Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Friday 7th to Sunday 9th August 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 Europe’s largest ballooning event, an amazing spectacle and FREE event for the whole family

This weekend, we’re wishing our twinning partners in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, blue skies and soft landings for Ballonfesti...
06/09/2026

This weekend, we’re wishing our twinning partners in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, blue skies and soft landings for Ballonfestival Sint-Niklaas , also known as the Peace Festival, their annual hot air balloon and music festival.

You may have seen the Sint-Niklaas and TIMS balloon teams flying high over Bristol at the Fiesta. Now it’s our turn to grace the Belgian skies, with several Bristol teams enjoying the incredible launch site and the historic facades of the Grote Markt, the city’s beautiful central square.

We hope you all are having a brilliant weekend and a fantastic, successful festival! 🎈🇧🇪

August. Still filling our feeds and our hearts 🎈❤️
31/08/2026

August. Still filling our feeds and our hearts 🎈❤️

How, just how has it been two weeks since we were getting ready for our first Nightglow?The phone torches. The sea of li...
21/08/2026

How, just how has it been two weeks since we were getting ready for our first Nightglow?

The phone torches. The sea of lights. The crowd singing Sweet Caroline at the top of their lungs.

Still not over it ❤️🎈

📸: Paul Box

BBC Bristol Albert Goodman

10 days on and our alarm clocks are still missing their purpose. Thank you to everyone who is helping us relive three ma...
19/08/2026

10 days on and our alarm clocks are still missing their purpose. Thank you to everyone who is helping us relive three magical mornings through your photos, posts and stories. Here’s a little gallery round up from us; mornings never looked so good 🎈❤️

📸: Paul Box

This new balloon brought us so much joy this weekend because who doesn’t love a Chery on top? 🎈Alongside Chery UK’s popu...
13/08/2026

This new balloon brought us so much joy this weekend because who doesn’t love a Chery on top? 🎈

Alongside Chery UK’s popular Picnic Lounge, where Fiesta visitors could relax and take a closer look at their latest models, the balloon quickly became a favourite both on the ground and in the sky.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Chery, our Official Car Partner, for their support in the lead-up to and throughout the Fiesta. Their fleet of 12 vehicles played an invaluable role behind the scenes, supporting everything from site operations and balloon crews to retrieve teams across the weekend.

We’re looking forward to seeing Chery’s brilliant hopper balloon, built by Cameron Balloons, continue its journey throughout the flying season, proudly taking its place as the ultimate Chery on top 🍒

Anyone else still trying to process the magic of last weekend?Five out of six mass ascents, just shy of 400 balloon flig...
12/08/2026

Anyone else still trying to process the magic of last weekend?

Five out of six mass ascents, just shy of 400 balloon flights, countless hours in the air, and miles of spectacular journeys across the region. While Ashton Court Estate is our home, the beauty of the Fiesta is that our headline act, the balloons delight communities across the West Country, creating unforgettable moments wherever the balloons drift.

A huge thank you to our travel partners, GWR , who not only welcomed visitors by train but also helped people follow the action in the skies through Flight Control.

The Fiesta has always had the spirit of adventure at its heart, and that doesn’t have to end with the final landing. We wish you all a summer of adventure.

09/08/2026

Honestly, we’re not sure we can put this weekend into words. We have been blessed with blue skies and incredibly light winds for most ascents, so calm that our morning mass ascents saw balloons seemingly hover over the event site, before gently drifting across the city.

Your support has meant so much to the volunteers, balloonists and organising team who work tirelessly to deliver an event of this scale for the city, for free.

We couldn’t do this without our headline partners, Albert Goodman and our wider partners.

But above all, this show would not be possible without its stars, our headline act, our balloon pilots and crews. This wonderful video by Woven is for them, a thank you for creating a community inside our launch field that spreads magic and joy to every point it reaches.

Please join us, in your applause for our balloonists ❤️🎈❤️

Bristol City Council, Thatchers C***r , Butcombe Brewing Co. , GWR , Chery, NIVEA, REM Events, , BBC Bristol , SLX Media, CAB IT, James Dyson Foundation, Cameron Balloons, Motorhome Holiday Company, Grandir UK, Party Peeps, Woven, BIMM Bristol, What’s On Bristol, StagecoachUK, Bristol Marriott Royal, Visit Bristol, Leonardo Bristol, Bristol Grammar School, The Bristol Hotel, Holiday Inn Bristol Airport, CMC Marquees, The Waiting Games, Doubletree Bristol and our charity partner, Young Bristol

We have been so incredibly gifted with the weather this weekend but unfortunately the wind has showed its face, and we a...
09/08/2026

We have been so incredibly gifted with the weather this weekend but unfortunately the wind has showed its face, and we are not able to fly this evening.

However, we have planned a closing ceremony to mark the end of the 2026 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in partnership with Albert Goodman , which will commence shortly.

The closing ceremony will feature what has now become a tradition of the Fiesta, with the City of Bristol Pipes & Drums performing to the crowds, and our founder, Scottish born, Don Cameron as we say thank you to our pilots for being the incredible stars they are this weekend.

The event will remain open until 8pm this evening, please continue to enjoy your day out and make the most of our temporary playground in the beautiful Ashton Court Estate.

Good afternoon Bristol.While it’s a beautiful sunny Sunday, winds are starting to pick up as you might be feeling if you...
09/08/2026

Good afternoon Bristol.

While it’s a beautiful sunny Sunday, winds are starting to pick up as you might be feeling if you’re here with us at Ashton Court Estate. We will make a final decision on this evening’s mass ascent at our 6pm pilot’s briefing but we wish to prewarn people that we think it is unlikely we’ll get a mass ascent this evening.

Beyond balloons, we’ve still got a full programme of entertainment for you this afternoon. Meet the Pilots is starting now in the Arena, and just before 4pm we are expecting the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast with the Dakota.

Across the site, experience In The Clouds, our Fiesta Family Zone, The Pony Farm Bus , the incredible Brizzle Kicks stage and their iconic foam parties, The Moon Stage with emerging artists from BIMM Bristol Community and this afternoon’s live DJ at the Balloon Bar is none other than Woody Cook!

It is hot out there so please apply and reapply that suncream (top tips and samples also available from NIVEA UK & IRELAND 💙), wear a hat and drink plenty of water. There are multiple refill points across the site.

From 11am, get ready to see some of our brilliant Special Shape hot air balloons tethered in the arena, from Fiesta favo...
09/08/2026

From 11am, get ready to see some of our brilliant Special Shape hot air balloons tethered in the arena, from Fiesta favourites to international superstars.

These incredible balloons are true feats of engineering, and there’s nothing quite like seeing them up close!

Which Special Shape is your favourite? 👀🎈

Address

Ashton Court Estate
Bristol
BS419J

Telephone

+441179046509

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