US President Donald Trump has announced plans for a new international aerospace exhibition at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, promising an event larger than the Paris Air Show and Farnborough International Airshow. Called CapeWeek, the annual exhibition is scheduled to make its debut in March 2028.
Speaking at Kennedy Space Center on November 6, Trump said the United States should host the world's largest air show, covering both commercial aviation and the space industry. He also named Boeing among the manufacturers he expects to participate.
"We're going to do a bigger and better, grander version than the Paris Air Show," Trump said, arguing that the United States has the facilities and aerospace industry needed to host such an event.
The exhibition is planned for the former Space Shuttle Landing Facility, the 15,000-foot (4,572-meter) runway used by NASA's reusable spacecraft. The site covers approximately 1,900 acres (769 hectares) and is now operated by Space Florida, a state aerospace development organization.
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Trump said the project could attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, generate billions of dollars in economic activity and host hundreds of billions of dollars in commercial agreements. Those figures represent the administration's ambitions for the event rather than confirmed business commitments.
CapeWeek to combine aviation and space industries
The inaugural CapeWeek is scheduled for March 27 to April 2, 2028, with separate programs for executives, manufacturers and the general public.
The first three days will focus on meetings involving industry executives, investors and government officials. A trade exhibition will follow from March 29 to 31, with the final two days dedicated to public displays and flight demonstrations.
Organizers intend to bring together commercial aircraft manufacturers, defense contractors, space companies, drone developers and businesses working on advanced air mobility and autonomous technologies.
The project involves NASA, Space Florida, the state of Florida and private-sector organizers, including aviation entrepreneur Cyrus Sigari. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman joined Trump at the announcement and highlighted the renewed use of the historic shuttle runway.
The organizers project attendance exceeding 500,000 visitors per edition and an economic impact of approximately $5 billion over ten years. It remains unclear how much public funding will be committed to the event or which manufacturers have formally agreed to participate.
The ambition is to establish a major US-based aerospace trade exhibition comparable to the Paris Air Show held at Le Bourget, and the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom. Both are biennial events, while CapeWeek is planned as an annual gathering.
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The United States already hosts EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, one of the world's largest aviation gatherings, but that event has a different emphasis, centered on general aviation, recreational flying and experimental aircraft.
NASA hosts aerospace demonstrations this weekend
Trump's announcement came during MAX POWER, an aerospace and technology event taking place at Kennedy Space Center from November 6 to 8.
The weekend program includes demonstrations by the US Air Force Thunderbirds, NASA aircraft displays and presentations involving astronauts and aerospace technology developers. The UP.Summit, a gathering of executives and investors, is also part of the activities.
MAX POWER is separate from CapeWeek, although both use the former shuttle landing facility and involve NASA and private aerospace organizations.
The first CapeWeek is planned for 2028, giving organizers approximately 17 months to prepare the site, attract exhibitors and establish a commercial exhibition capable of competing with the industry's established international air shows.
