The 2026 US GA Event Calendar: When Ramps Actually Break

Most GA congestion doesn't come from "busy airports."

It comes from compressed demand—arrivals clustering into 24-72 hour windows, aircraft staying longer than planned, and repositioning moves that nobody budgeted for.

The events that matter to FBOs aren't always the loud ones. Some are obvious (Super Bowl). Many are seasonal, recurring, or unofficial (ski weekends, college football Saturdays). What they share is a predictable pattern that exposes the same failure modes again and again.

This isn't a list of cool events. It's a planning tool.

The Five Types of Events That Spike GA Traffic

Before the month-by-month calendar, understand what you're dealing with. These patterns repeat across every high-traffic week.

1. Single-Weekend Compression

Short, intense windows where arrivals and departures collapse into 24-72 hours.

Championship games, marquee races, and major one-day spectacles fall here.

Operational signature:

• Extreme arrival density
• Short turns
• Heavy repositioning
• Crew hotel shortages

These weeks create the highest error rates on the ramp. Everyone's moving fast, nobody's thinking two moves ahead.

2. Multi-Day Waves

Events lasting a week or more that never fully stabilize.

Film festivals, major conferences, and cultural events fall here.

Operational signature:

• Constant schedule churn
• Aircraft staying longer than planned
• Repeated partial replans
• Steady towing pressure

Deceptively hard because they never fully peak or fully clear.

3. Aviation-Native Saturation

Events where the airport itself is the destination.

Fly-ins, aviation expos, and industry conventions.

Operational signature:

• Extremely high movement counts
• Unusual aircraft mix (vintage, experimental, jets together)
• Parking density over time rather than at peak hour
• Fuel and services as limiting factors

4. Quiet VIP Weeks

The most dangerous category.

These events aren't always public, often have no formal schedule, and involve people who expect zero friction.

Operational signature:

• Opaque arrival timing
• Large-cabin aircraft
• High service expectations
• Minimal tolerance for delays or mistakes

Sun Valley is the canonical example, but it's not unique.

5. Seasonal Surge Windows

Not events at all—calendar gravity.

Ski weekends, college football Saturdays, holiday travel, and resort seasons produce repeatable stress patterns that are easy to underestimate.

Operational signature:

• Predictable every year
• Often underestimated because they're "normal"
• Compound with weather risk

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The 2026 US GA Event Calendar

Traffic intensity:

• Busy = plan ahead, staff up
• Slammed = all hands on deck, expect overflow
• Chaos = forget sleeping, every ramp full

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January

CES draws 100,000+ attendees and fills every FBO in the Vegas valley. Henderson Executive (HND) and North Las Vegas (VGT) handle overflow. Expect repositioning pressure at every regional airport within 150nm.

JP Morgan Healthcare Conference is the largest healthcare investment symposium in the world, drawing 8,000+ executives, investors, and analysts to San Francisco. San Francisco International (SFO), Oakland (OAK), and San Carlos (SQL) see sustained traffic Jan 12-15. Invitation-only—but the satellite events across the city mean large-cabin aircraft everywhere.

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale runs nine days (Jan 17-25) and is the world's largest collector car auction. Scottsdale Airport (SDL) and Phoenix Deer Valley (DVT) handle traffic from high-net-worth collectors. Over $100M in vehicles cross the block.

Sundance hits Salt Lake City hard, but the real pressure is at Heber City (HCR) and Provo (PVU)—smaller fields closer to Park City with limited ramp space.

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February

Grammy Awards air Feb 1 from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Van Nuys (VNY), Burbank (BUR), and Santa Monica (SMO) see award-show traffic patterns—arrivals Thursday-Saturday, departures Sunday night and Monday.

Super Bowl LX lands at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. For context: Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans saw 611 business jet arrivals in the Friday-Sunday window before the game—5x the normal volume. Lakefront Airport alone handled nearly 1,200 private aircraft, with FBOs charging up to $17,000 per reservation depending on aircraft size. San Jose (SJC), Oakland (OAK), and San Francisco (SFO) will absorb GA overflow, but Mineta San Jose International and Reid-Hillview face the real crunch. Start repositioning plans now if you're within 100nm.

Miami International Boat Show (Feb 11-15) spans six venues including the Miami Beach Convention Center and Superyacht Miami. This is the 85th edition—expect 100,000+ visitors and pressure at Opa-Locka (OPF), Miami Executive (TMB), and Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE).

