With over 500 balloons, is the largest ballooning event on earth, the most photographed event on earth, and the largest annual international event held in the United States. Imagine 54 football fields, all put together. That's the size of Balloon Fiesta Park's 78-acre launch field!

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta typically features more than 500 to 600 hot air balloons each year in 2026. While the festival reached a peak of over 1,000 balloons in 2000, organizers have since limited the number to roughly 600 to prioritize "quality over quantity" and ensure safe landing zones as the city expands. During the iconic "Mass Ascension," all participating balloons launch in two massive waves, filling the sky with a kaleidoscope of colors that has made this the most photographed annual event in the world. In 2026, the fiesta also features over 100 "Special Shape" balloons, ranging from giant animals to cartoon characters. For visitors, the 2026 schedule includes 9 days of events in early October, where you can walk directly onto the launch field to watch the "Zebras" (launch directors) coordinate the departure of hundreds of balloons simultaneously, a spectacle that draws over 800,000 spectators annually.