The countdown is on for the Bray Air Display 2025, set to take over Bray Seafront on Saturday, August 2nd, with an action-packed programme for all ages.
Dive into the high-energy buzz of the Seafront Funfair, explore the brand-new “Future of Flight” Tech Zone featuring drone innovation, and marvel at a striking static display by the Irish Defence Forces. Aviation enthusiasts will enjoy a fascinating exhibition of model aircraft, showcased by the Model Aeronautics Council of Ireland.
Visitors can refuel at the bustling Food and Craft Village, full of delicious treats and artisan delights. And for the ultimate thrill, take to the skies with a breathtaking helicopter ride over Bray Head.
The event kicks off at noon, with the spectacular Bray Air Display taking to the skies from approximately 3 pm, subject to weather and operational conditions.
To facilitate this major public event and ensure the safety of all attendees, a number of temporary road closures and traffic restrictions will be in place. These measures are essential for pedestrian safety, emergency access, and overall event logistics.
From early morning on Saturday, August 2nd, the following roads will be closed: Strand Road, Albert Avenue, Sidmonton Avenue, Convent Avenue, Seapoint Road, and Putland Road to the first junction on Newcourt Road. All access to Strand Road will be fully restricted from 10 am, including for residents and businesses. No parking will be permitted on Strand Road from 7 am, and illegally parked vehicles or those left overnight will be towed. Deliveries to businesses along Strand Road and adjoining roads must be completed before 10 am.
Road Closures and Event Information
| Description | Saturday, August 2nd 2025 |
| Road closures include Strand Road, Albert Avenue, Sidmonton Avenue, Convent Avenue, Seapoint Road and Putland Road to the first Junction on Newcourt Road | From 10 am |
| No access or vehicle movement on Strand Road. Mitigation barriers will be in place for the duration of the event. Deliveries to businesses along Strand Road and adjoining roads will have to be completed prior to 10 am. | 10 am to 8 pm |
| Event site opens i.e., Funfair, Food & Craft Village, Helicopter Pleasure Flights, PA Announcements etc. | 12 noon |
| Approximate Air Display Starts / Finish times – subject to change on the day | 3 pm to 6 pm |
| South Car Park open – A complimentary shuttle bus will service this car park ONLY. The drop-off/pick-up point is close to the event site. The last pick-up from the event site is at 7:30 pm sharp. | 10 am |
| North Car Park open | 10 am |
| All event car parks close | 8 pm |
| Event Site Closes | 10 pm |
Event car parks open at 10 am, and pre-booking is mandatory. Attendees must book online in advance and are strongly advised to arrive before 2 pm, as parking is only guaranteed up to that time.
- South Event Car Park – for traffic travelling from Wicklow/Wexford via the N11.
- North Event Car Park – for those travelling from Dublin/North Leinster via the M50 or N11.
A complimentary shuttle service will run from the South Car Park to the event site, with the last pick-up at 7:30 pm sharp. All car parks will close at 8 pm, and the event site will close at 10 pm. Overnight parking is not permitted and will result in towing.
Efforts will be made to facilitate residents on closed or restricted roads where possible. Residents must present a valid ID, such as a driving licence showing a Bray address or a utility bill with name and address.
To support a safe and enjoyable experience, attendees are asked to follow these travel recommendations:
- Visitors are encouraged to use public transport, carpool, walk, or cycle where possible.
- At least two extra hours of travel time should be factored into journey plans.
- Arriving before 2 pm is strongly recommended to avoid delays and secure parking.
- Parking is pre-book only at brayairdisplay.com/parking2025/, and access is not guaranteed after 2 pm.
- All attendees should follow VMS signage and avoid using Eircodes for directions.
- Drivers are advised to exercise caution and patience on approach routes.
- Visitors should consider staggering departure times to ease congestion.
- Staying hydrated and prepared for delays is essential.
- Above all, the public is asked to show courtesy and respect to An Garda Síochána, stewards, and transport staff throughout the day.
Read more about the event, the airshow lineup, ground entertainment information, pre-book parking, get accessibility information and more at brayairdisplay.com. Follow the Bray Air Display on Facebook, X or Instagram for all the latest event updates.
The #BrayAirDisplay is part of the #SummerInBray tourism campaign, a collaborative effort involving the Bray and District Chamber of Commerce, Bray Municipal District, Wicklow County Council, and bray.ie. The campaign aims to support the local economy and promote Bray as a vibrant, family-friendly destination.
About the #BrayAirDisplay
- The Bray Air Display is one of Ireland’s largest free events, attracting the largest single-family audience. It’s estimated that the event contributes €3.5 million to the local economy*.
- It is a fantastic community-organised event that is the lead tourism event in Wicklow.
- In addition to being a fantastic free family event, the festival aims to inspire the next generation of aviation enthusiasts to pursue careers in one of Ireland’s leading industries.
- The event takes place along Bray’s iconic Victorian promenade with the magnificent Bray Head as the backdrop.
- The line-up includes the very best Irish and international aerobatic display teams and vintage aircraft. Previously featured RAF Red Arrows, Italy’s Frecce Tricolori, the Breitling Wingwalkers and our very own Irish Air Corps.
- Family entertainment includes an amazing funfair, helicopter pleasure flights, corporate hospitality as well as superb artisan street food – all in all, a great family day out.
- The event experience is enhanced with live commentary.
- Our official souvenir brochure is packed with fascinating articles and information about all aspects of the festival and is available as a free download.
- Transport infrastructure enables easy access to the event.
- The festival makes a very significant, positive impact on the town of Bray, the surrounding region and wider Irish society from a social-cultural perspective.
- It was recognised as ‘Best Festival / Event Experience over 50,000 people’ at the prestigious, national Irish Tourism Industry Awards 2017, in 2018 and 2019 we won Silver in the ‘Best Tourism Initiative’ category at the All-Ireland Community and Council Awards.
- We continue to create a better, stronger event year after year, ultimately giving sponsors access to a massive national audience from the following categories: ABC1, C2 & D.
- In 2024, our social media reach was 760,000, over 94,000 website visits, with 9,000 digital downloads of the Official Souvenir Programme.
- The festival was featured extensively in the media, resulting in 370 stories across TV, radio, print, and online platforms, including RTE News, Virgin Media News, Ireland AM, 2FM, RTE Radio One, Today FM, Newstalk, and other commercial and independent radio stations.
*Economic evaluation is an estimate based on data compiled via a survey, hotelier/business insight analysis, and corporate ticket sales.