Košice Balloon Fiesta 2026

29th Annual Košice Balloon Fiesta

120 years since the first balloon flight in Košice

Thank you for being part of the incredible 29th Košice Balloon Fiesta! From May 27th to 31st May 2026 dozens of colorful balloons filled the sky above the eastern metropolis. The home crews were joined by teams from Austria, the Netherlands, Germany, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the USA, and Great Britain. Among them were 3 special shape balloons – Bruno the clown, Hugo the cheetah, and the Austrian green heart Steiermark!

This year, the Fiesta was again hosted by the Technical University of Košice, and its baseball field was transformed into a balloon launch site for a few days. Visitors came to the morning and late afternoon flights with curiosity in their eyes, waving to the crews and watching the balloons slowly rise into the sky.

Every afternoon, we welcomed both young and old balloon enthusiasts to the Fiesta village with a gastro zone, accompanying program, and inflatable attractions. The highlight of the Fiesta was the night glow on Friday, May 29th, at 9:00 PM. The light show of balloons to the rhythm of music created one of the most beautiful moments of the entire event. Aerial acrobatics also provided an exceptional enrichment to the evening, underscoring its unforgettable atmosphere.

Admission to the event is free every year.

Fiesta tickets

The fiesta is behind us, the memories remain

We thank all visitors for their support from the ground and all passengers for the moments shared in the air!

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120 years since the first balloon flight in Košice

This year’s fiesta was also special because of a historic anniversary. We commemorated 120 years since the first human-crewed balloon flight in Košice, which took place in June 1906. The balloon, named Turul, was brought to the city from Budapest and took off near what is now Moyzesova Street. It was an extraordinary event for the city—Košice residents could watch, for the first time, a balloon rising above their heads.

This anniversary also came to life directly at the event—we prepared a retro photo booth, special postcards for visitors, and our crews dressed in period costumes on Friday evening.

This was the program

Every day from Wednesday to Saturday:

walk-in balloon,
retro photo booth to mark the 120th anniversary of the first balloon flight in Košice,
fiesta village with a gastro zone, accompanying program and inflatable attractions for children.

Wednesday

from 4:00 PM
festival village with gastro zone and accompanying program

– Mascots
– Face painting
– Workshops for children

6:00 PM
opening balloon launch

Thursday

5:30 AM
balloon launch

from 4:00 PM
festival village with gastro zone and accompanying program

– Discover FUTURUM
– Paint with Lensy
– Fire truck
– Face painting

6:00 PM
balloon launch

8:00 PM
balloon on Main Street with Košice Airport mascot – Letko
(by the Immaculata Statue)

Friday

5:30 AM
balloon launch

from 4:00 PM
festival village with gastro zone and accompanying program

– Discover FUTURUM
– Portál Puppet Theatre
– Garbage truck
– Paint with Lensy
– Face painting
– Pilates
– Model aircraft

5:00 PM
balloonists’ parade on Main Street

6:00 PM
balloon launch

19:00
DJ A-Z Best

21:00
night-time balloon inflation and aerial acrobatics

Saturday

5:30 AM
balloon launch

from 4:00 PM
festival village with gastro zone and accompanying program

– DFS Čarnička
– Mavakanza Circus
– Paint with Lensy
– Face painting
– Mascots
– Pilates

6:00 PM
balloon launch

Sunday

5:30 AM
balloon launch

Fiesta tickets

The balloon launch site may change due to wind direction, which can affect flight safety.
Any changes to the program will be announced on our social media channels.