Updated EAA AirVenture 2025 numbers soar to the skies

OSHKOSH, Wis (WISS) – The skies are quieter. The traffic is dying down. And EAA AirVenture 2025 has updated its numbers for the yearly fly-in convention.

Attendance records were shattered, as over 700,000 visitors from 80 different countries visited the workshops, attractions, vendors, and airshows at Wittman Field and the EAA Museum.

Last year’s record-breaking attendance of 686,000 visitors was crushed at EAA AirVenture 2025 as approximately 704,000 people came through the gates. That’s about 14,000 more people than were estimated on the last day of the event.

“We found ourselves revising our initial attendance estimate upward once all the final weekend’s numbers were in, including from a tremendous day on Saturday, July 26,” said Jack Pelton, CEO and chairman of the board for EAA. “This year’s success is a credit to our 6,000 volunteers, our staff members, and our partners. They continue to raise the bar on what’s possible as we bring the aviation world to Oshkosh.”

EAA Communications Director Dick Knapinski was also surprised by the numbers update.

“It’s interesting to take a look and see why there’s been so much growth. We have set a record attendance each of the past four years, and one has to think there are a variety of factors,” Knapinski said. “The programming – we aim to do programming that would meet the expectations of those in individual areas, whether it’s the warbirds, whether it’s home builts, vintage, those people who like military jets, and so forth.”

The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration

Knapinski added that the accessibility of EAA AirVenture worldwide through the internet, social and streaming increases the in-person numbers.

“We have been streaming a lot of our content the past few years, and instead of holding down the crowd and people watching it online, they see it and say, ‘I have to witness this personally because it’s bigger than I thought it was!’ And so reaching out to people and connecting with them through social media and through the internet has made a difference as well in that growth,” said Knapinski. “At least that’s what we believe.”

Allowing free attendance for children 18 and under also helps.

“Thanks to the Boeing company, that is something that has brought a lot of families out here to enjoy a day or two out here at AirVenture and made it much more affordable for people,” Knapinski said. 

EAA AirVenture 2025: The Break Down

Attendance: Approximately 704,000 – Highest total on record! (Previous: 686,000 – 2024). 

Total aircraft: 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, which is an average of approximately 108 takeoffs/landings per hour when the airport is open.

Total showplanes: 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.

Camping: More than 15,000 sites in aircraft and drive-in camping accounted for more than 40,000 visitors.

Volunteers: Approximately 6,000 contributing nearly 300,000 hours.

Commercial exhibitors represented: 962 (record number).

Forums, Workshops, and Presentations: More than 1,600 sessions hosted during the week at 65 venues.

Social Media, Internet, and Mobile: 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: 20.3 million (up 19 percent over 2024); Nearly 44,000 social media followers gained.

International guests: A total of 2,305 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 total of international visitors is much higher.

The Gathering shines: The EAA Aviation Foundation’s annual event to support its aviation education programs attracted more than 1,000 people and raised $2.49 million, which will be focused on EAA’s mission of growing participation in aviation.

Media: 901 media representatives on-site, from six continents.

Economic impact*: $257 million for the five counties in the Oshkosh region (Winnebago, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Brown). * – based on 2025 University of Wisconsin Oshkosh economic impact study for 2024 event.

A Look Ahead

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 will be held July 20-26, 2026, in Oshkosh. Pelton says after a brief recuperation period, the organization will begin planning right away.

“There is never a shortage of ideas from EAA members, AirVenture attendees, our partners, and from inside our own volunteer corps and staff,” Pelton said. “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.”