2026
Balloon Fiesta
Three-Night, Land Only
October 2-5, 2026
$3,499 per person, double occupancy
All pricing options
Hotel: Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town
Activity Level
Days: 4
Travel Host:
Sports & Entertainment Travel, LLC Staff
Email Host
“We look forward to hosting you in Albuquerque!”
Package Overview
Join SET in the New Mexico desert in celebration of the 2026 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta! Enjoy deluxe accommodations in Old Town, an exclusive tour welcome event with an industry speaker, two-day admission featuring Mass Ascension and Balloon Glow, Balloon Fiesta hospitality perks, a memorable Flamenco dinner, and much more!
Package Includes:
- Three (3) nights’ deluxe HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS at the newly renovated Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town
- Check-in: Friday, October 2
- Check-out: Monday, October 5
- WELCOME RECEPTION on Friday evening with complimentary food and beverages featuring Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta industry speaker, Doug Gantt
- Balloon Fiesta Park ADMISSION Saturday (morning & evening) and Sunday (morning), includes events like Dawn Patrol, Mass Ascension, and Balloon Glow (Saturday evening)
- Exclusive Gondola Club HOSPITALITY on Saturday and Sunday, with guaranteed seating, food and open bar (3 drinks per person), restrooms, prime viewing spots, and live entertainment
- Deluxe roundtrip TRANSPORTATION to Balloon Fiesta Park on Saturday and Sunday with preferred parking
- Sunday evening highlight is a Flamenco PERFORMANCE with dinner and beverages
- Monday Morning group BREAKFAST
- Official Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta SOUVENIRS
- Event lanyard and CREDENTIALS for seamless entry
- On-site TRAVEL HOSTS and a hotel hospitality desk for any assistance needed throughout your stay
- Detailed pre-travel and on-site TRAVEL DOCUMENTS provided
- Taxes and gratuities are included for all provided items
PLEASE NOTE: Transportation to/from your home city to Albuquerque is not included. Deposits are non-refundable and travel insurance is highly recommended (CLICK HERE for more information).
Pricing
*Pricing is per person, based on room occupancy.
| Single | Double | Triple | Quad | Child |
| $4,489 | $3,499 | $3,209 | $3,069 | $2,099 |
Occupancy Rules:
Max Occupancy: 4
Max Adult: 4
Max Children: 3
Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town
Address: 800 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Phone: 505-843-6300
This landmark Albuquerque luxury hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Old Town and the Sawmill District, offering accommodations and amenities, including on-site restaurant and bars, an outdoor resort swimming pool, a romantic wedding chapel, and more than 62,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Hotel Albuquerque is only steps away from Sawmill Market: a 25,000 square-foot food hall with various local vendors featuring an array of culinary experiences. Hotel Albuquerque is being transformed again into one of the most luxurious hotels in New Mexico. This property will welcome you with new guest bathrooms, additional renovations in the guest rooms, and traditional New Mexican tile throughout the property.
Standard Guestroom
Max Adults: 4 & Max Children: 3
Balloon Fiesta Park
Click to enlarge park map.
Saturday Morning Mass Ascension & Twilight Twinkle Glow
Admission to Saturday’s morning and evening sessions.
Mass Ascension, a launch of all the participating balloons has been a feature of Balloon Fiesta since its earliest days and is the most spectacular display of sound and color in all of aviation. During mass ascensions, balloons launch in two waves. Launch directors, also known as zebras because of their black-and-white-striped outfits, serve as traffic cops, coordinating the launch so balloons leave the field in a safe and coordinated manner. Weather permitting, balloons begin to launch at about 7:00 AM on mass ascension days, led by a balloon flying the American flag to the strains of The Star Spangled Banner.
The events now known as balloon glows were invented in Albuquerque in 1979, when local pilots inflated balloons on Christmas Eve night as a thank you to local residents. The sight of balloons lit from within at night like giant holiday ornaments is breathtaking and glow events are now held all over the world. Balloon Fiesta launched its Balloon Glow, the world’s biggest, in 1987. Balloon Glow all burns, when all the balloons fire their burners and light up at the same time are perhaps the most spectacular single moment in all of Balloon Fiesta. The Balloon Glows, followed by New Mexico’s most spectacular fireworks displays, are now among Balloon Fiesta’s most popular events.
INCLUDED IN PACKAGE
Sunday Morning Mass Ascension
Admission to Sunday morning’s session.
Mass Ascension, a launch of all the participating balloons has been a feature of Balloon Fiesta since its earliest days and is the most spectacular display of sound and color in all of aviation. During mass ascensions, balloons launch in two waves. Launch directors, also known as zebras because of their black-and-white-striped outfits, serve as traffic cops, coordinating the launch so balloons leave the field in a safe and coordinated manner. Weather permitting, balloons begin to launch at about 7:00 AM on mass ascension days, led by a balloon flying the American flag to the strains of The Star Spangled Banner.
INCLUDED IN PACKAGE
Hot Air Balloon Rides
If you are interested in taking a ride in a hot air balloon during your time in Albuquerque, please reach out to Rainbow Ryders, Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s preferred vendor.
www.rainbowryders.com/festivals/albuquerque-international-balloon-fiesta/ or call 1-800-725-2477
OPTIONAL TICKETS – Ride and transportation to site not included in package
Gondola Club Inclusions
– Gourmet buffet meal
– Host/open bar (limit 3 drinks per guest)
– Prime location for viewing the launch field
– Shuttle transportation to and from the parking area and Main Street
– Dedicated bathrooms
– Live entertainment during evening sessions
– Collectible Gondola Club lapel pin
– Souvenir Gift
INCLUDED IN PACKAGE
Friday Evening Welcome Reception
Join us for a Friday evening Welcome Reception with complimentary food and beverages featuring Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta industry speaker, Doug Gantt.
