The 2026 Newcastle Airshow has been postponed indefinitely following an escalating dispute involving the Newcastle and District Residents Forum, the Newcastle Local Municipality, the event’s previous organisers and Fuze Aviation Academy.
Originally scheduled to take place on 8 August 2026, the airshow was expected to include an aviation career day for 200 learners, while creating temporary employment and trading opportunities for local businesses, informal traders and SMMEs.
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However, opposition to the event intensified in the weeks leading up to it, with the Newcastle and District Residents Forum (NDRF) calling on residents to boycott the airshow and demanding greater transparency around the municipality’s involvement.
Concerningly, Fuze Aviation Academy subsequently confirmed that it had also received written threats to disrupt the event.
According to the organiser, the combination of political tensions, the boycott campaign and security concerns meant it could no longer guarantee that the airshow would remain a safe and positive event.
Moreover, in an official statement provided to Newcastillian News by one of its members, the NDRF said it could not support the airshow under the prevailing circumstances.
“This event goes against our core principles of supporting local businesses, empowering local communities, promoting good governance, financial accountability and clean administration,” stated the Forum.
The NDRF questioned why a Pietermaritzburg-based company had been selected to promote the Newcastle event and raised concerns about the possible use of Newcastle Airport and ratepayer-funded municipal resources by an external organiser.
It subsequently called on the Newcastle Local Municipality to disclose all municipal contributions, budget approvals, facility charges and agreements linked to the event.
The Forum also sought clarity on whether the municipality would receive a portion of the revenue generated through ticket sales and requested a full valuation of municipal services expected to be used during the airshow.
These services included Traffic Officers, the Fire Brigade, Law Enforcement, refuse removal and other municipal personnel.
Additionally, the NDRF questioned why attempts to secure scheduled commercial flights at Newcastle Airport had not received the same level of attention.
Addressing the cost of attending the event, the Forum said:
“The advertised ticket prices are R200 per adult and R150 per child. A family of four will pay R700 just to enter the event, excluding transport and food. Many Newcastle families simply cannot afford this while facing increasing municipal tariffs, unemployment and the rising cost of living.”
The NDRF argued that municipal resources should instead be directed towards repairing infrastructure and improving the delivery of essential services.
“NDRF has already called on National Treasury to curb unnecessary municipal spending. Public funds and municipal resources should first be directed towards restoring basic services and maintaining critical infrastructure—not subsidising commercial events,” stated the Forum in its official statement.
The organisation called on the municipality to publish all contractual agreements, financial contributions, resource allocations, fee structures, council resolutions and any cost-benefit analysis conducted in relation to the airshow.
It further urged residents to support the boycott until the municipality had provided the requested information and demonstrated how the event would benefit Newcastle residents.
Responding to the allegations, the Newcastle Local Municipality rejected claims of irregularities and accused individuals opposed to the event of attempting to discredit Fuze Aviation Academy.
According to the municipality, the appointment of Fuze Aviation Academy followed a fair and transparent evaluation process.
The municipality stated that a similar campaign had been launched against the event during the previous year but that all interested parties had nevertheless been given a further opportunity to submit proposals.
“Last year, a similar orchestrated smear campaign was waged on social media platforms in a failed attempt to sabotage this very event. In the interest of fairness, the Municipality still extended a further opportunity to all parties to present their proposals. After a thorough and objective evaluation, the proposal by Fuze Aviation Academy was found to be technically more sound and overwhelmingly more beneficial to the community of Newcastle,” stated the municipality’s Communications Unit.
The municipality added that it would not be pressured into awarding opportunities to individuals or organisations that believed they were entitled to control municipal events.
“The Municipality, together with Fuze Aviation Academy, entered the preparation phase for the 2026 Newcastle Airshow with optimism that the tradition of aviation excellence in Newcastle would continue while unlocking economic opportunities for residents and businesses. However, during the preparatory phase, the organiser, Fuze Aviation Academy, was subjected to deliberate commercial sabotage that directly undermined the financial viability and sustainability of the event, ultimately forcing its postponement,” emphasised the Communications Unit.
Addressing questions surrounding the funding of the airshow, the municipality confirmed that Fuze Aviation Academy had not received any direct financial contribution from the Newcastle Local Municipality.
It further stated that previous organisers had reportedly received funding from the municipality and provincial bodies, including the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.
However, the 2026 airshow was expected to be funded by the organiser through ticket sales, private sponsorships and its own revenue.
