The Exercise Pitch Black 2026 RAAF Darwin Open Day will take place between 9:00am and 4:00pm, on Saturday 1 August 2026. (The event was scheduled to avoid conflicting with the Royal Darwin Show).

The Open Day is a great opportunity to see the latest operational aircraft and meet Australian and international air and ground crews, from across the nations, participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2026. The event will feature the aircraft on ground display, as well as a range of military equipment demonstrations and exhibits.

Watch video of RAAF Base Darwin Open Day 2024

The Open Day is a free community event, but all visitors, of all ages require a pre-booked ticket for bus transfer and entry. Separate tickets are required for car parking at the Darwin Showgrounds or Hidden Valley Raceway. 

Please be aware that all tickets are now sold out, there is no wait-list and no tickets will be available at the event.

Important Event Information 

Getting To & from the event

• There will be no walk-in/out pedestrian access to the 2026 Open Day. This important change to previous years has been made for public safety.
• There will be no vehicle or pedestrian access to the Open Day via the RAAF Darwin Main Gate or other gates.
• Access to the event site is ONLY via the dedicated park-and-ride shuttle buses from the Darwin Showgrounds or Hidden Valley Raceway as per your selected ticket.
• Please enter the following locations in your Map app:
  • Darwin Showgrounds, Tate Place, Winnellie, NT 0820.
  • Hidden Valley Raceway, Hidden Valley, NT 0822.

For attendees using Public buses, Taxis or Rideshare, drop-off / pick-up needs to be at one of these park-and-ride hubs, not the RAAF Base.

Darwin Showgrounds park‑and‑ride hub map highlighting car parking areas, bag‑check location and shuttle bus services connecting visitors to event sites.

Hidden Valley Raceway park‑and‑ride hub showing designated car parking, bag‑check facilities and shuttle bus pick‑up points for event transport.

Entry

• Mandatory bag-checks will be conducted prior to boarding the buses at both park-and-ride hub locations
• Please have your tickets ready on your device or printed, to help to reduce delays to you and others.
• To maintain efficient bus loading and unloading, spectators are encouraged to travel light. Prams, strollers and collapsible pull-carts are permitted but will need to be placed in the bus luggage area.
• Refer to the Recommended, Permitted and Prohibited items below.

Accessibility

• A limited number of ticketed, Accessibility/Disabled car parking is available at the RAAF Base. These were available booked through Trybooking, and are now sold out. 
• Entry for Accessibility ticket holders is via Gate SIERRA, off Stuart Highway between Hickman St and Bombing Rd 
• DO NOT go to AMAROO Rd as there will be no access via the RAAF Darwin Main Gate.
• Please show your Accessibility-Disabled Parking ticket at Gate SIERRA to gain entry. 
• Attendees without a pre-purchased, on-base Accessibility parking ticket will be redirected to one of the park-n-ride hubs at the Showgrounds or Hidden Valley. Low floor shuttle buses will be available from and to these carparks 
• Entry to the Open Day from the Accessibility car park is approximately 200 metres across uneven ground.
• Accessibility amenities will be available at the event.

Accessibility-Disabled car park showing entry to designated event car parking.

Timings

• The car parks at both park-and-ride hub locations will be open from 7:30am.
• The first shuttle bus will depart each location at approximately 8:50-am. Toilets and coffee will be available at both park-and-ride hub locations.
• The last bus will depart Showground / Hidden Valley Raceway for the Open Day at 2:30pm, to allow sufficient time to enter and enjoy the event.
• Regardless of your event entry (morning or afternoon), you are welcome to stay at the event for as long as you wish, with return shuttle buses operating until 4:30pm. These will depart from the two designated areas at the event site.

Connectivity

Please be aware that there could potentially be poor commercial mobile network coverage at the Open Day. This may affect your ability to use social media, and could possibly restrict phone calls and messages

Event site map

Display schedule

• 09:00 - Gates open & Army Band Welcome (Bus Drop-Off)
• 09:30 - Fire Truck Display (Flight-line)
• 10:00 - AAFC Drum Corps and Military Working Dog Display (Dog Arena)
• 11:00 - Royal Australian Air Force Band (Band Stage)
• 1:00 - Army Display (North West corner of Flight-line)
• 1:30 - Fire Truck Display (Flight-line)
• 1:30 - Navy Band (Band Stage)
• 2:00 - AAFC Drum Corps and Military Working Dog Display (Dog Arena)
• 3:00 - Navy Band (Main Stage)
• 4:00 - End of Open Day

Exhibits, vendors and amenities

• Exhibits, merchandise and vendors are located across the event site. Please explore them all.
• Most vendors will accept EFTPOS and Cash. Some merchandise vendors will be EFTPOS only.
• Merchandise from the squadrons will be predominately ‘Cash-only’.
• An ATM will be available at the event.
• Personal food and drink is permitted, but alcohol is not permitted.
• There is limited shade at the event site, and we recommend sunscreen, sun-safe clothing, hats and other protections.

Permitted and recommended Items

• Personal food and non-alcoholic drinks. 
• Hat, sunglasses, sun protection.
• Personal mobile devices and cameras.
• Refillable water bottle – free refills will be available.
• Prams, strollers and backpacks are permitted, but cannot be left unattended.
• Hand held umbrellas are permitted, but no beach umbrellas, cabanas or tents.
• Mobility Aids: Wheelchair or motorised-devices for accessibility patrons are welcome.
• Certified Assistance animals are permitted at the event. Personal pets are not permitted.

Prohibited items

• Persons are not permitted to enter the event site with any prohibited item. Prohibited items include but are not limited to: 
  
  • Alcohol, illegal drugs or substances similar to illegal drugs and illegal substances.
  • Smoking, the use of vapes and e-cigarettes is not permitted at the event.
  • Drones and radio/remote controlled devices.
  • Radio transmitting equipment.
  • Stoves, barbecues and cooking equipment.
  • Vehicles or transportation devices, including without limitation any motorcar, motorcycle, motor scooter, bicycle, segway, scooter, skateboard, roller skates or roller blades, are not permitted - with the exception of wheelchairs or mobility scooters where required in connection with a disability or an impairment.
  • Pets, other animals and birds, with the exception of certified assistance animals.
  • Seats, tents, shelters, shade and/or beach umbrellas, structures.
  • Strobe lights, laser-pointers, and similar light emitting devices.
  • Explosives, fireworks, flares, pyrotechnics, smoke canisters, weapons (including replica and toy firearms), projectiles and similar devices.
  • Paint, chemicals, spray cans, apparatus and equipment.
  • Hazardous substances including powders, pastes, irritants, toxic substances and gas canisters.
  • Megaphones, amplifiers, loud speakers.
  • Placards, flags, banners, signs, brochures and leaflets.
  • Inappropriately messaged clothing, banners, posters or material of any kind displaying inappropriate political and/or religious images/writing; offensive race related messages, slogans or images; offensive slogans or images as deemed by Event Staff.
  • Any other object, device, substance or item that Event Staff considers dangerous, hazardous and/or illegal, or that may be used as a weapon or missile, or that may compromise or otherwise interfere with the safety or enjoyment of, or pose a hazard to, any person, including security, at the Venue, will not be permitted.

Event feedback

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