Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival setting up in New Clark City anew

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December 17, 2025 | 6:38pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) is settling well in its new home as it turns 26.

The country's longest-running aviation sports event moved from its beloved home in Clark, Pampanga, to Tarlac's New Clark City in Capas back in 2024, finding new grounds in two editions since.

The 2026 edition of the PIHABF will run from the Valentine's weekend of February 13-15, 2026 with the familiar theme "A Weekend of Everything that Flies".

Taking to the skies are kites, helicopters, skydivers, paragliders, drones, radio-controlled aircraft and of course, the iconic special-shaped hot air balloons.

The upcoming edition will see the largest display of hot air ballons yet as 22 designs by pilots from the United Kingdom, United States, Belgium, Netherlands, Macedonia, Switzerland, Germany and Brazil will color the skies.

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"Bringing all these aerial spectacles together within a three-day celebration reminds us how meaningful it is to keep offering a true airshow experience—one we've honed and shared with the public for more than two decades," PIHABF Event Director Capt. Joy Roa said in a statement.

Roa and his team of aviators took over the helm of the PIHABF during its third year, turning it into an annual showcase of the very best in flying activities, sports aviation and international camaraderie.

Through the years, the event has welcomed international air rallies, staged skydiving exhibitions, tandem jumps, the Breitling Jet Team, Wing Walkers, and world-renowned stunt pilot Mark Jeffries.

New Clark City is the premier sports hub developed by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, which includes a 20,000-seat Athletics Stadium, a world-class Aquatics Center, and expansive open grounds, all of which debuted during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

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