The event opens today, Friday 3rd July, and continues on Saturday 4th July, with a programme featuring hot air balloons, arena displays, live entertainment and a fireworks finale.
Weather permitting, visitors will be able to watch dozens of hot air balloons take to the skies during scheduled launches. The festival will also feature tethered balloon displays and the popular evening balloon glow, where illuminated balloons create a colourful display after sunset.
As with all ballooning events, organisers have stressed that flying activities will depend on suitable weather and safety conditions.
Away from the balloons, there will be stunt performances, parachute displays, living history villages, circus workshops, trade and charity stalls, food vendors, licensed bars and one of the region’s largest travelling funfairs. Saturday’s programme will end with a fireworks display.
The festival returned to Lydiard Park last year and has expanded its programme for 2026 as organisers look to establish it as a regular fixture in Swindon’s summer events calendar.
Official timings:
Friday 3rd July
5pm – Civil War Enactment – Main Arena
7pm – Balloon Flights (Weather permitting) Balloon Arena
8pm – Sporty Boys Pony Show – Main Arena
9pm – Stuntworld International – Main Arena
10pm – Night Balloon Glow (Weather permitting) BalloonArena
Kids Zone:
4pm & 6pm: Dinosaur Invasion and Zoomania
5pm & 7pm: Foam Party
Saturday 4th July
1pm – Civil War Enactment – Main Arena
2pm – The Spotty Boys Pony Show – Main Arena
3pm – Stuntworld International – Main Arena
4pm – Jump Dogs Parachute Display Team (Weather permitting) – Balloon Arena
5pm – Civil War Enactment – Main Arena
6pm – The Spotty Boys Pony Show – Main Arena
7pm – Balloon Flights – (Weather permitting) Balloon Arena
8pm – Stannage Stunt Team – Main Arena
9.45pm – Night Balloon Glow Balloon Arena
10.15pm – Fireworks Finale Balloon Arena
Kids Zone:
1pm, 3pm & 5pm: Dinosaur Invasion and Zoomania
2pm, 4pm & 6pm: Foam Party
Special characters throughout the day.
Admission is available on the gate, subject to availability.
Ian Surtees, Income Generation and Business Development Manager for Swindon Borough Council who manages Lydiard Park said:
“We’re delighted to welcome visitors back to Lydiard Park for another Swindon Balloon Festival. It’s a fantastic event that brings together families from across Swindon and beyond, showcasing not only the spectacle of the hot air balloons but also everything our beautiful park has to offer.
“We hope everyone enjoys a safe and memorable weekend, and, with a bit of luck from the weather, we’ll see the skies filled with colour once again.”
