Warbirds Over Scone named Australia's best regional event

The Warbirds Over Scone airshow has been named the National Winner for Best Regional Event at the 2026 Australian Event Awards. Held in the Upper Hunter region in March, the event attracted over 20,000 people, a figure more than triple the population of Scone.

The airshow featured rare historic aircraft, including the Southern Hemisphere’s largest gathering of Mustangs, Spitfires, and P-40s, as well as a 13-aircraft Balbo formation, which set a record for Australian airshows. The event provided a significant economic boost to the region, generating millions in positive impact.

Founder Paul Bennet described the recognition as a remarkable achievement for the small team and the local community. Bennet is currently performing at an airshow in South Korea as part of his efforts to showcase Australian aviation internationally.