The European Balloon Festival is an international hot air balloon gathering, competition and festival held in Igualada. Each July, more than fifty balloons from around the world fill the sky, painting dawn and dusk in brilliant colour. Walking among the baskets and unfurled envelopes, as the burners warm the air, is quietly remarkable, without the need for grand gestures. The festival includes scheduled flights and parallel activities, and offers the chance to fly alongside the teams. It is a sensory, contemplative and uplifting experience, celebrating the harmony of skill and beauty, and the quiet wonder of ascending into the sky without an engine.
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First held in 1997, it has become one of Europe’s leading events for flight and spectacle.
For a memorable experience, rise early and take to the skies in a balloon: watching the sunrise from above is unforgettable.
Over four days (Thursday to Sunday), the festival attracts more than 25,000 visitors, drawn by the take-offs, live music and a programme of activities.
