NATO Days open in Mošnov with dynamic displays and nine-kilometre traffic queues

Official opening and security speeches

The two-day NATO Days in Ostrava and Czech Air Force Days opened at Mošnov Airport in the Nový Jičín district on Saturday, 19 September 2026. The gathering is the largest security exhibition in Europe, offering free admission to tens of thousands of annual visitors from the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia. Top Czech state officials attended the opening ceremony, including President Petr Pavel, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš of ANO, and Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna representing SPD. During his opening address, Pavel addressed the assembled crowd about collective civic responsibility in national defence.

Only a country that perceives its security as the task of everyone can be safe and live in peace.

Minister Zůna addressed the audience alongside Babiš, stating that national security cannot be taken for granted.

Traffic queues and site access

The influx of attendees caused traffic delays across all road approaches to the airfield on Saturday morning. The longest vehicle queue formed from the direction of Studénka along the D1 highway, extending to approximately nine kilometres. Michal Tichý, an operator of the special police traffic hotline, stated that drivers in that line faced waiting times of up to two hours. Approaching traffic from Ostrava backed up for five kilometres, while the queue from Příbor reached about three kilometres. Organizers encouraged visitors to use alternative transport options, noting available train connections and guarded bicycle storage areas. To reduce bottlenecks, the organizing association Jagello 2000 opened the venue gates earlier than in previous years. Jagello 2000 chairman Zbyněk Pavlačík explained the scheduling adjustment.

We did this for the first time this year at 08:15 to allow at least partially easier access to the area. We already saw the first waiting visitors here after 07:00, which naturally pleases us with their interest.

Czech ground and air displays

The event schedule provides more than eight hours of dynamic ground and aerial displays each day. The Army of the Czech Republic is presenting vehicles that have newly entered service or are planned for procurement by ground units. Equipment on display includes the German Leopard 2A4 main battle tank, the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle manufactured by BAE Systems, and the Titus KOVS communications vehicle. In the aviation programme, the Embraer C-390 Millennium transport aircraft appeared publicly in Czech national markings for the first time. Pavlačík noted the debut of the aircraft in Czech livery at the Mošnov grounds.

International delegations and flight programme

Fourteen countries sent military, security, and rescue units to participate in the 2026 programme. Germany serves as this year's special partner nation, contributing dynamic presentations that include a Panavia Tornado combat jet with variable-sweep wings. The Royal Air Force aerobatic team, the Red Arrows from the United Kingdom, represents the international aerobatic flight display. NATO Days in Ostrava first took place in 2001. A British Tornado became the event's first foreign participant in 2005, though it did not perform a full flight display at that time. The 2026 programme features a dedicated German Tornado display team in the air.