Update on Aviation Expo 2026 – Seattle! 2/2/26

Update on Aviation Expo 2026 – Seattle!

We hope your holidays have been peaceful and pleasant. It’s time to focus on the “Best International AvGeek Event of 2026”, Aviation Expo 2026 SEA, taking place July 8-11, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport! Below you will see details of our host hotel, the tours we are working on, and some of the special discounts we have for aviation professionals, military members, and students! Thank you to everyone who has already registered, booked hotel rooms, and reserved vendor tables. Interest in the event continues to grow; make sure to book your hotel room and vendor tables as soon as possible. Click here to register/book tables for Aviation Expo 2026 SEA. Click here to reserve your hotel room.

Tour Updates:

We have preliminary confirmation of Seattle-area aviation locations regarding tour opportunities, including:

Boeing Everett:

We will have bus trips from Wednesday through Friday from the DoubleTree to the world’s largest building, the Boeing plant in Everett. Our tours will include time to plane-spot at the  Future of Flight Museum Sky Deck. We are working on a few special surprises for these tours. In addition, we hope to have more tours of other Boeing facilities in the Puget Sound area.

The Museum of Flight:

Located at historic Boeing Field north of SEA, The Museum of Flight is one of the world’s premier aviation museums, with a special focus on commercial aviation. The museum features over 175 aircraft and spacecraft, including a Concorde, Lockheed Constellation, Boeing 247D, VC-138B, 727, 737, 747, 787, and many more. We will be running a shuttle bus from the DoubleTree to the museum, and we plan to offer special AE 2026 SEA admission pricing!

Kenmore Air:

We are planning special early-evening visits to the Kenmore Air seaplane base (the largest seaplane operation in the lower 48 states) at the north end of Lake Washington. Included will be a visit to the seaplane maintenance hangar and the opportunity to purchase a ride on a radial engine de Havilland Beaver on a scenic flight over Seattle!

Alaska Airlines:

Seattle is home to Alaska Airlines’ Headquarters, including pilot training, flight attendant training, the Alaska operations center, and aircraft maintenance facilities. We are working to offer these tours, if possible.

And more!

Organization of these tour schedules and more is ongoing; tour details will be posted on our website and by email as more information is confirmed.  All tours will include round-trip transportation and admission where applicable. Full show registration is required to be eligible for all Aviation Expo tours. Single-day registrations are not eligible for tour participation. All tours are subject to consolidation / cancellation due to changes in security concerns and availability.

Hotel Booking:

Our host hotel is the DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport, located on the southeast corner of the SEA Airport complex. The hotel features a 14-floor tower with exceptional views of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the surrounding mountains. We have reserved the 14th-floor exhibit and gathering space, offering floor-to-ceiling airport views throughout the event.

The hotel booking link for the DoubleTree SEA-TAC is open, with rates starting at $195 per night, and $225 per night for airport-view balcony rooms (limited availability) on the top four floors. All room bookings include discounted hotel parking. Please note: airport-view rooms are categorized under the “Mountain View” rate. Our very limited upper airport-view rooms have sold out on Thursday and Friday, but are available for Wednesday and Saturday, so you can pair these days along with a standard room for Thursday and Friday. Do keep in mind that you can book a normal room and request a room facing the airport on floors 5-8, and you’ll be able to see the airport this way as well. Rooms are being booked quickly, so be sure to reserve yours here.

The DoubleTree SEA-TAC offers a 24-hour complimentary airport shuttle, running every 20 minutes. No reservations are required for the shuttle, even for late arrivals. The hotel is also walkable from the terminal, with nearby restaurants, shops, and Link light rail access.

Registration:
Registration and vendor table sign-ups are open using this link. Options include: 4-Day Registration (required for tours), daily admission, youth admission, and children under 12 attend FREE! All registrations include a $5 vendor voucher, redeemable at any marketplace table.

Discounted admission is now available for active and retired airline, airport, military, Boeing, and other aviation employees and accompanying families with a valid ID present onsite. These options are now available to reserve.

Marketplace, Vendor Tables, & Event Schedule:

The Aviation Expo Marketplace will be located in the Grand Ballroom and Northwest Ballroom, offering a dedicated space for buying, selling, and trading airline, aviation, and military collectibles, along with a presence from aviation recruiters. The ballroom will be open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Check out our full Aviation Expo event schedule by using this link. Tours, seminars, plane-spotting meetups, and workshops are all TBD; they will be published on designated schedules this Spring. We are planning special displays in the ballroom, including aircraft dioramas and other memorabilia.