NBA All-Star Weekend (Feb 13-15) comes to the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood. This is LA's record seventh All-Star hosting. Van Nuys and Hawthorne (HHR) handle the player and celebrity traffic.

Daytona 500 kicks off NASCAR season on Feb 15. Daytona Beach International (DAB) and Ormond Beach (OMN) see race traffic. The 68th running.

Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday, Feb 17) ends Carnival season in New Orleans. Lakefront Airport (NEW), Louis Armstrong (MSY), and Baton Rouge (BTR) see the pressure. Parades run Feb 11-17 with peak arrivals Feb 14-16.

Presidents' Day creates the ski season's single biggest weekend. Eagle County (EGE), Aspen (ASE), and Jackson Hole (JAC) hit capacity. Backup fields like Rifle (RIL) and Gunnison (GUC) become strategic options.

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March

BNP Paribas Open (Mar 1-15) at Indian Wells Tennis Garden draws top ATP/WTA players and fans to the Coachella Valley. Thermal (TRM) and Palm Springs (PSP) handle the tennis traffic—same airports as Coachella, six weeks earlier.

Amelia Island Concours (Mar 5-8) brings collector cars, auctions, and high-net-worth enthusiasts to northeast Florida. Jacksonville (JAX) and Fernandina Beach (55J) see traffic. The Concours moves to Saturday (Mar 7) for 2026.

SXSW 2026 celebrates its 40th year with a reimagined format—Conference, Film & TV, and Music running concurrently over seven days. Austin-Bergstrom (AUS) and Austin Executive (EDC) handle the volume. San Marcos (HYI) provides relief valve capacity.

Oscars air Mar 15 from the Dolby Theatre. Van Nuys (VNY), Burbank (BUR), and Santa Monica (SMO) see arrivals Wed-Sat, departures Sunday night through Monday. Hollywood's biggest night.

Miami Open Tennis (Mar 15-29) at Hard Rock Stadium is a two-week ATP/WTA 1000 event. Opa-Locka (OPF) and Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE) handle tennis traffic overlapping with late spring break.

Palm Beach Boat Show (Mar 25-29) draws 55,000+ visitors and over $1.2B in yachts to West Palm Beach. Palm Beach International (PBI) and Lantana (LNA) see sustained traffic.

Ultra Music Festival (Mar 27-29) at Bayfront Park draws EDM fans to Miami. Opa-Locka and Miami Executive see younger, high-spending demographics—different crowd than Art Basel but similar airports.

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April

The Masters is a compression event. Augusta Regional (AGS) jumps from 5,000 passengers in a normal week to over 30,000—with 1,500+ private jet arrivals burning through an estimated 500,000 gallons of fuel. In 2024, 1,758 business jets landed at AGS alone. The airport shuts down one runway to maximize parking. Once the ramp fills, overflow hits Daniel Field (DNL), Aiken Municipal (AIK), and Columbia Metro (CAE). FlexJet calls the Masters their busiest event, exceeding even Super Bowl and Kentucky Derby traffic.

Coachella creates two consecutive Chaos-level weekends. Thermal (TRM) and Palm Springs (PSP) handle the load. Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal sits 10 miles from the festival grounds—know it exists.

SUN 'n FUN is aviation-native saturation. Lakeland Linder International hosts the second-largest airshow in North America (200,000+ visitors). The USAF Thunderbirds perform April 17-19.

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May

Kentucky Derby compresses into 48 hours. In 2023, Louisville saw over 1,500 private jet operations—a 13x increase over normal daily traffic. FlightAware data shows Louisville handles roughly 10% of its entire annual bizjet traffic in one weekend. Louisville Muhammad Ali International (SDF) and Bowman Field (LOU) hit capacity. Single and twin-engine props should plan for Clark Regional (KJVY) in Indiana to avoid congestion.

F1 Miami overlaps Derby weekend in 2026. Miami International Autodrome creates sustained pressure at Opa-Locka (OPF), Miami Executive (TMB), and Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE). Miami will also host an F1 Sprint event.

Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting (May 2) draws 40,000+ shareholders to Omaha. Eppley Airfield (OMA) and Millard (MLE) see quiet VIP traffic. Warren Buffett will attend but Greg Abel (new CEO as of Jan 1, 2026) leads Q&A. Large-cabin aircraft, minimal public attention.

PGA Championship (May 14-17) at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, PA brings major championship traffic to the Philadelphia area. Philadelphia International (PHL) and Northeast Philadelphia (PNE) handle the golf traffic. First PGA at Aronimink since 1962.

