Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Best Tips and Favorite Photos
Imagine being surrounded by hundreds of massive hot air balloons of all shapes and colors, waiting with anticipation for the balloons to take off into the morning sky. It’s no surprise that the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico is a bucket list item for many, myself included, and I can now say that the event lives up to the hype! Considered one of the most photographed events in the world, it brings folks from near and far to experience the excitement of being in the midst of hundreds of colorful hot air balloons. Keep reading to see a few favorite photos, tips, and things we learned to make the most of your time at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, as well as suggestions for other things to do while visiting Albuquerque.
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The 9-day Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta began in 1972 from humble beginnings, with just 13 balloons in a parking lot. While the number of balloons has fluctuated over the years to as many as 1,000, the 2025 balloon fiesta showcased over 550 hot air balloons.
The Balloon Fiesta occurs yearly, starting the first week in October. The list of daily events has grown to include a drone light-show, mass (balloon) ascensions, the Dawn Patrol, a Special Shape Rodeo™, Special Shape Glowdeo™, skydiving, fireworks, and much more. Establishments across Albuquerque host special activities to coincide with the Balloon Fiesta.
General Advice for Balloon Fiesta
So, what is the best way to start planning a trip to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta? The countdown has already begun for next year, taking place October 3-11, 2026. The most popular activities occur during the morning, generally between 5:45 and 9 am, and in the evening, between 5 and 8:30 pm; note there are no evening sessions on certain weeknights.
Weekends are busiest, with the popular mass ascensions scheduled Saturdays (weather permitting). We recommend planning on attending at least one morning session and one evening session, across two separate days (for most people, it’s a bit much to do two sessions in a single day). In 2025, the first event of the day was the morning drone show at 5:45 am; plan on waking up between 2 – 3:30 AM! Gates open at 4:30 am and then again at 3:30 pm for evening sessions.
A daily schedule, available online, outlines events happening on any given day. I recommend taking a screenshot so that the schedule is easily accessible upon arrival. During the week, there are days with only a morning session. The mass ascension (typically only on weekends) and the Special Shape Rodeo and Glowdeo are impressive and very popular.
We arrived in Albuquerque on Wednesday, and enjoyed great weather for the Thursday morning drone show, Dawn Patrol, and balloon launch, and then Friday night, the Special Shape Glowdeo™. Keep in mind that you will want to dress in layers, and bring a hat and gloves for those early mornings, along with a rain jacket.
The best advice for attending is to plan extra days in Albuquerque to allow for weather impacts, last-minute changes to your schedule, and the addition of an extra session. Each morning at Balloon Fiesta, a decision is made whether to raise the “green flag” signaling balloons may take off.
Book accomodations well in advance
It’s never too early to start doing your research for next fall (keep an eye out for Black Friday hotel deals). Albuquerque is small enough that most areas and activities are easily accessible by car, so consider what else you want to do during your visit.
If you are wondering where to stay during the Balloon Fiesta, the Downtown, historic Old Town, and Uptown neighborhoods are good options.Visit Albuquerque has a great neighborhood guide to help decide where to stay. Also consider rentals through a site like VRBO, just be sure to understand cancellation policies. Link!
Book early for the best hotel options and prices, as prices tend to surge during the Balloon Fiesta, and availability becomes limited. Be sure to understand cancellation options when you book. We stayed Downtown at The Clyde Hotel, just minutes to Old Town by car and under 15 minutes to the Park & Ride at the Coronado Center. This area is home to several colorful outside murals along with Central Avenue history (formerly a portion of the original Route 66). If you aren’t comfortable staying in the less touristy downtown, uptown hotels are close to the Coronado Center, and several offered shuttles to the Park & Ride.
Use the Park & Ride
The best way to avoid traffic jams and full parking lots is to reserve tickets for one of several shuttle Park & Ride locations (shuttle tickets also include general admission). We used the Coronado Center for our Thursday morning, Fridayafternoon, and Saturday morning sessions. We arrived at 3:15 am Thursday morning and were the first ones in line; despite my worries, there were plenty of security and other workers around at that time, so we felt very safe getting dropped off.
