The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta returns this summer for a free three-day event at Ashton Court Estate. Taking place between Friday, August 7, and Sunday, August 10, the staple of the Bristol events calendar will remain a three-day event following changes to its structure last year.
Approaching its 50th anniversary in 2028, organisers have set out plans to continue to bring the beloved festival to the people of the city for many years to come, with plans for ballooning activities in the run up to the Fiesta in August. In 2024, organisers announced an extension of the event, with Fiesta Week, where local communities could nominate their local heroes and launch sites for a special flight.
Heroes took to the skies from Ashton Court before last year’s Fiesta, but this year, plans for Fiesta Week are different. Rather than focusing on balloon launches in one week of August, Fiesta organisers are hoping to introduce a Schools Tether Roadshow.
This initiative will look to bring hot air balloons directly into communities and schools across the city. This, organisers have said, will “provide a unique educational experience that complements the curriculum while creating more opportunity for children across the city to engage with the wonder of ballooning”.
In addition to this, this year’s Fiesta will see the return of the much-loved Meet The Pilots initiative, as well as a new highlight for 2025 – In The Clouds, an immersive attraction featuring a cold-inflated hot air balloon that visitors can step inside, complete with a soundscape replicating the experience of pilots in flight. The main arena will play host to more than 100 hot air balloons taking flight twice daily (if conditions allow). The Nightglows will again take place on consecutive evenings on Friday, August 8, and Saturday, August 9.
Back in February 2024, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta organisers announced that it would be making a number of substantial changes to the festival, including cutting the event down from four days to three. They also detailed how poor weather, the Covid-19 pandemic, the rising cost of living, inflation and “challenges in the supply chain” had all affected the event.
The announcement came following the 2023 event, where organisers discovered that it had ‘a gap of tens of thousands’ of pounds, which subsequently led to an ask for donations from the public. At the time, the Balloon Fiesta team shared a link to a donation page fiesta goers and ballooning fans could contribute to, writing: “It costs £850,000 per year to host this event and the entire event team have volunteered their time for free. Similarly, over 1,000 balloonists came to site to put on a show for free.
“It’s not a money-making machine, every penny we earn goes to keep it going. It’s a community event for the city. We currently have a gap in the tens of thousands for this year’s event so whether you watch at home in a park or at our home in Ashton Court, help us to bring it back.”
And now, organisers have confirmed that the strategic changes introduced in 2024, including shifting to the three-day format, have proved effective in reducing the event’s in-year deficit by approximately £80,000. They say that, while the Fiesta continues to operate at a loss, this is now “significantly smaller”, and organisers are optimistic that the event could break even this year, which would then enable them to start to build reserves. This, they say, would put them in the best position should any unexpected challenges arise in the future.
One major boost to the not-for-profit event has come from a new headline sponsorship deal with South West accountancy firm Albert Goodman, providing crucial financial support over the next three years. Ben Hardy, executive director, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, said: “The last few years have been undeniably challenging, and bringing the Fiesta back in 2024 took real blood, sweat, and tears. But the incredible support from the public and business community has been truly reassuring.
“We’re hugely grateful to our returning sponsors, and our new headline partner, Albert Goodman for their contribution in helping to stabilise the event’s future. With their support, we’re excited to introduce new programmes, initiatives, and features that will not only enhance the visitor experience but also celebrate Bristol and its deep-rooted connection to the world of hot air ballooning.”