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Bristol Balloon Fiesta dates announced as support secured
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta has announced the dates of its 2026 event.
The festival, which brings thousands of people to Ashton Court Estate every year, will be returning on August 7-9 2026.
The not-for-profit event has been secured thanks to a new partnership with Bristol City Council, granting the use of Ashton Court Estate for “the foreseeable future”.
Fiesta co-founder Don Cameron and councillor Tony Dyer signed a new agreement for the use of Ashton Court – photo: Ambitious PR
The Fiesta has also received support from partners including Albert Goodman, Thatchers, Butcombe and GWR, ensuring that it can continue to take place.
The balloon festival has been hosted at the site annually since its inception in 1979.
Don Cameron, founder of Cameron Balloons and co-founder of the Balloon Fiesta, said: “Funny thing about humble beginnings, they have a habit of growing into something remarkable!
“When we first came up with the idea of hosting a balloon meet in Ashton Court in the seventies, we were simply wanting to bring some balloonists together to have a bit of fun.
“To see it now, woven into the fabric of our city, is humbling beyond words.
“It has become part of all our stories, a gentle triumph that we now have a social and economic responsibility to protect.”
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The festival is hugely popular to the people of Bristol, with organisers estimating that around 300,000 people attended the event in 2025.
Leader of Bristol City Council, Tony Dyer, said: ““It’s undeniable that the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta has played a significant role in shaping our city’s global reputation for the past few generations.
“It sits proudly amongst the highlights of Bristol’s world-renowned events calendar, a showcase for our city’s heritage of ingenuity, enterprise, and curiosity.
“I’m delighted to have been able to work with Don and his team to secure the use of Ashton Court for the foreseeable future.
“Whilst the value of the Fiesta to our local tourism and social economies is significant, equally as important is the inspiration the event sparks in many of the children and families who visit each year.”
Cameron added: “My thanks go to councillor Tony Dyer, and the council for granting us the continued use of Ashton Court Estate, which has unwittingly become one of ballooning’s global capitals.
“Equally thanks must go to our sponsors, and every visitor and supporter – you have all helped turn a simple idea into something extraordinary.”
Main photo: Rob Browne
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