With over 35 years of experience as a balloon pilot, Doug has flown in events across the United States, North America, and internationally. As a commercial pilot and flight instructor, he has dedicated his career to sharing his passion for aviation.
INCLUDED IN PACKAGE
Dinner and Flamenco Performance
At Tablao Flamenco Albuquerque, passion and energy come alive nightly as you experience flamenco in its most intimate, powerful setting in the heart of historic Old Town Albuquerque. Featuring a world-class line-up of artists, the Tablao Flamenco presents a dynamic schedule of performances, featuring the premier artists from Spain and the United States, and delivers the traditional Spanish tapas experience, created by world-renowned Chef Mark Miller of Santa Fe’s Coyote Cafe and Hotel Albuquerque`s Chef Gilbert Aragon.
INCLUDED IN PACKAGE
Gondola Club Hospitality
Enjoy Balloon Fiesta from one of the most picturesque locations in Balloon Fiesta Park. The Gondola Club is a private area away from the crowds, and includes delicious food, local entertainment, courtesy shuttles, and indoor restrooms just for our guests. The Balloon Fiesta is a truly unique experience, and Gondola Club tickets allow guests to experience this world-class event in a very special and private setting. Just imagine being able to have a private seat complete with wonderful food while looking out over a Mass Ascension, Special Shapes Rodeo, a balloon glow, competition or fireworks.
INCLUDED IN PACKAGE
Friday, October 2
Check into Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town.
Visit the SET hospitality desk at the hotel to pick up souvenirs and on-site travel documents.
Evening welcome reception featuring a distinguished speaker from the hot air balloon industry. Enjoy hours d’oeuvres and drinks while getting acquainted with fellow travelers.
Saturday, October 3
Depart early morning for Balloon Fiesta Park to witness the awe-inspiring Dawn Patrol and Mass Ascension, where hundreds of colorful balloons take flight against the backdrop of the New Mexico sunrise. Enjoy access to the exclusive Gondola Club hospitality, offering delicious food, local entertainment, restrooms, and outdoor seating away from the crowds.
Return mid-morning to Old Town.
In the late afternoon, return to Gondola Club Hospitality for food and beverages at the Balloon Fiesta Park for the enchanting Balloon Glow.
Sunday, October 4
Return to Balloon Fiesta Park early morning for an expanded Mass Ascension and to delve deeper into the park’s offerings.
Mid-morning return to Old Town.
Enjoy dinner and a traditional Flamenco performance.
Monday, October 6
Gather for a group breakfast at Hotel Albuquerque, reminiscing about the memorable experiences shared during the trip.
Check out of the hotel.
What does “land-only” cover here?
Everything except air travel, airport-to-hotel transfers, and baggage handling, you get yourself to Albuquerque, and SET handles the rest from hotel check-in on.
What’s included in the package?
Three nights at Sandia Resort & Casino, a Friday welcome dinner, admission and motor coach transportation to Balloon Fiesta Park for Saturday and Sunday’s Dawn Patrol and Mass Ascension plus Saturday’s Balloon Glow, Gondola Club hospitality (breakfast/dinner seating, a limited open bar, and live entertainment), an optional Saturday shuttle to Old Town Albuquerque, admission to the Anderson-Abruzzo Balloon Museum, a Monday farewell breakfast, souvenirs, credentials, on-site hosts, and all taxes/gratuities.
What is the Gondola Club, exactly?
It’s a private viewing area inside Balloon Fiesta Park with a gourmet buffet, a host bar (limited to 3 drinks per person), premium sightlines for the launches, shuttle service, dedicated restrooms, live entertainment, and a souvenir gift, a step up from general festival access.
Can I go up in a hot air balloon myself?
Not as part of the package, but SET can point you to Rainbow Ryders, the festival’s preferred ride vendor, for an optional add-on (ride and transportation to the launch site aren’t included in your tour price).
What are the room pricing options?
Single $4,579, Double $3,499, Triple $3,199, Quad $3,039, and Child (12 and under) $1,809, with a max of 4 adults or a mix of adults/children per room.
If I already have my own festival tickets, can I get a discount?
Possibly, if you’re using donor eligibility or outside-sourced tickets, a deduction may apply to your package price, but the amount varies by package and must be requested by the deadline in the payment terms.
Are deposits refundable?
No, deposits are non-refundable, so travel insurance is recommended in case of unforeseen changes.
What’s the general schedule for the trip?
Friday is check-in and a welcome reception; Saturday is Dawn Patrol/Mass Ascension with Gondola Club access, plus free time; Sunday repeats an early Mass Ascension visit with an afternoon at leisure; Monday is a farewell group breakfast and checkout. The itinerary is approximate and may shift with weather or event timing.
How will I receive my travel documents?
Typically 2–3 weeks (or, for short-lead events, 7–10 days) before departure by mail, or by email for compressed booking windows. Flag any address changes to your booking agent in advance.
Can someone else travel in my place, or can I book for another person?
Yes, put the actual traveler’s name on the reservation; your own card and billing details can still be used to pay.