Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

hot air balloons · New Mexico · festivals · world record

Massive balloon gathering. Over 500 hot air balloons fill the sky during this nine-day event in early October, making it the largest balloon festival on Earth.

Most photographed event. The Balloon Fiesta is so popular and beautiful that it holds the record as the most photographed annual event in the entire world.

Hundreds of thousands visit. People travel from all around the globe to see this incredible spectacle, with hundreds of thousands of visitors showing up each year.

Small beginning, huge growth. The festival started way back in 1972 with just 13 balloons, but grew to become the giant celebration it is today.