Northampton Balloon Festival takes flight this weekend - last min tickets available!

Northampton Balloon Festival returns this weekend with hot-air balloons, night glows, fireworks, circus skills and family entertainment.

Date published: 10th Aug 2026

Northampton Balloon Festival takes flight at Northampton Racecourse this weekend, transforming the skies for three days of colourful balloon displays, live arena entertainment, and a vibrant array of activities.

Whether it's the festival’s main programme of hot-air balloon flights and tethering; the vibrant funfair, circus workshops, and a diverse range of festival food and drink; or the dramatic late-night air-balloon glow on Friday, followed by a dazzling fireworks display. This is a magical celebration that promises too many unforgettable moments to list for the whole family.

Tickets start at just £4 plus booking fee, while children under one metre tall can enter for free. Find more information here and secure your tickets below.

Running from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th August, each day brings a packed programme to the Racecourse from midday until 10:30pm. Ballooning and aerial activities are weather-dependent, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the festival’s updates before setting off, but there’s no shortage of entertainment waiting back on solid ground.

Alongside the balloons, visitors can expect foam parties, a parachute display team, living-history demonstrations and villages, trade and charity stalls, a large funfair and hands-on circus workshops. Festival caterers and licensed bars will also be dotted around the site, giving you plenty of options when it’s time to refuel.

Secure your ticket for this weekend below; you don't want to miss out on this one!

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube for the latest music and events content.  

Header image credit: Northampton Balloon Festival / The Drone Ranger