Hot Air and Gas Ballooning Events

Albuquerque is home to the World's Largest Ballooning Event, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®. The event is held annually, beginning with the first Saturday in October, running through the next week and ending with a final mass ascension on Sunday. In 1999 the Fiesta also hosted the World's Most Prestigious Gas Balloon Race, the 43rd Coupe Aeronautic Gordon Bennett (also referred to as the Gordon Bennett Cup). In 1995 the Fiesta introduced the America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race (ACGBR). With the exception of 1999, the ACGBR has been held each year since in conjunction with the Fiesta. Weather permitting the ACGBR begins on the evening of the first Saturday.

Balloon Fiesta® is not the only ballooning event in the Albuquerque area. Our climate is so mild that ballooning is a year round sport. Today there are over 900 registered hot air balloon pilots in the state of New Mexico. Most belong to the Albuquerque Aerostat Ascension Association (AAAA or “Quad-A”). AAAA is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the sport of hot air ballooning. Click here to visit the AAAA web site and to learn more about ballooning activities in the Albuquerque area.