By THE ALASKA STORY
March 14, 2026 – The US Army Golden Knights, the Army’s elite parachute demonstration team, are confirmed to perform at the Arctic Thunder Open House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson this summer, adding another crowd-pleasing act to one of Alaska’s largest aviation events.
The biennial open house is scheduled for Aug. 8–9, 2026, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, and will once again be free and open to the public. Organizers expect tens of thousands of visitors to attend the two-day event, which showcases military aviation, equipment, and demonstrations from across the US armed forces.
See promotional video for the Golden Knights at this link.
The Golden Knights will perform precision free-fall parachute demonstrations, featuring multiple jumpers descending from high altitude before executing tightly coordinated canopy maneuvers over the airfield. Promotional videos released by base officials earlier this year highlight the team’s training and hint at “more free-fall demonstrations” that promise to give spectators a closer look at the unit’s aerial skill.
Founded in 1959, the Golden Knights serve as the Army’s official aerial demonstration and competition parachute team, performing at airshows and public events across the country while also representing the Army in international parachuting competitions.
The biggest draw for the 2026 Arctic Thunder event will be the return of the Navy Blue Angels, who have not performed at JBER since 2016. Their high-speed formations and precision maneuvers are expected to headline the weekend.
Additional featured performers include the Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team, which showcases the capabilities of the advanced stealth fighter, along with Alaska’s Joint Forces Demonstration, a coordinated display of air and ground power highlighting combined Air Force and Army operations based at the Anchorage installation.
The Golden Knights are familiar faces at Arctic Thunder events. They also appeared at the 2024 show, where they performed alongside the Air Force Thunderbirds.
Arctic Thunder Open House has become one of the largest public military events in Alaska, giving visitors a rare chance to see aircraft up close and watch demonstrations by some of the world’s top military aviation teams.
A second Alaska airshow is expected to feature the Golden Knights this summer. The team is currently listed as a performer for the Arctic Lightning Open House at Eielson Air Force Base, scheduled for Aug. 1–2, although full event details are still being finalized.
