Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2024, New Mexico

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a world-renowned hot air balloon festival taking over the fields and sky over Albuquerque every fall. It is known as the largest event of its kind in the world, featuring over 500 balloons each year. Thousands of spectators, pilots, and their crews come to Albuquerque, New Mexico to participate and just watch hundreds of air balloons floating over the city.

The event is usually held during the first or second week of October and lasts for nine days. Each day, early in the morning and at dawn, the sky over the Sandia Mountains is filled with hundreds of balloons varying in shapes and colors.

Festival Events

The Fiesta features several events and competitions, like The Fiesta Challenge, America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race, The Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension, Fiesta of Wheels Car Show, Team Fastrax™ Skydiving, Drone Light Show, Dawn Patrol Show, along with other skill and speed competitions.

Mass Ascension

The sunrise Mass Ascension is one of the most breathtaking sights in the world, with hundreds of hot air balloons launching simultaneously into the skies. The sight of such an amount of balloons is truly striking, especially for first-time visitors. There are special launch directors, who are called zebras for their wearings, who coordinate the launch to make it safe.

Dawn Patrol Show and After Glow Fireworks Show

A jam-packed program awaits the public every day of the festival, running from Dawn Patrol Show at 6 am to 8 pm. After the Glow show. Mass Ascension, chainsaw carving, vintage and special interest cars display, and magical Balloon Glow in the evening will keep you in awe from sunrise to sunset. AfterGlow Fireworks Show will end festival days with a spectacular display at 8 pm.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Tickets

General Admission Tickets cost $15 per person, per session. Children 12 and under have a free entrance. The gift shop will begin selling physical tickets for $15 on June 15, 2024. Tickets purchased in quantities of four or more will be discounted to $13 through August 30.

Location

All the main Balloon Fiesta events take place at the Balloon Fiesta Park in northern Albuquerque, New Mexico. The park is settled west of I-25, about 12 miles (19 km) north of the Albuquerque International Sunport airport and 7 miles (11 km) north of downtown Albuquerque. You can either drive to the park and leave your car at the large parking area or hop on one of the shuttles to Balloon Fiesta Park that leave from several locations in the city and drop you off next to the field. Shuttle ticket price includes the Balloon Fiesta Park admission.

About 750,000 visitors come to witness the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta each year, so do plan well in advance to join the fun. Enjoy a bird's eye view of picturesque New Mexico terrain.