Portalegre, Portugal, Oct. 9, 2026 (Lusa) - Hot-air balloons will once again "brighten up" the skies in Portugal's Alentejo region between 7 and 12 November, as part of an international festival bringing together around 30 teams from six European countries, the organisers announced on Friday.
The International Hot-Air Balloon Festival (FIBAQ), now in its 29th year, is organised by Publibalão, in collaboration with the Alentejo sem Fronteiras ballooning club, the organisers said in a statement.
This year's event will take place in the districts of Ponte de Sor, Avis (Benavila, Fundação Abreu Callado), Alter do Chão, Fronteira and Monforte, in the district of Portalegre, with the festival featuring around 30 teams from Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium and Switzerland.
Speaking to the Lusa news agency, FIBAQ's public relations officer, Maria Inês Soares, described this edition as «particularly special», as it marks «the end of a chapter», but also the «start of preparations» for FIBAQ's 30th anniversary in 2027.
«In 2027, we want to begin a new chapter, strengthening our ties with communities and municipalities and, above all, highlighting the potential the Alentejo has in hot-air ballooning; we want to continue to show that this region has the capacity to host international events,» she said.
FIBAQ will pass through Ponte de Sor on 7 November, followed by Montargil, also in the same district (on 8 November), and Benavila (Abreu Calado Foundation) in the district of Avis (on 9 November, morning flight).
The festival will then move on to Monforte (10th), Fronteira (11th), ending the following day in Alter do Chão.
The hot-air balloon flights will take place twice a day, at 7am and 2.30pm, weather permitting.
In addition to the flights, this year's FIBAQ will feature two evening «Night Glow» shows of light, colour and sound, in which the flames from the hot-air balloon burners «are set alight to the beat of the music».
The first show will take place on the 7th at 7.30 pm in Ponte de Sor, and the second is scheduled for the 11th in Fronteira at 7.00 pm.
According to the organisers, anyone wishing to fly in a hot-air balloon must purchase charity wristbands, the proceeds from which will go to local charities and associations, as well as to the volunteer fire brigades in the towns taking part in the event.
According to the organisers, the charity wristbands cost €99 per person at the weekend and €75 on weekdays.
For Maria Inês Soares, the festival's dynamic has the «ability to engage» different municipalities and communities, «giving them the opportunity» to show participants and visitors to the region «what makes them special».
«And that is very important in a region like the Alentejo, where we need to keep creating reasons for people to visit us, stay longer and want to come back,» she added.
The festival was first held in 1997 and paved the way for the opening, in 2012, of the country's first school for hot-air balloon pilots, in Fronteira.
HYT/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
