54th Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Opens Oct. 3 With Route 66 Centennial Theme
The 54th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will open on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Balloon Fiesta Park (4401 Alameda Blvd. NE) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, running nine days through Oct. 11 under the theme 'The Scenic Route,' marking the centennial of Route 66, according to the organizers' published 2026 schedule.
Opening day begins with a drone light show at 5:45 a.m., followed at 7 a.m. by the signature Mass Ascension, in which more than 500 balloons launch in two waves. General admission is $20 per session (about $22.24 with online fees), children 12 and under are free, and official Park & Ride tickets run about $20 to $33 including admission, with no shuttle service Monday through Wednesday. Organizers advised arriving before 5:30 a.m. on weekend mornings and dressing in layers: at more than 1,600 meters of elevation, dawn temperatures hover between 2 and 7 degrees Celsius.
Founded in 1972 with just 13 balloons, the fiesta is now the world's largest ballooning event, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators, with evening Balloon Glows, special-shape performances and concerts rounding out the program.
Photo: 阿尔伯克基热气球节实景，CC BY-SA 2.0（Wikimedia Commons，摄影：Joe Ross）
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 阿尔伯克基热气球节实景，CC BY-SA 2.0（Wikimedia Commons，摄影：Joe Ross）
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