For the Saturday morning session, we arrived at the Park & Ride at 3:45 am, waited in a rather long line, and arrived at the park by 4:45. There is a later shuttle time slot at 5:30, but depending on traffic you may miss some early morning activities. Dozens of school buses are used to transport riders, and each shuttle stop has a clearly marked designated drop-off and pick-up spot conveniently located on the Balloon Fiesta grounds.
In the evening, we hopped on the return shuttle just as the fireworks show began to avoid crowds. On the busy Saturday morning, it was just a short wait to get on one of the many school buses ready to take us back. Shuttle tickets were sold out the day of, but we were able to get a shuttle ticket for Friday evening the day before. Your best bet is to reserve the shuttle tickets ahead of time.
If you decide to drive, plan to arrive as early as possible. In 2025, parking was $20, cash only. If the lots are full, you could be turned away. We had no trouble finding a ride share driver to the Park & Ride, but almost every driver told us they were not interested in driving all the way to the Balloon Fiesta Park due to traffic.
Attend Over Several Days
One of the most important pieces of advice is to build in flexibility to attend several sessions. With plans for a morning session on Thursday and the evening session Friday, we also decided to go back on Saturday morning for the mass ascension. Sadly, due to the weather, balloons did not ascend Saturday or Sunday morning, the final weekend of Fiesta, so it would have been disappointing if those were the only sessions we scheduled. It’s also important to know that just because the balloons don’t fly doesn’t mean that they won’t inflate. So you can still get great photos, depending on the weather.
Book Early for a Balloon Ride
For many folks who attend Balloon Fiesta, riding in a hot air balloon is also on the bucket list. Only one vendor, Rainbow Ryders, Inc. is allowed to launch from the grounds, so book early if this is on your list of things to do; be prepared to pay a premium! There may be other hot air balloon rides available in the area outside of Balloon Fiesta.
Enjoy the Food and Other Activities
It’s a rite of passage at the Balloon Fiesta to enjoy an expensive breakfast burrito in the early morning darkness! Lovers of state fair food will find all kinds of delicious treats to enjoy, ranging from donuts to fry bread and other sweet treats. Outside food is allowed, just no alcohol or glass. There are picnic tables and many visitors brought camping chairs and blankets.
On the grounds is the Balloon Discovery Center with interactive activities along with the nearby Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum (adjacent to Balloon Fiesta Park, requiring re-entry through security). Besides seeing the colorful balloons, the morning and evening drone shows were quite impressive.
And if you want to view the balloons from a different perspective, follow Visit Albuquerque on social media to learn more about places around town where you can watch balloons soar across the sky. The Bosque Trail is recommended as a spot to catch a glimpse of balloons along the Rio Grande River during nice weather.
Outside of the Balloon Fiesta, if a ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway is on your list, be sure to reserve tickets well in advance. Tickets were sold out for the entire week during our visit. We also enjoyed a quiet afternoon in the Albuquerque Museum, an easy walk from historic Old Town. It’s also close to a wonderful rooftop bar at Hotel Chaco, as well as the trendy food hall at Sawmill Market. Church Street Cafe is a popular spot for lunch or dinner in Old Town. Find other Albuquerque activities here.
Getting To and Around Albuquerque
Dozens of cities around the U.S. offer direct flights into Albuquerque, and it’s an easy ride from the airport to downtown or the historic Old Town area. Wondering if you need a rental car to get around? We successfully relied solely on ride-shares (yes, even at 3 am) and Balloon Fiesta shuttles during our visit. There were plenty of people & activity when we were dropped off at the Coronado Center at 3:15 am! Most of what you read online suggests taking the early shuttle to ensure a timely arrival. Just know that you will be spending time hanging out in the dark until sunrise. The Sandia Peak Tramway is the one place where having a rental car would be more convenient.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is definitely an event that should be on your USA bucket list!