“The Academy was to host this event entirely at its own cost, through its own revenue, ticket sales and private sponsorships. The actions of those who orchestrated these commercial challenges have therefore not harmed the Municipality but have sabotaged a self-funded women investor who sought to bring economic activity to Newcastle,” stressed the Municipality.
The municipality strongly criticised the boycott campaign and the statements published by the NDRF chairperson.
“The publication is riddled with false, unsubstantiated and defamatory assertions regarding the Municipality’s involvement in the Airshow. It is nothing more than a desperate stunt fuelled by naked political ambition and racism. It is further telling and highly suspicious that the NDRF and the former host issued coordinated statements regarding the postponement of the Airshow,” the Municipality’s Communications Unit pointed out.
These allegations remain those of the Newcastle Local Municipality.
The municipality further claimed that the NDRF chairperson, who previously served as a municipal councillor, had pursued an ongoing campaign against the current administration.
“Since the inception of this current administration, he has systematically abused various organs of state for his own narrow political ends, including Chapter 9 institutions such as the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), the Public Protector, and the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA),” said the Communications Unit.
Again, these claims were made by the municipality and have not been independently established in the information provided to Newcastillian News.
According to the municipality, the NDRF leadership had previously been invited to present its concerns directly to Council but declined the invitation.
“He flatly declined that invitation. Instead, he has chosen to wage a sustained campaign of negative publicity against the municipality through external bodies including the South African Human Rights Commission, COGTA and others. Despite his refusal to engage and the relentless public attacks on the municipality, Council remains resolute and willing to engage him and his organisation directly, responsibly and amicably, to address their concerns in the interest of good governance and public accountability,” the Communications Unit highlighted.
Following confirmation that the event would not proceed, the NDRF publicly described the outcome as a victory.
The municipality, however, argued that the postponement would negatively affect learners, businesses and residents who had expected to benefit from the airshow.
“This celebration of backwardness comes at a direct cost to Newcastle, where 200 underprivileged learners have been denied Aviation Career Day and exposure to the aviation industry, while local businesses, SMMEs, informal traders and young people have been robbed of economic opportunities and temporary jobs,” said the Newcastle Local Municipality.
The municipality warned that prolonged disputes surrounding local projects could make it more difficult for Newcastle to attract investment and support new economic initiatives.
“This is in direct contradiction to the Municipality’s Vision 2035 objective of building Newcastle into a resilient and economically vibrant city. While the postponement of the 2026 Newcastle Airshow is deeply regrettable, the Municipality remains resolute and unwavering in its commitment to support initiatives that add value to the community, stimulate economic development, promote inclusivity and enhance the profile of Newcastle, including the commercialisation of Newcastle Airport,” the Municipality concluded.
Providing its account of the circumstances surrounding the postponement to Newcastillian News, Fuze Aviation Academy said the airshow had become entangled in a longstanding dispute involving the municipality and previous event organisers.
“This includes a longstanding dispute, which is beyond our control, between the Newcastle Municipality and the previous organisers of the Newcastle Airshow,” stated Fuze Aviation Academy.
The Academy explained that the public boycott was not the only factor influencing its decision.
According to Fuze, it had received written threats indicating that attempts would be made to disrupt the airshow.
“Fuze Aviation Academy has received written threats to disrupt the airshow, as well as a social media post, calling for a boycott of the airshow, further compounding a climate in which we could no longer guarantee that the occasion would remain what it was always meant to be: a safe, positive platform for Newcastle’s young people and its local economy.”
Fuze said it could not responsibly proceed with an event of the airshow’s size without being confident that the safety and integrity of the occasion could be protected.
“As such, we do not believe it is responsible to proceed with an event of this scale where the safety, integrity and spirit of the occasion cannot be assured,” said Fuze.
The Academy also denied reports suggesting that it had received funding from the Newcastle Local Municipality or any other public or private entity for the Newcastle Airshow.
According to Fuze, the event was intended to be independently funded.
The postponement also means that the 200 learners invited to participate in the planned aviation career day will no longer receive the expected exposure to aviation careers and training opportunities.
“The 200 learners who were invited to attend the aviation career day will miss the opportunity to receive first-hand aviation information and exposure to opportunities to enter the aviation space,” stated the Academy.
Furthermore, Fuze Aviation Academy said it had already invested substantial time and resources into planning the airshow and creating opportunities for Newcastle’s young people and local economy.
Despite the postponement, the organiser said it remained committed to supporting young people interested in entering the aviation industry and would consider bringing the event back to Newcastle when conditions allowed it to proceed safely.
