Military planes fly over South Beach during the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
Pedro Portal
pportal@miamiherald.com
Thousands of heads careened upward with covered ears and smiling faces as fighter jets, helicopters and an assortment of other military vehicles soared over the sands of South Beach on Saturday at this year’s Hyundai Air & Sea Show, celebrating Memorial Day and the U.S.’s 250th birthday.
Saint Alvarez, 10, and his father, Santiago, 46, have frequented many air shows and were just as excited to be in the crowd yet again. Together, they spent Friday researching which planes would streak through the skies to make sure to savor every moment.
“I’m loving it,” Saint said. “I want it to be loud and cool, and it is!”
Saint wants to grow up to be just like his pilot father, who flew cargo and passenger planes. Santiago most recently worked for Aztec Airways out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, shuttling packages and vacationers on Boeing 737s and ATR aircraft.
“It’s amazing, and we always come,” Santiago said of the Air & Sea Show. “The crowds are perfect and cool.”
Saint has his heart set on flying planes for the U.S. Air Force, a dream that he got to practice living on Saturday as he climbed into and sat inside a replica F/A-18 Hornet cockpit at the Air & Sea Show.
Saint Alvarez, 10, sits inside the replica cockpit of Canadian Air Force Col. Dewey ‘JellyFish’ Larson’s F/A-18 Hornet in South Beach on display during the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beac, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
The lively event was sprawled out on the beach between 11th and 14th Streets on Ocean Drive. South Florida residents, vacationers and veterans watched more than a dozen demonstrations of different aircraft belonging to the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Customs and Border Patrol and the British Army.
Some of the aircraft included an F-18, B-2 bomber, KC-135, C-17 and F-35B. The Army Golden Knights and the British Army Red Devils parachute teams also descended onto the beach during live demonstrations.
Apart from the main show, the event spawned a mass of interactive exhibits from all six military branches over five city blocks. The Display Village had its own unique events, including a Monster Moto-cross show and drill and band performances.
Seeing dirt bikes fly off ramps and flip in the air was one of the best moments at the event for 3-year-old Jasper, who came with his mother, Sophia, 25, and grandfather.
This is the second year in a row Sophia has brought Jasper to the Hyundai Air & Sea Show because of his love for planes.
“I saw the airplane, the really fast one,” Jasper said, smiling ear to ear. “My favorite airplane was the ones that made the really loud noise.”
Sophia said the event was just as exciting and fun as last year for her and her son — who, while searching for planes in the sky, excitedly grabbed her face and reminded her that the watermelons and lemonade were just as amazing as the planes.
Take a look at the 2026 Hyundai Air & Sea Show:
A helicopter flies over future military members lined up at a swearing-in ceremony honoring the next generation of American service members in South Beach during the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
A member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights gets ready to land in South Beach during the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
Vessels and a helicopter from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol perform an interdiction demonstration off South Beach during the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
Lt. General John P. Healy greets future military members at a swearing-in ceremony during the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
A helicopter flies over future military members at a swearing-in ceremony in South Beach during the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
Members of the United States Army Special Operations Command approach the beach during a demonstration in South Beach during the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
A United States Coast Guard Air Sea swimmer jumps into the ocean from a MH-65E Dolphin helicopter during a rescue demonstration during the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
A member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights gets ready to land in South Beach during the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
People work out in South Beach during the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
the U.S. Air Force Band performs on stage as attendees celebrate during Memorial Day Weekend at the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach, Florida, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
the U.S. Air Force Drill Team Honor Guard performs as attendees celebrate during Memorial Day Weekend at the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach, Florida, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Attendees watch a fireworks display during Memorial Day Weekend events at the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach, Florida, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Camila Santiago takes a selfie during a drone show display over the beach behind her during Memorial Day Weekend at the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach, Florida, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Enrico Helfer, 3, pulls on his fathers ear, Luiz Helfer, as they celebrate during Memorial Day Weekend at the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach, Florida, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
The U.S. Air Force Thunder Bird Team is projected on the facade of Art Deco Hotels along Ocean Drive as attendees celebrate during Memorial Day Weekend at the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach, Florida, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
A U.S. Air Force jet is projected on the facade of Art Deco Hotels along Ocean Drive as attendees celebrate during Memorial Day Weekend at the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach, Florida, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
A U.S. Army parachutist approches a beach night landing during Memorial Day Weekend at the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach, Florida, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Elena Cairo, Fabio Esendero, and his daughter Izabella Esendero dance to the beat the U.S. Air Force Band performs on stage during Memorial Day Weekend at the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach, Florida, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
An airplane is depicted using drones in the sky over the beach during Memorial Day Weekend at the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach, Florida, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 4:52 PM.
Miami Herald Cops and Breaking News Reporter Devoun Cetoute covers a plethora of Florida topics, from breaking news to crime patterns. He was on the breaking news team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2022. He’s a graduate of the University of Florida, born and raised in Miami-Dade. Theme parks, movies and cars are on his mind in and out of the office.
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