Crowds fill the walkways and line the runways the day before EAA AirVenture 2025 kicks off. July 20, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — EAA AirVenture is reporting record-breaking attendance at its 2025 event.
Officials say approximately 704,000 guests descended on Oshkosh this year, soaring past the previous high set in 2024 of 686,000 visitors.
“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 EAA CEO and Chairman Jack Pelton in a statement. “This year’s success is a credit to our 6,000 volunteers, our staff members, and our partners as they continue to raise the bar on what’s possible as we bring the aviation world to Oshkosh.”
Our theme of ‘One Week – Endless Possibilities’ certainly was true at Oshkosh in 2025. Whether it was aviation history or innovation or camaraderie, it was present in countless ways during the week. This year’s highlights and activities also set the foundation for what’s to come in the world of flight, and that is perhaps the most exciting development of all.
Here’s a breakdown of more statistics from EAA AirVenture 2025:
- 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: Nearly 6,000 contributing nearly 300,000 hours.
- Commercial exhibitors: 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% over 2024); Nearly 44,000 social media followers gained.
- International guests: A total of 2,305 attendees registering 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 international visitor total is much higher.
- The Gathering: The EAA Aviation Foundation’s annual event to support its aviation education programs attracted more than 1,000 people and raised $2.49 million dollars that 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.
So, what’s next for EAA AirVenture?
“There is never a shortage of ideas from EAA members, AirVenture attendees, our partners, and from inside our own volunteer corps and staff,” said Pelton. “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.”
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