Preakness Stakes (May 16) runs at Laurel Park for the first time in history while Pimlico undergoes $400M reconstruction. Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) and Martin State (MTN) see traffic. Returns to Pimlico in 2027.

Indy 500 marks its 110th running on May 24. Indianapolis Executive (TYQ) and Eagle Creek (EYE) handle race traffic.

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June

Belmont Stakes Racing Festival (Jun 3-7) runs at Saratoga Race Course for the third consecutive year while Belmont Park is rebuilt. The 158th Belmont Stakes is June 6. Albany International (ALB) and Saratoga County (5B2) handle Triple Crown traffic. Returns to Belmont Park in 2027.

Tribeca Film Festival (Jun 3-14) celebrates its 25th anniversary in lower Manhattan. Teterboro (TEB) and Westchester (HPN) see film industry traffic. 12 days of premieres and industry events.

WWDC (expected Jun 8-12) brings developers and tech executives to Apple Park in Cupertino. San Jose (SJC) and Palo Alto (PAO) see tech traffic. Apple's final year in their Vancouver venue—moving to California in 2027.

FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off June 11 with 104 matches across 16 cities. The US hosts 78 matches including all games from quarterfinals onward. Group stage runs through June 27.

US Open Golf (Jun 18-21) at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, NY. This links-style course has hosted the US Open in three centuries. Long Island MacArthur (ISP), Republic (FRG), and East Hampton (HTO) handle major championship traffic.

US Host Cities: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle. Each city faces sustained traffic throughout group and knockout stages.

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July

July is relentless.

World Cup knockout rounds run July 4-11 with quarterfinals in Dallas (Jul 10) and Kansas City (Jul 11). Semifinals hit Dallas (Jul 14) and Atlanta (Jul 15). The Final takes place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19.

Sun Valley Conference brings the world's most powerful executives to Friedman Memorial (SUN). This is the quiet VIP week archetype—no public schedule, maximum service expectations, large-cabin aircraft everywhere. Plan for opaque arrivals and minimal error tolerance.

EAA AirVenture 2026 runs July 20-26 at Wittman Regional (OSH). In 2023, the tower logged 21,883 aircraft operations in 11 days—averaging 148 takeoffs and landings per hour during operating hours. That makes Oshkosh the busiest control tower in the world for three consecutive days, surpassing O'Hare and Atlanta. Two temporary runways open just to handle the volume. Youth under 18 enter free this year.

Comic-Con International (Jul 22-26, with Preview Night Jul 22) brings 130,000+ fans to the San Diego Convention Center. San Diego International (SAN), Montgomery-Gibbs (MYF), and Brown Field (SDM) see entertainment industry traffic. Studio executives and celebrities fly private; badges sell out in minutes.

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August

Monterey Car Week creates sustained pressure at Monterey Regional (MRY) for 10 days. Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on August 16 is the peak—200 of the world's finest collector cars, their owners, and their jets.

Sturgis draws hundreds of thousands of bikers and a surprising amount of private aviation. Rapid City (RAP) handles the traffic.

Burning Man affects Reno-Tahoe (RNO) more than most realize. August 30-September 7, 2026, with the theme "Axis Mundi." Flights to Reno spike in late August.

US Open Tennis (Aug 30-Sep 13) at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. Two weeks of Grand Slam tennis creates sustained traffic at Teterboro (TEB), Westchester (HPN), and Republic (FRG). Finals weekend (Sep 12-13) is peak. Arthur Ashe Stadium's 23,771 seats make it the world's largest tennis venue.

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September

New York Fashion Week (Sep 11-16) showcases Spring/Summer 2027 collections across TriBeCa and Chelsea. Teterboro (TEB) and Westchester (HPN) see fashion industry traffic. Beginning in 2026, animal fur is banned from the official NYFW schedule.

Emmy Awards air Sep 14 from the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Monday night (avoiding NFL) means Monday departures. Van Nuys (VNY) and Burbank (BUR) see TV industry traffic.

Dreamforce (Sep 15-17) brings 40,000+ to the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Salesforce's flagship event fills San Francisco, Oakland, and San Carlos airports with tech executives. Three days of keynotes, networking, and product demos.

UNGA high-level week transforms New York-area FBOs. Teterboro (TEB), Westchester (HPN), and Republic (FRG) face TFRs, security protocols, and heads-of-state traffic. Plan for delays and restricted operations.

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October

NBAA-BACE 2026 runs October 20-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Henderson Executive (HND) hosts aircraft displays. The largest business aviation event in the US—20,000+ attendees.

