Air Invictus is here! Get prepared for a High-Octane Motorsport Weekend

For one weekend in June, the skies above northern Portugal will become the setting for one of the most ambitious aviation events ever staged in the country.

Yet the centrepiece of the event will undoubtedly be the Air Race Championship, which returns high-performance air racing to the Douro River. Set against one of Europe's most spectacular urban landscapes, the race course promises a blend of speed, precision and technical challenge unlike any other on the calendar.

Running between the Arrábida and Dom Luís I bridges, the track has been specifically designed to take advantage of Porto's unique river setting while introducing several innovative features. The course begins with a series of buoy sectors that require pilots to position their aircraft with accuracy while maintaining momentum along the racing line. Further along the river, competitors will encounter a chicane section formed by race gates that demands rapid changes of direction and flawless timing. The final technical highlight is a Half Cuban maneuver gate that also serves as the finish gate.

Porto's Race Track mockup for 2026.

The result is a course that rewards more than outright speed. Success on the Douro will depend on precision, discipline and the ability to carry energy efficiently through every section. With pilots competing individually against the clock, even the smallest mistake can prove decisive.

The championship has attracted an impressive international field. Among the standout names is Martin Šonka, whose history with Porto adds an extra layer of intrigue. The former Czech Air Force pilot won the last major air race held on the Douro in 2017 before later becoming World Champion. He returns alongside fellow competitors Petr Kopfstein, Juan Velarde, Daniel Genevey, François Le Vot, Dario Costa and Mélanie Astles, one of the most respected figures in international sport aviation.

While the racing will command much of the attention over the weekend, Air Invictus has been conceived as far more than a sporting competition. Aerobatic displays, military flypasts, historic aircraft and aerospace exhibitions will create a programme designed to appeal to both dedicated aviation enthusiasts and casual visitors. The Portuguese Air Force will play a prominent role throughout the event, showcasing a range of aircraft that reflects both the country's aviation heritage and its modern capabilities.

For many fans, however, the experience will begin before the first race aircraft takes to the skies.

On June 19, Expo Air Invictus opens at Vilar de Luz Airfield in Maia, offering a unique opportunity to get closer to the people and machines that will define the weekend. Visitors will be able to explore displays of civilian and military aircraft, watch competitors arrive ahead of the championship and attend autograph sessions with the pilots.

Martin Šonka's hangar at the Queimódromo in Matosinhos in 2017. Nine years later, fans can meet the pilots at Vilar de Luz Airfield in Maia.

Rather than simply viewing the event from a distance, aviation fans will have the chance to meet some of the sport's leading figures and experience the atmosphere as teams prepare for competition.

The exhibition will welcome school groups during the morning before opening free of charge to the general public from midday until the evening. Alongside the aircraft displays, visitors will find exhibition areas, aviation-related exhibitors, food trucks and family-friendly attractions that make the airfield a destination in its own right.

Expo Air Invictus continues on June 20 and 21, when visitors will be able to observe aircraft movements and operational activity throughout the day. It is a rare opportunity to witness the behind-the-scenes side of a major aviation event, from aircraft preparation and logistics to the constant movement that keeps an international flying programme running smoothly.

Beyond aviation, Air Invictus is expected to create a festival atmosphere across the region. Concerts, entertainment, drone displays and public activities will complement the flying programme, transforming the waterfronts of Porto and Gaia into gathering points for thousands of spectators. The combination of aviation, technology, music and public engagement reflects the organisers' ambition to create an event that extends well beyond the traditional air show format.

What ultimately sets Air Invictus apart is its setting. Few sporting events can match the visual impact of aircraft racing through the heart of a historic European city, framed by iconic bridges and watched from natural amphitheatres on both sides of the river. For the pilots, it presents a demanding and memorable challenge. For spectators, it promises a front-row seat to one of the most spectacular weekends on the Portuguese sporting calendar.

Whether drawn by the competition, the aircraft, the exhibitions or simply the chance to witness something unprecedented, visitors can expect a weekend where the skies above the Douro become the stage for aviation at its most exciting.