For a second straight summer, the Atlantic City Airshow will not take flight.

The beloved, annual event was canceled in 2024 due to a major acting withdrawing. At the time, the Airshow already faced financial strains from inflation, other new costs and more.

In March, an 11th-hour injection of state funding briefly saved the event, before the ultimate cancelation in July. That reality left the future of the Airshow cloudy heading into 2025.

“After careful consideration, the Atlantic City Airshow will take a strategic pause for 2025,” the Greater Atlantic City Chamber, the event organizer, said in a Dec. 19 statement. “We will use this time to reevaluate the overall operations of the show – reevaluating community engagement, assessing costs, reviewing logistics and creatively considering what future Atlantic City Airshows could look like. It is our sincere hope that we will once again be in a position to hold an Airshow in 2026.”

The Greater Atlantic City Chamber stressed the goal is to ensure the long-term viability of the annual event. Each year, the Airshow attracts hundreds of thousands of people to the city and generates millions of dollars in economic activity for the region.

Preparing for a comeback

“It is New Jersey’s largest free event, a 20-year tradition, that has brought joy to hundreds of thousands of visitors and residents alike,” the statement continued. “We recognize the Airshow’s significant role in our community and to the tourism economy – and we are steadfast in our dedication to preserving its legacy, while adapting to current economic realities.”

“We’re disappointed by the news that there will be no Airshow in 2025, but understand why the Greater Atlantic City Chamber made this decision,” said Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. “The City of Atlantic City is willing to support the Chamber as needed to ensure the next Atlantic City Airshow is our best one yet.”

The organizers acknowledged the support the event has received over the years.

“We wish to thank the City of Atlantic City who each year welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors to its beaches for the Airshow,” the Greater Atlantic City Chamber said. “We also thanked Atlantic County and the greater South Jersey region for their continued support of this event year after year. Finally, we thank our generous sponsors, military and civilian performers, community partners and all who contributed their services and expertise – in order to make the Atlantic City Airshow the world’s premier beachfront airshow.”

But this IS coming to AC:

A unique mixed-use development inspired by Monopoly is in the works in Atlantic City. Read – and see – more.