F1 Austin hits immediately after BACE ends. Circuit of the Americas hosts October 23-25. Austin-Bergstrom and Austin Executive see back-to-back high-traffic weeks.

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (Oct 28-Nov 1) is the world's largest in-water boat show. Nearly 90 acres, 100,000+ visitors, $1.2B+ in yachts. Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE), Pompano Beach (PMP), and Boca Raton (BCT) handle yacht buyer traffic.

Breeders' Cup (Oct 30-31) returns to Keeneland Race Course in Lexington for the fourth time. Blue Grass Airport (LEX) sees horse racing's richest two days. Keeneland's $100M+ renovation project will be complete.

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November

F1 Las Vegas runs as a Saturday night race on November 21. The Strip becomes a race track. Henderson Executive and North Las Vegas handle the surge.

AWS re:Invent (Nov 30-Dec 4) brings 40,000+ cloud professionals to Las Vegas. Multiple venues across the Strip (Caesars Forum, Venetian, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Wynn). This is tech's biggest cloud computing conference—expect sustained traffic at Henderson (HND), North Las Vegas (VGT), and McCarran overflow all week.

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December

Art Basel draws nearly 100,000 visitors and collectors. VIP preview begins December 3-4. Public days run December 5-7. Opa-Locka, Miami Executive, and Fort Lauderdale Executive all see premium traffic.

Holiday travel creates the longest sustained pressure of the year. Mountain airports, resort markets, and warm-weather destinations all hit capacity from December 20 through January 3.

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What Event Weeks Actually Cost You

Here's what high-traffic weeks look like on a balance sheet.

The repositioning tax: Every unplanned aircraft move costs time and risk. At $150-200 per tow (labor, equipment, insurance exposure), an FBO averaging 15 extra repositions per day during a 4-day event week burns $9,000-$12,000 in direct costs—before you factor in the $50,000+ damage risk when a rushed tow clips a wingtip sensor.

The missed revenue: When your ramp is "full" but your hangar depth isn't optimized, you're turning away aircraft that could fit. At $400-500/night for transient hangar fees on a super-mid, every aircraft you can't accommodate is $1,600-$2,000 in lost revenue over a 4-night event stay.

The planning gap: Most FBOs plan events using spreadsheets, whiteboards, or memory of "what worked last year." That approach doesn't account for the specific aircraft mix arriving this year, the departure conflicts that stack up on Sunday morning, or the repositioning cascade that starts when the first aircraft overstays.

How AirPlx Changes the Math

We ran simulations on a 35,000 sq ft hangar during a hypothetical Masters-week scenario—1,400 arrivals over 5 days with a typical mix of G650s, Challengers, and Citations.

Without optimization:

• Peak-day capacity: 8 aircraft hangared
• Repositions required: 23 per day average
• Aircraft turned away: 4 per day due to "no space"

With AirPlx AutoStack:

• Peak-day capacity: 11 aircraft hangared (+37%)
• Repositions required: 9 per day average (-61%)
• Aircraft turned away: 0

Revenue impact over 5 days:

• Additional hangar revenue: $13,500 (3 extra aircraft × $450/night × 10 aircraft-nights)
• Repositioning savings: $4,200 (70 fewer tows × $60 labor cost)
• Risk reduction: 70 fewer tow operations = 70 fewer damage exposure events

That's $17,700 in captured value from a single event week—and the real number is higher when you factor in fuel, handling fees, and customer retention from operators who got space when competitors couldn't accommodate them.

Before the Event

• Model peak-day ramp occupancy by actual aircraft mix, not averages
• Pre-build parking configurations that maximize door access and tow paths
• Identify which large-cabin arrivals block hangar depth early
• Set overflow thresholds before ad-hoc decisions under pressure

During the Event

• Maintain one operational view across all shifts
• See which aircraft block future moves before you commit
• Replan in seconds when schedules change (they will)
• Avoid cascading repositions by seeing downstream effects

After the Event

• Review what actually constrained you with real data
• Quantify repositioning frequency and dwell time
• Build next year's event plan from evidence, not memory

Event readiness isn't a special mode. It's a property of the system.

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The Bottom Line

If your ramp only works on normal days, it's already fragile.

High-traffic weeks don't create new problems. They expose the ones that were always there.

The same planning discipline that gets you through a Super Bowl weekend makes random Tuesdays calmer too.

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See How Your Hangar Handles Event Traffic

Run a simulation on your actual hangar dimensions with a Masters-week or Super Bowl aircraft mix. See where your capacity constraints actually are—before the arrivals start.

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