World Helicopter Day 2026 is coming — and we want your event on the map.

Sunday 16 August 2026 marks the 12th year of this global celebration of helicopters and the remarkable people who fly, maintain, and support them. Every year, operators, flight schools, museums, and helicopter organisations around the world open their doors to their communities — and we’d love to see your name on the list.

What is World Helicopter Day?

World Helicopter Day is a grassroots, community-driven event held every year on the third Sunday of August. It exists to celebrate everything the helicopter industry contributes to society — from search and rescue and disaster relief, to medical transport, firefighting, agriculture, tourism, and beyond.

There are an estimated 56,200 helicopters operating worldwide, supported by more than 500,000 people. This is a day to celebrate all of them.

How to Get Involved

Participating is simple. Host any kind of helicopter-related event at your location — an open day, a hangar tour, demo flights, trial lessons, a community barbecue, or an industry gathering — and register it on the website. That’s it.

Once listed, your event is promoted to a global audience of aviation enthusiasts, potential customers, and media looking for local stories to tell.

Listing your event is completely free. There is no cost to participate — before, during, or after the event. World Helicopter Day does not charge organisers, ask for sponsorship, or seek donations. We simply provide the platform and the promotional tools; you run your event your way.

What You Get

Every registered event organiser gets access to a free promotional toolkit, including:

• A press release template you can customise for your local media
• Social media banners and graphics
• Flyers for print or digital distribution
• Ready-to-use social media content

It’s a genuine opportunity to generate local media coverage, give your social media and email channels something compelling to post about, and bring new faces through your door.

Who Should Register?

If you operate a helicopter in any capacity, there’s a place for you on the World Helicopter Day map:

• Flight schools — engage current students, reconnect with past ones, and introduce new people to rotary wing aviation
• Charter and tour operators — showcase your aircraft and your team to your local community
• Helicopter museums — open your doors and celebrate the history of vertical flight
• Rescue and air ambulance services — share the vital work you do with the people you serve
• Maintenance organisations, FBOs, and industry businesses — be part of the celebration in whatever way fits your operation

Register Your Event

Head to worldhelicopterday.com/add-your-event/ to submit your event details. It takes just a few minutes.

If you have questions or would like to discuss how we can help promote your event, get in touch at hello@worldhelicopterday.com.

We’ll see you on 16 August.

#worldhelicopterday