The Snowbirds final flight happens tonight at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, just before the Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Elks kick off the 113th Grey Cup. When the nine red and white jets roar over the stadium after Sarah McLachlan sings the anthem, it will be the last time Canadians see the CT-114 Tutor perform.
These jets have carried the Snowbirds since 1971. After tonight they are retired, and the team will not put on another show until new aircraft arrive in the 2030s. Here is why this flyover is the last of its kind, and how to make sure you see it.
Snowbirds Final Flight: Quick Facts
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| When | Sunday, November 15, 2026, in the Grey Cup pre-game. Kickoff is 6:00 PM ET (4:00 PM MT). |
| Where | McMahon Stadium, Calgary, Alberta |
| Aircraft | Canadair CT-114 Tutor, flown by the Snowbirds since 1971 |
| Why it matters | The Tutor’s final performance before retirement |
| Watch on | TSN, CTV, Crave and RDS in Canada. CFL+ in the USA and worldwide |
| What comes next | A break with no shows until new jets are ready, expected in the early 2030s |
Why the Snowbirds Final Flight Ends the Tutor Era
The CT-114 Tutor first flew on January 13, 1960, and was built in Canada between 1963 and 1966. It trained generations of Royal Canadian Air Force pilots before the Snowbirds made it famous. By November 2026 the design will be 66 years old, older than most of the people flying and fixing it.
Retirement talk is not new. A 2003 Department of National Defence study recommended retiring the Tutor by 2010. Life extension work kept the fleet going for years, but in 2024 the defence minister said the jet had “aged out.” In September 2026, the RCAF confirmed the Snowbirds would retire their Tutors after the 2026 season.
“As we celebrate this tremendous milestone and bid farewell to the CT-114 Tutor,” said Maj.-Gen. Denis O’Reilly, deputy commander of the RCAF, the team is also looking ahead to the aircraft that will carry the tradition forward.
Why the Final Flight Moved to the Grey Cup
The Tutor’s last show was first set for the California Capital Airshow in Sacramento on October 10 and 11. The RCAF and the CFL then moved the farewell home to Canada, to the country’s biggest sporting day of the fall.
“We are honoured to help mark this historic moment,” said CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston. The timing also closes out the Snowbirds’ 55th anniversary season.
The Snowbirds at the Grey Cup
Tonight is the fourth Grey Cup flyover for the Snowbirds and easily the most emotional.
| Grey Cup | Year | Host city |
|---|---|---|
| 101st Grey Cup | 2013 | Regina |
| 106th Grey Cup | 2018 | Edmonton |
| 109th Grey Cup | 2022 | Regina |
| 113th Grey Cup | 2026 | Calgary (final Tutor flight) |
55 Years of the Snowbirds in One Minute
- The name: It came from a contest at Bushell Park Elementary School at CFB Moose Jaw in 1971, inspired by the mostly white jets.
- First show: July 11, 1971, at Moose Jaw. The team became 431 Air Demonstration Squadron in 1978.
- Home base: 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
- The show: Nine Tutors fly each display, including two solo jets, with two spares and about 80 full time personnel behind them.
- The cost: The team has lost pilots and crew over the years, most recently public affairs officer Capt. Jennifer Casey in the 2020 crash in Kamloops, B.C.
What Comes Next for the Snowbirds
The Snowbirds are not ending, but they are going quiet. In May 2026 the federal government chose the CT-157 Siskin II, a Swiss built Pilatus PC-21 turboprop trainer, as the next aircraft. The new jets and trained crews are not expected to be ready until about 2030 or later.
That means no Snowbirds air shows for several summers. If you have ever wanted to see them live or on TV, tonight is the last chance for years, and the last chance ever with the Tutor.
How to Watch the Snowbirds Final Flight Tonight
- On TV in Canada: TSN, CTV and Crave in English, RDS in French. Tune in before kickoff, since the flyover is part of the pre-game after the anthem.
- In the USA and worldwide: Stream the Grey Cup broadcast free on CFL+.
- At McMahon Stadium: Be in your seat early, keep your phone ready and look up when the anthem ends. Flyovers pass in seconds.
- Time zones: Kickoff is 6:00 PM ET, 4:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM PT and 11:00 PM in the UK, so the flyover comes a few minutes before that.
For channels, streams and step by step help, see our guide on how to watch Grey Cup 2026. For the full show, read about the 2026 Grey Cup performers and Riley Green’s halftime show, and get every game detail on our 113th Grey Cup page.
Snowbirds Final Flight FAQ
When is the Snowbirds final flight?
Sunday, November 15, 2026, in the 113th Grey Cup pre-game at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. Kickoff is 6:00 PM ET (4:00 PM MT).
Why are the Snowbirds retiring the CT-114 Tutor?
The Tutor first flew in 1960 and was built in the 1960s. Officials say it has aged out, so the Snowbirds are retiring it after the 2026 season.
Is this the last time the Snowbirds will ever fly?
No. It is the last flight of the CT-114 Tutor. The Snowbirds plan to return with the CT-157 Siskin II, expected around 2030 or later.
What plane will replace the Snowbirds Tutor jets?
The CT-157 Siskin II, a Pilatus PC-21 turboprop trainer chosen by the federal government in May 2026.
Where was the final Snowbirds show supposed to be?
It was first set for the California Capital Airshow in Sacramento on October 10 and 11, then moved to the Grey Cup in Calgary.
How many times have the Snowbirds flown at the Grey Cup?
Tonight is their fourth Grey Cup flyover, after the 101st (2013), 106th (2018) and 109th (2022) Grey Cups.
How can I watch the Snowbirds flyover on TV?
Watch the Grey Cup pre-game on TSN, CTV, Crave or RDS in Canada, or stream it free on CFL+ in the USA and worldwide.
Where are the Snowbirds based?
The Snowbirds, 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, are based at 15 Wing Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan.
A Farewell Worth Looking Up For
The Snowbirds final flight is more than a pre-game show. It closes 55 years of the Tutor in Snowbirds colours and starts a long wait for the next generation. Whether you are in the stands in Calgary or watching from home, be on before kickoff, look up when the anthem ends, and say goodbye to one of Canada’s most loved sights in the sky.
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