ACTION ALERT: Ban Military Air Shows
World BEYOND War

(June 18, 2026) — We’ve created a global petition that can be printed out and delivered to local government officials deciding to hold or cancel air shows that include military planes, also known as weapons of mass destruction.

You can sign it here and add your comments.

Why are we against such harmless fun?

It is not harmless.

Air shows are used to advertise war planes for purchase by governments.

Air shows burn huge quantities of jet fuel, damaging both local air quality and the Earth’s climate, sometimes contributing to pollution that makes it difficult to see the air show. Crashes cause more damage, and fire-fighting foam poisons ground water.

Disasters are not uncommon, resulting in major destruction and often deaths.

The noise of war planes retraumatizes war survivors, disturbs local residents, and harms children, pets, and wildlife. Dogs bark endlessly, while cats disappear into hiding, and other animals and wildlife show clear signs of fear, agitation, and distress.

Turning instruments of indiscriminate slaughter into entertainment promoted to children amounts to glorifying and normalizing killing.

Militaries know that, which is why they waste major public resources on air shows, but we need those funds for useful things.

We have successfully demilitarized air shows in some places, while still working on others, and just need to do so everywhere.

Protests are widespread and could be strengthened by a movement for a global ban.

Sign this Petition:
All military air shows, or participation by war planes in air shows, should be permanently banned.

World BEYOND War is a global network of volunteers, chapters, and affiliated organizations advocating for the abolition of the institution of war.