After a more than 15-year hiatus, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will perform once again in Lauderdale County, Naval Air Station Meridian announced Friday.

 

Wings over Meridian, which was last held marking NAS Meridian’s 50th anniversary, is set to come back for the installation’s 65th year on March 28-29, 2026, Capt. Luke Davis, commanding officer on board NAS Meridian said. The event will also mark the 80th anniversary of the Blue Angels, which was formed April 24, 1946.

 

“Seeing as many of the Blue Angels were trained here over the 65 years of NAS Meridian’s existence, it makes perfect sense that we come together that year to celebrate our anniversaries together,” he said.

 

Friday’s announcement came after almost a year of planning and effort, Davis said, and there is still much to do before the iconic airshow returns. The team tasked with bringing the show back has made NAS Meridian proud, he said, and provided an opportunity for both the naval installation and the community to celebrate.

 

“I’m extremely proud of their work and the accomplishment that this brings and the opportunity here to the base,” he said. “But the job is not done. The next 15 months, we’ll work diligently both here on the base and with our partners in the community to plan an action packed air show including world class performers, both military and civilian.”

 

Laura Carmichael, executive director of Lauderdale County Tourism, said the return of the airshow is a fantastic opportunity for the Meridian and Lauderdale County community.

 

“The impact is tremendous for our community from a stand point of the visitors that will be coming in, maybe seeing our city and our town for the first time, but mostly just the impact of NAS and what NAS means to our community,” she said.

 

While more than a decade has passed since the last Wings Over Meridian airshow, Carmichael said she expects the 2026 event to draw thousands of visitors to the area, which will also benefit hotels, restaurants and other area businesses. She said she looks forward to lending her offices resources to help promote the event.

 

Memorandum of Understanding

 

In addition to the announcement of the airshow, Davis was also joined by Col. Cynthia Smith, commanding officer of The Mississippi Air National Guard 186th Air Refueling Wing at Key Field in signing a memorandum of understanding between the two installations.

 

The MOU will allow part-time guardsmen whose duties require them to be trained in pubic works fields such as HVAC, plumbing and electrical, to work with NAS Meridian equipment and staff, Davis said.

 

“So we’re pursuing this mutual understanding here today where the 186th comes out and gets into training evolutions with our public works department here at NAS Meridian,” he said.

 

Smith said the 186th ARW does not have heavy equipment and other tools needed to train the guardsmen and has had to send them to other bases throughout the country to get the necessary instruction. With the agreement with NAS, she said, the guardsmen will be able to train locally and help NAS Meridian with some of its public works projects.

 

“It’s been a little over a year in the making, but our first project should begin in just a few weeks,” she said.

 

Davis said the agreement was a win for both NAS Meridian and Key Field, and he was excited to see the partnership begin.