Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival Returns November 20-22: Robin Thicke Headlines Saturday, Friday Is Free
In Cathedral City, a city in Riverside County, California, the 12th Annual Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival will take place from Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22, 2026, presented by Agua Caliente Casinos and produced by SoundSkilz. Mayor Raymond Gregory said the event has become a signature celebration for the community, showcasing the beauty of the Coachella Valley, supporting local businesses and bringing residents and visitors together under the desert sky.
Event Information
Dates: Friday, November 20 to Sunday, November 22, 2026. The weekend opens with a sunrise launch from 6 to 8 a.m. on Friday at Agua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage; all three days feature multiple balloon launches and tethered balloon rides, weather permitting.
Venue: Festival grounds in Cathedral City; Saturday's headline concert is at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater.
Admission: Friday, November 20 is free for all. Saturday's Robin Thicke concert is a ticketed program, with tickets on sale at cchotairballoonfest.com; concert tickets grant access to all festival events. Cathedral City residents can pick up a complimentary ticket voucher for Saturday's concert at the ACE Club at Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City, 68960 E. Palm Canyon Drive, from October 14 through November 19, with a valid photo ID showing a Cathedral City address; residents must be or become ACE Club members, one voucher per resident, 500 available, first come, first served.
Organizers: City of Cathedral City; produced by SoundSkilz; presented by Agua Caliente Casinos.
Friday's program opens at 5 p.m. with a U2 tribute concert at 6 p.m., a mini balloon glow at 7:30 p.m. and a drone light show at 7:45 p.m., all free. Saturday's ticketed program opens at 3 p.m., with the No Doubt tribute band Just A Girl on the Festival Lawn Glowstage at 3:30 p.m.; the amphitheater opens at 5 p.m. with DJ A-One, and Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum recording artist Robin Thicke takes the stage at 6:30 p.m. The night closes with the Official Festival Balloon Glow and a drone light show by Grizzly Entertainment at 7:45 p.m. Concert ticket holders can also enter the Rock Out Cash In drawing at the ACE Club on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. for a chance to win a share of $500 in Free Play.
According to the organizers, the festival has grown from several thousand attendees at its inception in 2015 to a record 35,000 visitors, is listed among the top 14 hot air balloon festivals by U.S. News & World Report, and has won the Palm Award for Visitor Experience from Visit Greater Palm Springs. The complete schedule and ticketing information are at cchotairballoonfest.com; please confirm the latest arrangements with the organizer before attending.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：热气球夜光秀资料图（2015年 Wairarapa 热气球节夜光秀，非本次活动现场）。图片：公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。Photo: File photo of a hot air balloon night glow (2015 Wairarapa Balloon Festival; not this event). Image: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