Vendor table registration is open, and tables are going quickly. Click on this link to reserve your table. Island tables: $89, Wall tables: $99.

Airways Magazine is offering complimentary advertising opportunities for vendors who register before March 2, 2026. Additional exhibitor details are available at the link below. You must select the 4-day registration option to reserve vendor tables.

Plane Spotting:

No special transportation is required for plane spotting; simply reserve one of our Airport View hotel rooms. Availability is limited. We have secured all airport-facing rooms on the top four floors of the DoubleTree tower exclusively for show attendees. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is home to 35+ airlines, including 10+ Asian carriers, making for exceptional spotting opportunities.

Multiple organized spotting events are planned throughout all four days of Aviation Expo. Additional details will be released in Spring 2026.

An Airport View Room at the DoubleTree Hotel!!!

Looking Ahead:

Planning is ongoing; additional announcements regarding tours, speakers, schedules, and special events will be released throughout early 2026. We encourage you to check the “Breaking News” section of our website regularly, and check for update emails. Please feel free to share this information with fellow aviation enthusiasts, collectors, and industry colleagues. Let’s make Aviation Expo 2026 SEA the best aviation event to attend. 

If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please email us at info@aviationexpo.org. Check out our Facebook Group, Facebook, and Instagram for updates as well. Thank you again for your continued support of AE 2026 SEA. We look forward to welcoming you to Seattle this July.

Sincerely,

Your Aviation Expo 2026 SEA Team

Steve Cosgrove, Chris Slimmer, & Connor McCauley

About Your Aviation Expo 2026 Seattle Team:

Steve Cosgrove is the publisher and driving force behind Airways Magazine, one of the most respected and longest-running aviation publications in the United States. With a rich background that includes a career at Frontier Airlines and founding Dynamic Travel in 1982, Steve’s deep roots in the airline and travel industry span multiple decades. He also owns and operates various airline-related travel companies, giving him extensive industry knowledge and a broad network of contacts. Steve’s passion for aviation and media expertise play a central role in shaping the vision of Aviation Expo 2026 and helping connect enthusiasts, professionals, and collectors in a dynamic and engaging way.

Chris Slimmer is a highly knowledgeable aviation expert with deep insights into airline history, flight operations, and the evolving airline industry. His exceptional skills in organizing large-scale airliner events, combined with his passion for aviation heritage, form a crucial foundation for bringing Aviation Expo 2026 to life. Chris’s ability to blend thorough industry understanding with experienced event planning aims to create a distinctive and well-coordinated experience for all attendees.

Connor McCauley is an entrepreneurial aviation enthusiast and professional. He’s the Business Operations Coordinator at Tulsa International Airport, founder of CM Aviation, and an Oklahoma State University Alum with a B.S. in Aviation Management. Connor uses his knowledge and experience to share expert content and insights, along with helping others develop their aviation knowledge, experiences, and skills. This makes him a valuable resource for attendees looking to expand their reach within the aviation community.

Airline Collectible Shows:

Aviation Expo 2026 – SEA

July 8-11, 2026

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport, 18740 Pacific Highway South, Seattle, WA 98188

Click here to register!

https://aviationexpo.org/

LAX – AIRLINE COLLECTIBLES Winter SHOW & SALE – February 7, 2026

Saturday, February 7, 2026, 09:00 – 15:00 h

Embassy Suites by Hilton LAX South, 1440 East Imperial Ave., El Segundo, CA 90245

Admission: $8, children under 12 are admitted free!

For more information contact: Michael Chew at LAXAirlineShow@gmail.com or Tom Vance at fordgalaxie500@yahoo.com

https://www.facebook.com/events/931605715401150
https://www.instagram.com/laxairlineshow/

AMS – Amsterdam Aviation Collectors Fair – February 22, 2026

Sunday, February 22, 2026, 10:00 – 17:00 h

Admission €5

Van der Valk Hotel A4 Schiphol Hoofddorp

http://www.aviationfair.com

SFO – SAN FRANCISCO AIRLINE MEMORABILIA & AIRPLANE MODEL SHOW – March 7, 2026

Saturday, March 7, 2026, 08:30 – 14:30 h

Best Western Grosvenor Plus, 380 South Airport Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080

Admission: $8, Children under 12 are admitted free!

