Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2026

 
The iconic Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in partnership with Albert Goodman is a free to attend, three-day event that celebrates the city and its heritage links to the remarkable world of hot air ballooning.
 

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is one of the most popular and striking outdoor events on the calendar. This year, the world-renowned free Fiesta returned to Ashton Court, between Friday 7 August and Sunday 9 August 2026.

Those hoping to spot some special shapes at this year’s Fiesta, weren’t disappointed! Fiesta fans had seen some incredible shapes at this year’s ballooning lineup, including BBC Globe, Thomas the Tank Engine, Ordnance Survey Map, Piggy Bank, Bridgit, Ralph the Rozière, The Bristol Balloon, Wes the Wolf, Johnny the Panda and Panasonic Battery.

Ben Hardy, the executive director of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, said the team and balloonists "had a lot of fun" this year.

The festival was founded in 1979 by Don Cameron (founder of Cameron Balloons) and a small group of balloon enthusiasts who wanted to bring together international pilots for a yearly gathering.

It quickly expanded from a local meet-up into one of Europe's largest annual hot-air ballooning events, moving permanently to the sprawling Ashton Court grounds.
 
Photos by: Kyriacos Vasilas