Abstract: A problem associated with known circulating air dryers, e.g. for a textile material web is that the quantity of circulating air depends on both the desired drying behaviour and on the suspended guidance of the material web. A minimum quantity of circulating air must be maintained to prevent the position of the material from becoming unstable in the treatment chamber. The aim of the invention is to provide a circulating air dryer, in which the material web is suspended in a steady manner by a cushion of air, independently of the air flow. To achieve this, the nozzle chambers (7, 8), by means of which air is blown onto the material web (1) and evacuated through return flow channels, are equipped with elements for at least partially closing the return flow channels. This permits the air pressure between the material web (1) and the nozzle chambers (7, 8) and thus the carrying force of the air to be regulated. Said dryer can be used for the finishing of textiles.