Cornwall’s Future of Flight Festival Takes Off as Demand Soars

Cornwall’s Future of Flight Festival is set to return this summer, with organisers expanding the event after a surge in demand saw tickets snapped up in just days.

The TECgirls Reach for the Sky Festival will take place on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June at Cornwall Airport Newquay, marking its third year and its biggest edition yet.

Demand drives expansion

Early bird tickets for the 2026 festival sold out within 72 hours, with more than 800 of the 1,000 tickets gone in just four days. In response, organisers have extended the event to two days for the first time, adding an extra 500 places for families across Cornwall and Devon.

This year’s event also coincides with Father’s Day on the Sunday, offering an opportunity for fathers and daughters to attend together.

Hands-on aviation experiences

The festival is designed to encourage girls to explore aviation and engineering through practical experiences. Visitors will be able to climb inside real aircraft, take part in engineering challenges and attend interactive workshops.

Across the weekend, more than 20 organisations will be involved, giving attendees the chance to meet pilots, engineers and apprentices working in the industry.

Tackling gender imbalance

The event forms part of a wider effort to address gender imbalance in aviation and engineering. According to data from the Civil Aviation Authority, women make up around 30 percent of the UK STEM workforce and less than 10 percent of pilots.

Research highlighted in the release shows many girls rule out these careers early, often due to a lack of confidence and exposure rather than ability.

Bringing careers to life

Organisers say the strong response reflects growing interest from parents and educators in giving young people access to real-world STEM experiences beyond the classroom.

Josie Hutt, Marketing Manager at Cornwall Airport Newquay, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be hosting the TECgirls Reach for the Sky Festival once again this year at Spaceport Cornwall, here at Cornwall Airport Newquay. Following the success of 2025, it’s fantastic to see the event expand to two days, giving even more families the opportunity to take part. Inspiring the next generation is at the heart of what we do, and this festival brings aviation to life in such an engaging and accessible way. From air traffic control to airside engineering, it opens young people’s eyes to the wide range of careers available and helps them see the opportunities within the industry.”

Opportunities for businesses

Organisers are also inviting businesses and organisations from across the South West to get involved by running activities, sponsoring experiences or supporting outreach.

Tickets for the 2026 festival are available now via the official TECgirls website: https://www.tecgirls.co.uk/events

About TECgirls

TECgirls is part of TECwomen CIC, a Cornwall-based social enterprise focused on tackling gender inequality in technology, engineering and creative sectors. Through hands-on experiences and outreach programmes, it aims to help girls discover career opportunities and build confidence in STEM.