New Clark City in Tarlac will host the 26th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) from February 13 to 15, 2026. The festival’s theme is “A Weekend of Everything that Flies.” It will offer three days of non-stop flying shows. Families, friends, and aviation fans can expect more than just hot air balloons. Helicopters, kites, radio-controlled planes, and drones will also fill the sky.
A major highlight is a massive nightly drone display. Organizers will use 550 drones for the show. It will be one of the biggest drone performances in the Philippines. PIHABF founder and director Capt. Jose Mari C. Roa spoke about it at a press conference in Pasay City. He said the night drone show is different from previous ones. “It is something very unique,” he noted.
This year’s event will also feature the largest collection of special-shape balloons ever at the fiesta. There will be 22 colorful, non-traditional balloon designs. Pilots from the United Kingdom, United States, Belgium, Netherlands, Macedonia, Switzerland, Germany, and Brazil will fly them. Capt. Roa told BusinessWorld this is a record for the festival.
Another exciting attraction is the locally made Hoverbike Air X1. Inventor Kyxz Mendiola brought a one-seater model to the press event. A two-seater version is being finished for the festival. Mendiola explained the vehicle’s capabilities. “It can carry up to 80 kilos in weight,” he said. He proudly added that all Filipino engineers built and welded it. “Me and my team made it,” he stated.
World-class aerobatic teams will perform too. The Breitling Jet Team will showcase its precision flying. Wing Walkers will perform daring stunts on moving planes. Renowned stunt pilot Mark Jeffries will also entertain the crowd.
The fiesta includes several aero sports. The Philippine Sports Commission supports paragliding and paramotor demonstrations. International competitions will happen as well. These include first-person view (FPV) drone racing. Paper plane contests and soccer drone matches are also scheduled. Some events are sanctioned by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).
Organizers hope to break attendance records. The event moved from Clark, Pampanga, to New Clark City in 2024. In Pampanga, the weekend crowd once exceeded 130,000 people. Capt. Roa explained the new venue has more space. “We hope to maybe go beyond that number,” he said. “People are still learning about New Clark City.”
New Clark City is a sports hub built by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). It hosted the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. The site has a 20,000-seat Athletics Stadium and large open fields. BCDA Senior Vice-President Mark P. Torres said they are improving public access. For the fiesta, BCDA will run shuttle services. Shuttles will come from SM Clark in Pampanga. They will also come from Bamban and Capas in Tarlac. The Tarlac local government will offer a free shuttle from Tarlac City. Buses from Manila and Cubao will also serve the route.
Torres noted that New Clark City has more to offer than the festival grounds. “There are many sites and parks,” he said. He mentioned the River Park, a two-kilometer public park along the river. Visitors can explore these areas during their trip.
Capt. Roa emphasized that the event has activities for all ages. Kids can enjoy a petting zoo. They can also try horseback riding and bow-and-arrow target shooting. Aviation seminars will inspire children who dream of becoming pilots.
Tarlac provincial official Frances Margaret Canlas spoke about the event’s economic impact. She is the local economic development and investment promotions officer. “The PIHABF amplifies local tourism,” she said. “It caters to different age ranges through micro experiences.” She added that the festival gives Tarlac a new identity. It attracts investors and boosts local business activity.
Tickets cost 750 Philippine pesos each. A portion of sales supports the PIHABF Foundation Scholarship Fund. This fund helps underprivileged students pursue aviation careers.
More details are available online. Visitors can check www.philballoonfest.net or the event’s Facebook page. Tickets are also sold via SM Tickets.
The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is the country’s longest-running aviation sports event. It has showcased flying spectacles for over two decades. The 2026 edition aims to be the biggest yet. It blends international competition with local innovation. It also focuses on family fun and community benefit. The event underscores the growing appeal of aviation in the Philippines. It also highlights Tarlac’s role as a key tourism destination.