Swindon24 published its round-up and photo gallery of the Swindon Balloon Festival on Sunday 5 July 2026. The festival ran at Lydiard Park on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 July 2026 and drew thousands of visitors.
Why didn't the balloons fly?
Strong winds made conditions unsuitable. The planned hot air balloon launches and the evening night glows were cancelled. Organisers inflated and tethered a small number of balloons for short spells so that visitors could at least see them from the ground.
Hot air balloons need calm, stable air for take-off and landing, and even fairly low wind speeds can stop flights. Organisers had warned in advance that ballooning depended on the weather and could be called off at short notice.
What did go ahead?
- Saturday evening's fireworks
- Main arena shows, including stunt displays, Civil War re-enactments, the Spotty Boys Pony Show and circus workshops
- Dinosaur encounters, foam parties and a large funfair for families
- Food vendors, trade stalls and licensed bars
Will it be back?
The report said organisers hope for kinder conditions when the festival returns in 2027, and described it as now firmly part of Swindon's summer calendar. No 2027 dates were given.
Source: Swindon24.
More from Swindo: Lydiard Park.