Records Set at World's Greatest Aviation Celebration
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) celebrates the records set at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025.
“Our theme of ‘One Week — Endless Possibilities’ certainly was true at Oshkosh in 2025," says EAA CEO and chairman, Jack Pelton. "Whether it was aviation history or innovation or camaraderie, it was present in countless ways during the week. This year’s highlights and activities also set the foundation for what’s to come in the world of flight, and that is perhaps the most exciting development of all.”
Attendance reached approximately 704,000, the highest total on record. The previous record was 686,000, set in 2024. More than 15,000 sites in aircraft and drive-in camping accommodated over 40,000 visitors, while approximately 6,000 volunteers contributed nearly 300,000 hours to the event.
“We found ourselves revising our initial attendance estimate upward once all the final weekend’s numbers were in," says Pelton, "including from a tremendous day on Saturday, July 26. This year’s success is a credit to our 6,000 volunteers, our staff members, and our partners as they continue to raise the bar on what’s possible as we bring the aviation world to Oshkosh.”
A total of 2,305 international attendees registered at the International Visitors Tent from 94 countries outside the U.S., including the first-ever registered visitor from Senegal. As a significant number of international visitors do not officially register at the tent when they arrive, the actual international visitor total is much higher.
More than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin. At Wittman alone, there were 16,246 aircraft operations in the period from noon CDT July 17 to noon CDT July 28, an average of approximately 108 takeoffs/landings per hour during the time the airport was open. The total number of showplanes was 2,543, including 995 vintage aircraft, 910 homebuilt aircraft, 361 warbirds, 101 ultralights and light planes, 75 aerobatic aircraft, 74 seaplanes and amphibians, 18 rotorcraft, and 9 balloons.
A record number of 962 commercial exhibitors were represented, and more than 1,600 sessions were hosted in forums, workshops and presentations during the week at 65 venues. Media from all over the world were present, with 901 media representatives on-site from six continents, and more than 21.2 million people were reached by EAA’s social media channels during AirVenture, with engagement of 2 million. Total social media video views hit 20.3 million (up 19 percent over 2024), and nearly 44,000 social media followers gained.
The EAA Aviation Foundation’s annual event to support its aviation education programs attracted more than 1,000 people and raised $2.49 million dollars that will be focused on EAA’s mission of growing participation in aviation.
Based on the 2025 University of Wisconsin Oshkosh economic impact study for the 2024 event, AirVenture brings in $257 million by the five counties in the Oshkosh region (Winnebago, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Brown).
Next year's event is slated for July 20-26. Says Pelton, “There is never a shortage of ideas from EAA members, AirVenture attendees, our partners, and from inside our own volunteer corps and staff. We’ll take a little time to enjoy this year’s accomplishments but will soon start planning for next year’s edition of The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.”
For 2026 information updates, visit www.eaa.org/airventure.