hotel shuttle picks up guests at ground transportation locations
“1C” and “3A” on the hotel shuttle islands. Attendees driving to the show can pull a normal parking ticket and park in any of the hotel’s parking lots.

Hotel phone number: (206) 246-8600

Step 1: Exit the secure area & follow signage to ground transportation

Step 2: Cross one of the six Skybridges to ground transportation islands “1C” or “3A”

Under the garage, these two arrows point to “1C” & “3A”

Step 3: Look for this shuttle, the DoubleTree by Hilton with the cookie on the side at “1C” or “3A”

If you like to exercise, you can walk to the hotel!

Several food options across the street as well:

Registration Desk / Badge Pickup:

Once you arrive at the hotel, you can visit the Aviation Expo registration desk
in the grand foyer to pick up your badge / wristband, event materials, discounted parking passes, etc.

Your badge / wristband will be required for marketplace access, speaker sessions, and Aviation Expo events during the week.

Be sure to have a government-issued photo ID for any applicable tours.

Tour Pickup, Drop-Off & Check-In Reminders:

If you are participating in any AE 2026 SEA tours, please review your tour selections, departure times, and tour rules before arriving. Tour check-in and departures will be across from the registration desk in the grand foyer, and we recommend arriving 15–20 minutes before your scheduled departure time. Tour buses will return to the DoubleTree after each tour. Many tours require a government-issued photo ID, and some tours have strict security, photography, luggage, food, and drink restrictions. Please bring as little as possible, follow host instructions, and be respectful of your tour guides and fellow attendees.

Share & Win a $50 Marketplace Voucher:

Throughout the show, be sure to post your photos and videos from AE 2026 SEA and tag Aviation Expo on social media. Each day, we’ll be giving away a $50 marketplace voucher to one attendee who helps share the show online.

Whether you’re posting tour photos, marketplace finds, speaker sessions, spotting views, or your favorite moments with friends, we’d love to see and share your AE experience. Help us show everyone what Aviation Expo is all about!

Marketplace Payment Options:

Marketplace payment options will vary. Some exhibitors may only accept cash, while others will take credit/debit cards, PayPal, Venmo, or cash. There is an ATM at the hotel. We recommend bringing multiple payment methods so you are ready for the marketplace.

Marketplace access for exhibitors is on Thursday from 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM and Friday / Saturday from 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM.

AE 2026 SEA Attendee Calendars:

We are excited to share that we’ll have personalized calendars for all AE 2026 SEA attendees! You’ll be able to grab yours when you check in at the registration desk. This new idea will be helpful to visualize and plan your week!

Friday Night Plane Spotting Photo Presentation:

Don’t forget to submit your photos for our Friday Night Plane Spotting Photo Presentation! During the Friday Night Avgeek Pizza Party on the 14th floor, we’ll be showcasing attendee-submitted aviation photos as part of the evening.

Attendees can submit up to 3 plane spotting photos to be shown during the presentation. Whether it’s a rare aircraft, sunset departure, favorite airline shot, classic aircraft, or a great spotting moment, we’d love to feature your work during one of the coolest community events of the week.

AE 2026 SEA Speaker Schedule:

We have 8 awesome speakers scheduled for AE 2026 SEA! From airport diorama building and diecast industry insights to aviation content creation and career pathways, there will be aviation topics for everyone to enjoy. Click here to view the full AE 2026 SEA speaker schedule.

Speaker sessions will be located in Northwest Ballroom #1.

What to Bring to AE 2026 SEA:

We recommend bringing your registration confirmation, government-issued photo ID, closed-toe shoes for tours, camera / phone, and multiple payment methods for exhibitors to ensure your AE 2026 SEA experience is enjoyable.

Parking Information:

Parking is $13 a day, a discount from the normal $33 a day. Discounted parking passes will be available at the Aviation Expo registration desk. When arriving at the show, please pull a ticket and park in the hotel’s main parking lot. Directional signage will be in the hotel lobby.

Friday Night Pizza / Plane Spotting Party:

We’re excited to announce another fun community event for Aviation Expo 2026 SEA! Join us on Friday night, July 10, from 6:30pm-9:30pm for our 14th-floor Friday Night Pizza Party, sponsored by Airways Magazine.

This event is just $15 in advance or $20 day of show and includes 3 slices of pizza. With floor-to-ceiling airport views, great company, and plenty of avgeek conversation, this will be one of the coolest events of the weekend!

Luncheon Speaker – Anna Italiano from Boeing:

We are excited to announce Anna Italiano as our AE 2026 SEA luncheon speaker! Anna is a Corporate Historian with The Boeing Company in their archive department. The luncheon will be on Friday from 12-1:30pm in the 14th-floor Maxis ballroom.

Her presentation is titled “From the Golden Age to the Jet Age: Boeing’s impact on commercial aviation”. This presentation will cover how the Boeing Company has influenced the field of commercial aviation from the early years of business to the 747. The luncheon is available for $25 and will include poster giveaways for attendees.

AE 2026 SEA Trading Cards / Bag Tags / Custom Boarding Passes:

AE 2026 SEA will feature an exciting lineup of collectible memorabilia, including logo flight bags and wings, exclusive trading cards, custom bag tags, and custom boarding passes! These limited-edition collectibles are available to purchase through our registration portal and during the show as supplies last.

Questions During the Event:

If you have questions before the show, please contact us at info@aviationexpo.org. During the event, the Aviation Expo registration desk will be your go-to place for attendee assistance.

Be looking out for AE 2026 SEA volunteers in their logoed shirts. Thank you again for your support of Aviation Expo 2026 SEA. We are excited to welcome everyone to Seattle for an awesome week of aviation, model aircraft, tours, the AE marketplace, speakers, and spotting!