Blue Angels' Saturday show canceled over wind at Seattle's 2026 Seafair weekend
Wind forced the U.S. Navy Blue Angels to cancel their Saturday performance at Seattle's 2026 Seafair Weekend Festival, disappointing crowds at the city's signature summer event and sending ticket holders to Sunday's finale.
The Blue Angels canceled their Saturday performance at Seattle's 2026 Seafair Weekend Festival because of wind conditions. Seafair organizers said Saturday general admission tickets would be honored for entry to Sunday's shows, the final day of the Boeing Airshow over Lake Washington.
Wind grounded the U.S. Navy Blue Angels' Saturday performance at Seattle's 2026 Seafair Weekend Festival, canceling the headline act of the Boeing Airshow over Lake Washington. Organizers said Saturday general admission tickets would be honored for entry to Sunday's shows. Seafair is Seattle's annual summer festival, built around hydroplane boat racing and an air show that regularly features the Blue Angels' six F/A-18 Super Hornets. The 2026 festival opened July 31 at Genesee Park, marking the event's 77th year, according to organizers, who expected more than 180,000 attendees. The cancellation landed on a weekend already under strain. A deadly shooting at the Bite of Seattle roughly a week earlier had heightened security concerns among attendees, and climate coalitions and other activist groups had protested and called on Seafair to cancel the air shows, according to local reports.
Wind grounds Blue Angels' Saturday show over Lake Washington
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels called off their Saturday performance at the 2026 Seafair Weekend Festival because of wind conditions over Lake Washington. The cancellation cut short what was meant to be the middle day of the Boeing Airshow, held above the lake as part of the festival running at Genesee Park from July 31.
Organizers said Saturday general admission tickets would be honored for entry to Sunday's shows, according to reports, offering some relief to spectators who had gathered along the lakeshore expecting to see the Navy flight demonstration squadron.
The specific wind conditions or thresholds that forced the cancellation have not been disclosed. It also remains unclear whether the Blue Angels flew as scheduled on Friday, the festival's opening day, or whether Sunday's performance went ahead as planned. Seafair's air show traditionally runs across the full weekend, and the Blue Angels had arrived in Seattle ahead of the festival, conducting practice flights over Lake Washington on Thursday, according to reports. The squadron flies six F/A-18 Super Hornets as the headline act of the air show.
First Torchlight Parade held as part of Seattle's centennial celebration, originating what became a signature Seafair event.
A deadly shooting occurred at the Bite of Seattle event, heightening security concerns among Seafair attendees.
The Blue Angels conducted practice flights over Lake Washington ahead of the weekend air shows.
Climate coalitions and other activist groups protested and called on Seafair to cancel the air shows.
The 77th Seafair Weekend Festival began at Genesee Park in Seattle, featuring hydroplane racing and the Boeing Airshow headlined by the Blue Angels' six F/A-18 Super Hornets, with new security
The Blue Angels' Saturday performance was canceled because of wind conditions; organizers said Saturday general admission tickets would be honored for Sunday's shows.
The Boeing Airshow's scheduled final day, with Saturday ticket holders permitted entry following the cancellation.
A 77-year Seattle tradition built on boats and jets
Seafair is Seattle's annual summer festival, a fixture of the city's calendar that pairs boating events with an air show. Its centerpiece weekend combines hydroplane racing on Lake Washington with the Boeing Airshow, headlined, according to organizers, by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flying six F/A-18 Super Hornets.
The festival's traditions run deep. The Torchlight Parade, one of its signature events, traces back to Seattle's centennial celebration, with the first parade held on August 12, 1950. The Seafair Cup hydroplane races and the air show round out the main attractions.
The 2026 edition, which began July 31 at Genesee Park, was billed by organizers as the event's 77th year. They expected more than 180,000 attendees over the weekend, according to published reports, with crowds gathering along Lake Washington for the races and aerial displays.
Security worries and protests shadow the festival
The festival took place under a cloud of unease. According to reports, a deadly shooting at the Bite of Seattle roughly a week before Seafair Weekend left security concerns prominent among attendees. Organizers introduced new security measures for the 2026 event, reports said, though the specifics of those measures have not been disclosed.
The air show itself also drew opposition. Climate coalitions and other activist groups protested during the week and called on Seafair to cancel the flying displays, according to local coverage. Whether the demonstrations influenced any of the organizers' decisions is not known. Despite the tensions, crowds still gathered along Lake Washington over the weekend to watch the hydroplane races and the scheduled Blue Angels performances, reports said.
What happens after the cancellation
The Blue Angels arrived in Seattle ahead of the show and flew practice runs over Lake Washington on Thursday, according to local reports. Crowds gathered along the lake through the weekend to watch the hydroplane races and the air show, reports said.
After Saturday's cancellation, organizers said Saturday general admission tickets would be honored for entry to Sunday's shows, the Boeing Airshow's scheduled final day. That left Sunday as the last chance for many attendees to see the jets perform.
Still unclear is how actual attendance compared with the more than 180,000 visitors organizers had expected, and whether Sunday's show went ahead as planned.
Frequently asked questions
Why was the Blue Angels' Saturday show at Seafair 2026 canceled?
Yes. The Blue Angels' Saturday performance at the 2026 Seafair Weekend Festival was canceled because of wind conditions. The air show was held above Lake Washington, with the festival based at Genesee Park in Seattle. Organizers said Saturday general admission tickets would be honored for entry to Sunday's shows, giving ticket holders a chance to see the performance on the festival's final day instead.
When and where did Seafair 2026 take place?
The 2026 Seafair Weekend Festival was scheduled to begin July 31, 2026, at Genesee Park in Seattle. The Boeing Airshow, headlined by the Blue Angels, was scheduled to run from Friday through Sunday, with the air show taking place above Lake Washington. Saturday ticket holders were permitted entry on Sunday after the Saturday Blue Angels performance was canceled due to wind.
Who are the Blue Angels and what do they fly at Seafair?
The Blue Angels are the U.S. Navy's flight demonstration squadron and the headline act of Seafair's Boeing Airshow, flying six F/A-18 Super Hornets. The team arrived in Seattle ahead of the festival and conducted practice flights over Lake Washington on the Thursday before the weekend shows. The Blue Angels are a frequent feature of Seafair's annual air show.
What is Seafair and what events does it include?
Seafair is an annual summer festival in Seattle, Washington, featuring boating events and an air show. Its main events include the Torchlight Parade, the Seafair Cup hydroplane races, and an air show that often features the Blue Angels. The Torchlight Parade originated with Seattle's 1950 centennial celebration, with the first parade held on August 12, 1950. The 2026 festival reportedly marked the event's 77th year.
Were there protests or security concerns at Seafair 2026?
Yes. Climate coalitions and other activist groups protested and called on Seafair to cancel the air shows, with demonstrations reported around the time of the Blue Angels' Thursday practice flights. Separately, security concerns were prominent among attendees following a deadly shooting at the Bite of Seattle event roughly a week before Seafair Weekend, and the festival reportedly introduced new security measures.
Compiled from reporting by 6 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