“We remain committed to Newcastle’s youth, and we will consider how and when an event of this nature can return to the town under conditions that allow it to be delivered safely, fairly, and with the support it deserves. Lastly, Fuze was named the third-best airshow in Southern Africa for 2025, for organising the Fuze Pietermaritzburg Airshow. The work continues,” concluded Fuze Aviation Academy.
While the parties remain sharply divided over the circumstances that led to the postponement, the practical outcome is clear: Newcastle has lost an independently funded event expected to expose 200 learners to aviation careers while creating opportunities for local businesses, SMMEs, informal traders and young people—without requiring direct funding from the Newcastle Local Municipality.
The NDRF raised questions regarding transparency and the possible use of municipal resources.
However, the Municipality officially rejected the Forum’s allegations, maintained that Fuze Aviation Academy had been appointed through a fair evaluation process, and confirmed that the organiser would carry the financial responsibility for the airshow through its own revenue, ticket sales and private sponsorships.
Fuze separately confirmed that it had received no funding from the Municipality or any other public or private entity for the event.
Therefore, what remains is not merely a disagreement over an airshow, but the damage caused when political conflict, commercial interference and threats of disruption overtake an initiative intended to benefit Newcastle’s economy and its young people.
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Whether the airshow returns will depend on whether future organisers can operate without intimidation, whether legitimate concerns can be addressed through direct engagement rather than public confrontation, and whether Newcastle can provide an environment in which privately funded investment is supported rather than driven away.
But, what are your thoughts on all of this? Be sure to let us know below.
If the public believes the driville that municipality is touting then Newcastle is in big trouble. 2 points
1 publish the written threats and how was it delivered.
2 in 4yrs municipality refused to engage with us after confirming our email asking for dialog
Why now at election time they calling for a meeting. Too little too late
Boycott, it simple to understand.. we simply urged the public not to attend the event physically … basically to stay away from the event. It was peaceful action called for by NDRF.
Ratepayers were entitled to exercise their democratic right. It’s a deliberate attempt by the municipality to misuse the word boycott to create unnecessary panic and tension.
We are enquiring from the municipality whether Fuze Aviation has a lease agreement with the municipality with regards to the use of airport on a daily basis and for how long ( duration of lease). This is a public facility and ratepayers deserve an answer. Where are scheduled flights as promised by the municipality? Training students to fly which planes, are these training classes claimed from SETA funding?
In any evident, the municipality is facing legal action after publishing defamatory statements which our legal team is handling.
I am from PMB and the airshow was a nice event for my family and myself. My kids enjoyed it. Sorry to hear NN is having all these probelms. You guys seam to always be fighting with each other in these little towns. I wish you all well and I hope guys can come together one day. NN is a nice place. I was there a few months ago with the amsa nonsense.
wait a minute. im lost. so this forum did not want a private funded airshow that cost rate payers and gov nothing, but want a municipal funded event that does cost every resident money, because the private airshow charges more? am I missing something?
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4 Responses
If the public believes the driville that municipality is touting then Newcastle is in big trouble. 2 points
1 publish the written threats and how was it delivered.
2 in 4yrs municipality refused to engage with us after confirming our email asking for dialog
Why now at election time they calling for a meeting. Too little too late
Boycott, it simple to understand.. we simply urged the public not to attend the event physically … basically to stay away from the event. It was peaceful action called for by NDRF.
Ratepayers were entitled to exercise their democratic right. It’s a deliberate attempt by the municipality to misuse the word boycott to create unnecessary panic and tension.
We are enquiring from the municipality whether Fuze Aviation has a lease agreement with the municipality with regards to the use of airport on a daily basis and for how long ( duration of lease). This is a public facility and ratepayers deserve an answer. Where are scheduled flights as promised by the municipality? Training students to fly which planes, are these training classes claimed from SETA funding?
In any evident, the municipality is facing legal action after publishing defamatory statements which our legal team is handling.
I am from PMB and the airshow was a nice event for my family and myself. My kids enjoyed it. Sorry to hear NN is having all these probelms. You guys seam to always be fighting with each other in these little towns. I wish you all well and I hope guys can come together one day. NN is a nice place. I was there a few months ago with the amsa nonsense.
wait a minute. im lost. so this forum did not want a private funded airshow that cost rate payers and gov nothing, but want a municipal funded event that does cost every resident money, because the private airshow charges more? am I missing something?