Devon’s largest outdoor event, Torbay Airshow will be renamed the English Riviera Airshow as part of a partnership with the English Riviera BID Company.

Following a drive to increase commercial support of the region’s leading coastal event, the English Riviera BID Company has signed up as the headline sponsor of the 2020 airshow taking naming rights for the event.

It has today been officially announced that the English Riviera Airshow 2020 will take place on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June. Once again this will mean the event takes place at the beginning of the season, making it the first major airshow to take place in the UK.

Organised by Torbay Council, the event started in 2016 and has become firmly established as one of the key UK airshows, thanks to back-to-back appearances from the likes of the iconic RAF Red Arrows, RAF Typhoon Display Team and the Tigers Freefall Parachute Display Team.

The airshow brings in more than 165,000 visitors to the Bay over two days with a world-class programme of aerial entertainment.

The sponsorship deal forms part of the English Riviera BID Company’s Events Development Fund, which supports key events in the area that so many of the organisation’s members rely on.

Carolyn Custerson, Chief Executive of the English Riviera BID Company, said: “The airshow is an incredible asset to the area and a huge opportunity for future growth.

“Not only does it put the region on the international map with the media coverage is attracts it’s perfectly positioned in the annual calendar to increase shoulder season occupancy and support our drive to increase day and short break visitor numbers.”

Torbay Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture, Councillor Mike Morey, said: “The economic benefit of this event is tremendous for the region, bringing in a huge cash injection and feel good factor that benefits the entire area. 

“We are delighted with the support of the English Riviera BID Company and we look forward to working with more local and national organisations as plans get underway for the 2020 airshow.”

Planning for the 2020 event is well underway and details of the programme are due to be announced early next year. The airshow will once again feature an awe-inspiring programme of aerial entertainment as well as a whole host of ground entertaining in the Event Village on Paignton Green.

For businesses, traders and exhibitors looking to get involved in the English Riviera 2020 please visit www.englishrivieraairshow.co.uk  for more information.

To keep up to date with the latest information and news follow the event on Twitter @rivieraairshow and Instagram and Facebook @englishrivieraairshow.