Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Which session to choose, what 2026 tickets, parking and Park and Ride cost, when the gates open, and what to wear for a 7am launch.
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Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in short
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta returns 2 to 11 October 2027. The Mass Ascension launches at 7am, the evening glows start at 6:30pm, and gates open at 4:30am and 3pm. In 2026 general admission was $22.24 a session with children 12 and under free. Tickets are nonrefundable, and a canceled session is rain-checked.
What happens when
- 5:45am
- Drone light show, then the 6:00am Dawn Patrol of illuminated balloons.
- 7:00am
- Mass Ascension, the launch of the balloons.
- 6:30pm
- Twilight Twinkle Glow or Night Magic Glow, the balloons lit at dusk.
- 8:00pm
- AfterGlow fireworks show.
Where Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta happens
Which sessions to see
- Morning
Mass Ascension
The 7am launch, after the Dawn Patrol at 6am. Crowds can exceed 80,000.
Gates 430am
- Evening
The glows
Balloons lit at dusk from 6:30pm, with fireworks at 8pm.
No evening sessions Mon to Wed
- Without a car
Park and Ride
Sold online only, round trip plus admission. No service Monday to Wednesday.
2026$32.59 adult in advance
The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta guide
Morning or evening
The Balloon Fiesta has two kinds of session, and one ticket covers one of them. The morning session is built around the Mass Ascension, when the balloons launch together at 7am. It is preceded by the Dawn Patrol Show at 6:00am, illuminated balloons in the dark, and a drone light show at 5:45am. In the evening the Twilight Twinkle Glow or the Night Magic Glow starts at 6:30pm, with Team Fastrax skydiving at 5:00pm and 7:30pm, a drone light show at 7:45pm and the AfterGlow fireworks at 8:00pm.
On the day-by-day pages for 2026, mornings also carry a chainsaw carving exhibition at 8am, an auction at 10am, and live music on the Main Street Stage at 9am. Not every morning has a Mass Ascension. In 2026 it was held on 3, 4, 7, 10 and 11 October, and on the days between, according to a third-party schedule, the Special Shape Rodeo took the 7am slot. Check the official schedule when it is published for 2027.
The balloon launches depend on weather, and the fiesta says tickets are nonrefundable. If a session is canceled it is rain-checked, so your ticket becomes a general admission ticket valid for any remaining session that year. Keep it.
Mass Ascension
The Mass Ascension is the morning launch of the balloons, presented by ExxonMobil. The fiesta recommends arriving by 4:00 to 4:30am on weekend mornings, because crowds can exceed 80,000, and gates open at 4:30am.
The evening glows
The glows are static displays of the balloons lit at dusk. In 2026 the Night Magic Glow on Saturday 10 October was part of Music Fiesta, which needed its own ticket: $50 for the lawn and $75 for the standing area. The fiesta suggests arriving by about 4:00pm for evening events and recommends bringing a flashlight.
How big it is
The 2025 fiesta, the 53rd, ran 4 to 12 October. Its final numbers were 537 registered hot air balloons, including 103 special shape balloons and 90 remote-control balloons, 651 registered pilots, and an estimated 851,994 guest visits, according to figures the fiesta released in November 2025 as reported by KOB. The first fiesta was a gathering of 13 balloons on 8 April 1972, launched from the parking lot of what is now Coronado Center. It moved to October in 1975 for better wind conditions, and Balloon Fiesta Park, a 365-acre launch field, opened in 1986.
Tickets
General admission in 2026 was $22.24 per person per session, which is $20 plus a $2.24 fee. Children 12 and under are free. A session is either all of the morning or all of the evening activities. There are no evening sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays, or on the last Sunday. At the gift shop at 4401 Alameda Boulevard, single tickets were $20 and four or more were $17 each until Labor Day.
New Mexico residents get free general admission on one day, which was Monday 5 October in 2026; they need a New Mexico photo ID or a utility bill with a New Mexico address, and parking still costs money. The fiesta warns against unauthorized third-party sellers.
The premium options in 2026 included the Gondola Club at $156.79 a person, with a buffet, bar, parking and shuttle, and the Chasers' Club at $79.17 a person, with seating and catered food. The 2027 prices are not out.
Getting in
Gates open at 4:30am for morning sessions and 3pm for evening sessions. Parking at the park costs $20 per session, cash only, according to the fiesta's FAQ, and the lots are color-coded with numbered gates, so note the color and gate where you entered.
Park and Ride is sold online only and does not run on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays. In 2026 adult tickets cost $32.59 in advance and $35.70 on the day, seniors 62 and over $30.52 in advance, children 6 to 12 $20.17, and children 5 and under were free. A bus-only ticket for ages 6 and over cost $20.17. Visit Albuquerque lists Coronado Center, Hoffmantown Church, Cottonwood Mall and Intel as weekend pickup sites, and says some hotels run their own shuttles.
Glass and alcohol are banned. Food and drinks are allowed, but bags and coolers are searched, and there are metal detectors at the gates. Pets are not allowed except trained service animals. Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the park.
What to wear
Mornings are roughly 20 to 40°F and warm to 50 to 70°F by noon, according to the fiesta's FAQ. Dress in layers and wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring a hat, gloves, sunscreen and eye protection.
Where to sleep
The park is on the north side of the city, at 4401 Alameda Boulevard NE. A room near it saves the early-morning drive, and Visit Albuquerque notes that some hotels run a shuttle to the park. Otherwise choose a room near one of the weekend Park and Ride sites listed above; there is no Park and Ride service from Monday to Wednesday.
- Fiesta grounds 1.1 km away
- Strong guest score, 8.9/10 from 432 reviews
What to skip
Do not arrive at 7am for the Mass Ascension. It launches at 7am, gates open at 4:30am, and the fiesta advises being there by 4:00 to 4:30am on weekends.
Do not buy a ticket for a Monday to Wednesday evening. There are no evening sessions on those days.
Where to stay for Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Tours and tickets
Partner options we would book ourselves.
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Updated 03:36 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Around the same dates
Other festivals in USA while it is on
- OctCastro Street FairSan Francisco
- Sep–OctGreat American Beer FestivalDenver
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta FAQ
When is the Balloon Fiesta 2027?
2 to 11 October 2027, according to balloonfiesta.com. The 2026 fiesta ran 3 to 11 October.
How much does general admission cost?
In 2026, $22.24 per person per session ($20 plus a $2.24 fee), and children 12 and under were free. There are no evening sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays or on the last Sunday.
What time do the balloons launch?
The Dawn Patrol is at 6:00am and the Mass Ascension at 7:00am. Gates open at 4:30am, and the fiesta recommends arriving by 4:00 to 4:30am on weekend mornings.
How do I get to Balloon Fiesta Park?
Park at the park for $20 per session, cash only, or take Park and Ride, sold online only and not running Monday to Wednesday. In 2026 it cost $32.59 for adults in advance.
What if the weather cancels a session?
Tickets are nonrefundable, but a canceled session is rain-checked: your ticket becomes a general admission ticket valid for any remaining session that year.