Northampton Balloon Festival
If you love a good spectacle, mark your calendars now, because the Northampton Balloon Festival is back for 2026 and it’s shaping up to be a brilliant family weekend out. Giant hot air balloons drifting over the Racecourse, a fun fair, live entertainment and a fireworks finale — this is one of those events that genuinely has something for everyone, whatever age your little ones are. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
When and where is it?
The festival runs from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 August 2026 at Northampton Racecourse, Kettering Road, Northampton. Opening hours are 12:00pm to 10:30pm each day.
What’s on
There’s a proper packed programme across the weekend, including:
- Hot air balloons and special shapes
- Balloon glows
- A giant fun fair
- Live entertainment
- Fireworks displays
- Food and drink stalls
- Re-enactments
- Circus workshops
When will the balloons fly?
Balloons typically fly at sunrise and sunset, weather permitting. There are planned evening launches between 6pm and 7.30pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus a morning ascent between 6am and 7.30am on the Saturday and Sunday. The morning ascents are free to attend. Do bear in mind that all balloon activity is entirely weather dependent, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the festival’s Facebook page for updates on the day, especially if it’s looking windy or wet.
If you fancy going one step further than watching from the ground, passenger balloon flights are available separately through Vista Balloon Flights and are not included in your festival ticket.
Tickets and prices
Advance early bird tickets are available now, priced at £4.00 plus booking fee (around £4.25 per ticket) for Friday 14, Saturday 15 or Sunday 16 August 2026. On the gate, tickets are £5 per adult or child. Children under 1 metre tall go free, whichever way you book.
Booking in advance is generally the cheaper option, so it’s worth grabbing tickets ahead of time if you already know which day you’re planning to go.
Getting there and parking
Parking is available on site for £5 for the day, though the organisers do encourage using public transport where you can, as the roads around the Racecourse get busy. Give yourself plenty of time for the journey. Disabled parking is available too — just let a member of staff know when you arrive. Do note there’s a short walk from the car park to the event itself, and as it’s on grass, the ground conditions can vary depending on the weather.
Good to know before you go
- The event is dog-friendly, but dogs must stay on leads. In very hot weather, dogs won’t be allowed in, for their own safety.
- You’re welcome to bring a picnic, but no glass or alcohol is permitted, and bag searches are in operation.
- Gazebos, large umbrellas and portable BBQs aren’t allowed, though small shade tents for children and portable chairs are fine.
- If you need to pop out and come back, just get a hand stamp from security on your way out.
- Disabled toilets are available on site.
This event is supported by Northampton Borough Council, and all of the details above are correct at the time of writing, based on information from the official festival website. As with any outdoor event, especially one involving hot air balloons, details can change at short notice depending on the weather, so it’s always worth double-checking the festival’s own website or Facebook page nearer the time before you head off.
