Amigo Airsho canceled due to government shutdown; tickets to be refunded or honored at next year’s event
Update (5:38 PM): Congresswoman Veronica Escobar released a statement addressing the cancellation of the Amgio Airsho. Read Congresswoman Escobar's statement in full below:
"Tens of thousands of El Pasoans and visitors from across the region have been looking forward to the Amigo Airsho, a fantastic family event that the El Paso community and our military installation were hosting. The announcement that Secretary Pete Hegseth’s team at the Department of Defense rejected Fort Bliss’s request to move forward with the event (despite the lapse in government funding) is hugely disappointing.
It would be one thing if every single military event hosted in collaboration with a community across the country were forced to cancel, but that’s simply not the case. While hundreds of volunteers, donors, and members of our military are having to face a canceled event in El Paso, members of the administration, including Secretary Hegseth and Vice President J.D. Vance, will be attending and celebrating at an event at Camp Pendleton.
My office has inquired why some military events have been allowed to proceed but not El Paso’s.
I’m grateful to Fort Bliss leadership and our soldiers, as well as the hundreds (if not thousands) of El Pasoans who volunteered, donated, and worked so hard for this year’s AirSho, all of whom are no doubt deeply disappointed."
Congresswoman Veronica Escobar
Update (4:16 PM): Amigo Airsho organizers say that they were informed by Fort Bliss at the last hour that Biggs Field was no longer approved for use by the airsho.
Ticketholders who request a refund will receive an email with more information. The organizers will otherwise honor the tickets for next year's event.
Update (3:30 PM): In a news conference Friday afternoon, Colonel Michael Soyka, representing Fort Bliss, thanked community sponsors and volunteers for their contribution to the event's planning.
Soyka said due to the lapse in government appropriations, Fort Bliss officials have been directed to stop any activities not related to national security. This stems from the Antideficiency Act.
Soyka said he is confident that once funding is restored, planning for next year's event will begin. The Blue Angels have been announced as performers for next year.
Soyka said that Fort Bliss did not receive fiscal guidance on the airsho until today. At that point, the decision was made to cancel the event.
Borderland leaders are now responding to the news of the cancellation. El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson posted the following message addressing the cancellation of the airsho to his Instagram page:
"The cancellation of the Amigo Airshow is more than just a lost weekend event, it’s a loss felt deeply by the hundreds of El Pasoans who poured their hearts, time, and energy into making it happen.
To all the volunteers, organizers, and partners at Fort Bliss — thank you for your dedication and spirit. This show has always represented the best of who we are as a community, and while this year’s news is tough, I know El Paso will continue to rise together."
Mayor Renard Johnson
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The 2025 Mountainstar Sports Group Amigo Airsho is canceled due to the government shutdown.
A Fort Bliss spokesperson announced the news this afternoon.
The airsho was set to happen this weekend, October 18 and 19 at Biggs Army Airfield.
Fort Bliss Garrison Commander Col. Michael V. Soyka will speak about the cancellation later today at a news conference.
The spokesperson is citing the government shutdown and furloughs as the reasons for the cancellation. Many military personnel are involved in the planning and execution of the airsho.
The airsho returned last year after a 12-year break. It drew 50,000 to 60,000 spectators last year, according to official estimates.
Last year's event was a big economic driver for the El Paso region.
Many well-known flight teams participated in the 2024 event, and many were expected to participate in the 2025 event.
Several of the big names set to perform at this year's airsho were military groups impacted by the government shutdown.
Several other airshows across the country have canceled the last few weeks, also due in large part to the government shutdown.
The first Amigo Airsho happened in 1981. Biggs Army Airfield has hosted the Amigo Airsho for 31 years.
In 2001, the airsho was scheduled to happen in October, but it was postponed in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It was held a year later in May.
The 2013 Amigo Airsho was canceled because of federal budget cuts.
The 2014 Amigo Airsho was held in Santa Teresa as Fort Bliss stopped hosting the event. The 2015 Amigo Airsho was then canceled. The Amigo Airsho was not held from 2015 to 2023. In 2024, the Amigo Airsho returned.
