Flying High: The Six Best Balloon Festivals Around the World

While a hot air balloon ride may be at the top of many-a travellers’ bucket list, have you ever considered a hot air balloon festival? Well maybe it’s about time.

Enchanting events that transform the sky into a colourful canvas, they draw enthusiasts from around the globe to witness and experience the magic of flight, with the US, Europe and Japan among some of the biggest hosts in the world. You can even hop on board a flight, enjoy live concerts and indulge in plenty of great food while you’re at it.

From the stunning mass ascensions at Albuquerque to the whimsical balloon shapes at Château-d'Oex, each festival has its own charm and distinctive features. Read on for our pick of the best…

1. Cappadocia Balloon Festival, Turkey

When: August 3-11, 2024

Where: Cappadocia

Nowhere loves a hot air balloon quite like Cappadocia in Turkey, where every morning throughout the year, hundreds of balloons take to the skies above its unique rock formations.

The first Cappadocia Balloon Festival took place in 2002 in a bid to promote the breathtaking landscapes of the city while showcasing the unique experience of flying in a hot air balloon, and today it takes place early July each year, playing host to competitive flying events where balloonists can showcase their skills and compete for prizes.

The best thing about Cappadocia, however, is you don’t need to plan your trip to coincide with the festival to witness the balloons in all their glory, as pretty much every day is a hot air balloon festival in this magical place. You can even consider not taking a flight and instead getting up early to watch the balloons from the ground – there are plenty of places in and around Göreme where you’ll be able to see them, including the panoramic viewpoints to the west and south of town, or even from your hotel’s rooftop.

2. Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, England

When: August 9 – 11, 2024

Where: Ashton Court and various locations around Bristol

The UK’s premier balloon festival, what started in 1979 as a small gathering among a few like-minded balloonists, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is now one of the country’s most in-demand events, attracting hundreds of thousands of revellers for four days of hot air balloon rides, live music, nighttime balloon glows and an extravagant fireworks show that marks the event’s finale.Hot ai

Now in its 46th year, from Monday, August 5 to Thursday August 8, community launches will take place at chosen spots across Bristol, while from Friday, August 9 to Sunday, August 11, the action heads to Ashton Court Estate where (hopefully) six mass ascents - one each morning and one each evening - and two Night Glow events (taking place on the Friday and Saturday nights) will take to the skies. Ascents usually take place around 6am and 6pm, while the Night Glows have previously been scheduled for around 9pm. As always, the event is free to attend, you can purchase a car parking ticket here.

3. The Great Reno Balloon Race, US

When: September 6-8, 2024

Where: San Rafael Regional Park, Reno

Renowned as the largest free hot air ballooning event globally, The Great Reno Balloon Race unfolds over four days in early September in Reno, northern Nevada, attracting over 140,000 attendees each year. Visitors can enjoy the sight of illuminated balloons during the cool early mornings at the Dawn Patrol and even participate in hot air balloon rides, should it tickle your fancy.

What sets Reno apart, however, are its unique competitions such as the airborne game Balloon Blackjack, the E.L. Cord tissue paper hot air balloon launch and the world's largest pyjama party, where participants are encouraged to flaunt their best "bed head." We highly suggest you get involved.

4. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, New Mexico

When: October 4 – 7, 2024

Where: Alameda Blvd NE, Albuquerque

Albuquerque’s annual hot air balloon festival started with just 13 balloons when it started back in 1972, and now, drawing in more than 800,000 guests to see 600 hot air balloons dot the desert sky, it’s the largest hot air balloon festival in the US, not to mention the one of the most photographed events on Earth.

Watch on as hot-air and gas-filled balloons shaped as animals, characters and cultural symbols ascend over the Sandia Mountains and New Mexico deserts each October, when the wind pattern, known as the Albuquerque Box, offers perfect weather conditions for taking off and landing balloons.

5. Saga International Balloon Festival, Japan

When: 31 October – 4 November 2024

Where: Near the banks of the Kase Riiver, about a minute walk from Balloon Saga Station

If you’re the kind of traveller who likes to get their hands dirty then make a beeline for the Saga International Balloon Fiesta where you can do more than just ride the balloons - you can also enrol in the Hot Air Balloon School too.

Pilots will teach you the fundamentals of hot air balloon flying before your ride, while attendees can either compete in various events or enjoy watching beloved cartoon characters take to the skies as massive balloons in the Balloon Fantasia.

6. The Festival International de Ballons, Switzerland

When: 25 January – 2 February, 2025

Where: Château-d’Oex, Vaud

One for winter sports fans, the nine-day event that is the Festival International de Ballons takes place in the tiny town of Château-d’Oex. Simply admire the horizon as it fills up with some 60 colourful balloons, enjoy live music and aeroplane shows, participate in plenty of family-friendly activities or even take a ride in a balloon yourself – the Alps are most magical when viewed from above.