Some 70,000 visitors turn out for IMAD26 during two days of flying displays

The Slovak Defence Ministry (MOD)-organised International Military Air Days (IMAD26) attracted some 70,000 public visitors to Piešťany Airport last weekend. The two-day showcase of air power treated a huge audience to spectacular displays of Slovak and other military and civil aircraft on show in the air and in the static park.

Given that the airshow coincided with the celebrations of Slovak Armed Forces Day (AFD) 2026, the showground also came alive with military vehicles and equipment to explore in static and dynamic displays, as well as with a variety of side events for all the family to enjoy.

Across the showground, visitors could get up close to the Slovak Air Force's distinctive fixed wing and rotary aircraft and the Slovak Army's platforms, including F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcon fighter jets, C-27J Spartan airlifters, UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, Zuzana 2 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs), main battle tanks (MBTs), and armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs).

In addition, they did not miss out on the SVK military's Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) systems such as IAI's BARAK MX Integrated Air and Missile Defence System and 3D Air Defence ELM-2084 M-MMR radar.

Our foreign partners also presented the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft, the Embraer KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft, and the Aero L-39 Skyfox tactical and multirole jet trainer. The programme also featured precision aerobatic manoeuvres from aerobatic display teams.

Sharing his thoughts on IMAD26, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kaliňák said: “I am pleased that we were able to show people the cutting-edge platforms in service with the Slovak Armed Forces and, above all, the professionalism of our Service personnel. At the same time, IMAD26 served as an opportunity for the Armed Forces to engage with the public and demonstrate their defence capabilities. That some 70,000 visitors turned out for the airshow over the two days proves that people are very much interested in our Armed Forces and their work.”

For the SVK Ministry of Defence, event organiser for IMAD26, the Piešťany airshow was a test of organisation and collaboration without the assistance of private companies. Instead, the MOD joined forces with the Košice Aero Club, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Health, the Trnava Self-Governing Region, Piešťany City Council, and agencies that fall under other ministries’ remit, with the aim of making the airshow accessible to the widest possible audience free of charge, while at the same time testing the technical and organisational arrangements in place before IMAD moves to Sliač Air Base.

On the next venue for IMAD27, Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák said: “We wanted to give it a test run before – I believe – next year we host the Sliač Air Base Opening Ceremony. I am convinced that the International Military Air Days can then return to where they naturally belong.” He went on to announce that the date of IMAD could be tied to the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) anniversary celebrations, scheduled for the weekend around 29 August.

It is this combination of a military airshow and the SNP celebrations that creates space for connecting the respectful presentation of today's Slovak Armed Forces with that of the historical legacy of the SNP. With the airshow's comeback to Sliač, the air base will restore its long-standing tradition of hosting airshows, while putting the air base's revamped infrastructure to good use.

“The success of this year’s IMAD has shown that people want to be in direct contact with our soldiers from across the Armed Forces and see their defence systems and capabilities in action. That is why I consider it important that we keep this tradition alive and carry it forward,” Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák concluded.