For more information contact: Michael Chew at SFOAirlineShow@juno.com or Tom Vance at fordgalaxie500@yahoo.com

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064378131946
https://www.instagram.com/sfoairlinecollectibleshow/

MUC – MUC Convention – March 21, 2026

Saturday, March 21, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Landgasthof Hahn, 84184 Zweikirchen / Tiefenbach

Slide pre-convention March 7, starting at 12:00 p.m.

Info & Reservations: chris.witt@t-online.de, phone +49-171-8001083

https://www.skyliner-aviation.de/conventions.main?LC=nav11

PAR – Aerocolletor Paris – March 21-22, 2026

Saturday/Sunday, March 21-22, 2026, 09:30 – 17:30 h

Espace Charenton – Salle Ariane, 327 Rue de Charenton, 75012 Paris

Admission €10, Children under 16 are admitted free

https://aerocollector.com/

https://www.facebook.com/aerocollector

MCO – Orlando Airline Collectible Show – March 21, 2026

Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Holiday Inn Orlando International Airport, 5750 TG Lee Blvd, Orlando, FL 32822

Admission €7, Children under 12 are admitted free

https://www.texanairplanestore.com/

https://www.texanairplanestore.com/mcoshow Email orlandocollectiblesshow@gmail.com or call (713) 725-8577 to reserve a table!

LGW Aviation Fair – April 19, 2026

Sunday, April 19, 2026, 10:00 – 15:30 h

Admission £5, under 16’s are FREE but must be accompanied by a full paying adult.

K2 Crawley, Pease Pottage Hill, Crawley, RH11 9BQ

https://threshold.aero/fairs

https://www.facebook.com/thresholdaero

https://www.facebook.com/gatwickaviationfair

YYZ – Aviation & Airline Collectibles Show – April 19, 2026

Sunday, April 19, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Admission $10

John Paul II Polish Cultural Center, 4300 Cawthra Rd., Mississauga, ON L4Z 1V8

https://torontoairlinershow.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TorontoAviationandAirlineCollectiblesShow

For vendor information, please contact: aitor@sympatico.ca

SEA – Airline Collectibles Show 2026 (ONE DAY SHOW) – April 19, 2026

Sunday, April 19, 2026, 10:00 – 17:00 h

The Museum of Flight, 9404 East Marginal Way South Seattle 98108, WA

Museum admisson required, Expo is free

For vendor information, please contact: brian@avgeektv.com

https://seattleaviationexpo.com/

DFW – Dallas Airline & Collectibles Show – April 25, 2026

Saturday, April 25, 2026, 09:00 – 16:00 h
Admission: $8, Children under 12 are admitted free!
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
DFW Airport North, 4441 W. John Carpenter  Fwy, Irving, TX 75063
For more information contact Sanford Fung or Mike Chew at DFWShow@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557153765042

DTW – Airline Collectibles Show – May 9, 2026

Saturday, May 9, 2026, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Admission: $5, kids under 12 are free
Sheraton Detroit Metro Airport, 8000 Merriman Rd., Romulus, Michigan 48174
More information coming in February 2026
Contact: DTWAirlineShow@Gmail.Com

BRU – Brussels Aviation Collectible Show – May 23, 2026

Saturday, May 23, 2026, 09:00 – 15:30 h
Admission: €2 and free for spouses, partners, and children under 12
Kompaz Zaventem School (formerly Atheneum), Spoorwegstraat 25, 1930 Zaventem, Belgium
Info & Booking: gvanherbruggen@hotmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/BRUaviationshow

DEN – Airliners International 2026 – June 24-27, 2026

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Denver on 3203 Quebec Street, Denver, CO 80207

(across from the former Denver Stapleton Airport)

General Admission: Thursday 2pm-6pm, Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-3pm

Admission $10 per day. Aviators age 12 and under are free with an adult. Tickets can be purchased at the show – no advance registration needed!

http://www.airlinersinternational.org

*SEA – Aviation Expo 2026 – July 8-11, 2026*

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport, 18740 Pacific Highway South, Seattle, WA 98188                 Click here to register! Kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult https://aviationexpo.org/

Stay tuned for more updates from Aviation Expo!