The Singha Park International Balloon Fiesta 2026 is set to return from Feb 11–15 at Singha Park Chiang Rai, marking the festival's 10th anniversary with its most ambitious programme to date and reflecting the appeal of man-made attractions.
Pongrat Luangthamrongcharoen, managing director of Singha Park Chiangrai Co Ltd, said the aim is to position Chiang Rai as a "World Class Love Destination" by delivering memorable experiences to visitors from around the world through activities such as "balloon love" experiences, open-air khon performances and more.
"These activities not only enhance the visitor experience but also help stimulate the local economy and generate sustainable income for communities in Chiang Rai," he said.
According to the company, each annual edition of the five-day festival is able to attract more than 200,000 Thai and international visitors.
The festival has also played a key role in driving Chiang Rai's economy to grow continuously, creating jobs and elevating Northern Thai tourism to gain recognition on the global stage.
The 2025 festival generated an economic impact of more than 1 billion baht.
This year's event will feature more than 30 international balloons from 13 countries including the US, the UK, Japan, Brazil, Spain, Latvia and Thailand, competing and performing daily flights over the scenic parkland.
Skilled hot-air balloon pilots from around the world will compete for a cash prize of over 100,000 baht. The high-flying contest has emerged as a major highlight, attracting spectators eager to witness precision ballooning.
The festival will showcase a rare open-air khon performance by more than 200 artists performing in alignment with the wang na ('Front Palace') tradition.
A signature attraction returning this year is "Balloon Magic Night Glow", a night-time show combining illuminated balloons, music and visual effects. The spectacle has become a crowd favourite, transforming the festival grounds into a luminous display after sunset.
Music will also play a major role, with concerts by more than 60 well-known Thai artists, including 4Eve, Nont Tanont and Bowkylion among others, scheduled throughout the event. Performances will span multiple genres, aiming to create a festival atmosphere that extends from late afternoon into the evening.