Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® Announces New and Returning Special Shapesfor 54th Event

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The 54^th ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® will host the largest gathering of special shape balloons as part of the world’s premier hot air balloon event, October 3-11, 2026. This year’s event will include 117 special shape balloons, 13 of which will make their inaugural appearance.

Guests will see special shapes representing diverse countries such as “Milton” from Canberra, Australia; “Hug a Bear” from Waasmunster, Flanders, Belgium; and “Diamond” from North Macedonia. Other special shape balloon teams will convene in Albuquerque from Canada, Mexico, Germany, Brazil, and more – including from right here in New Mexico.

The 13 new special shape hot air balloons at the 2026 Balloon Fiesta are:

Balloon Name	Country
FINLEY THE TURTLE	United Kingdom
EVA	United States
DUCKING GRATEFUL	United States
AGAPE	United States
GUS	United Kingdom
DIAMOND	North Macedonia
SCOUT	United States
FALCON OZI	Brazil
WALRUS	Brazil
BLUE JAY	Brazil
COTORRO TIBERIO	Brazil
JOHNNY PANDA	United States
ROCK	United Kingdom

Special shape fan favorites will also be back in full force, some carrying decades of Balloon Fiesta tradition with them. Favorites such as Astro the Alien, Chic-I-Boom, Humpty Dumpty, Tiny the Fire Dog, Zorro, and dozens more will make their way into the sky this October.

Special shape hot air balloons returning to Balloon Fiesta this year include:

Balloon Name	Country
1 DOWN 8-2 GO	United States
AIRABELLE, THE CREAMLAND COW	Canada
ALLYCORN	United States
ASTRINA	United Kingdom
ASTRO THE ALIEN	United Kingdom
BABY DINO	United States
BABY DINO TROPSY	Germany
BABY MONSTER	Brazil
BABY T-REX	United States
BALLOONAFUL SUNRISE	United States
BARNSTORMER	United States
BARX	United States
BEACH BOUND	United States
BELLA THE BULLDOG	United Kingdom
BLUE MACAW	Brazil
BUD E. BEAVER	United States
BUSTER THE BULLDOG	United States
BOB THE LIGHTHOUSE	United States
BOO	United States
BUZZY THE BEE	United States
CAPITÃO CAVERNA	Brazil
CARL THE COPPER	United States
CHEEZY	United States
CHIC-I-BOOM	United States
CLAW’D	United States
COCKOO MAG	Brazil
COCO THE CLOWN	United States
COMO SE LLAMA	United States
CONDE DRÁCULA	Brazil
CUTIE DINK	United States
CYNTHIA SEAL	United States
DARTH VADER	United States
DAZ	United States
ELVIS TRIBUTE	United States
FRANKBOY	Brazil
FRANKENSTEIN	Brazil
FREEDOM FLIGHT V	United States
GERONIMO	Brazil
GRIFFITH THE TIGER	United States
HAGAR	United States
HOPPER T FROG	United States
HUG A BEAR	Belgium
HUMPTY DUMPTY	United States
HYLA THE FROG	United Kingdom
IN THE BUFF	United States
INN OF THE MOUNTAIN GODS	United States
INTELLIGENT DESIGN	United States
ITSY BITSY	United States
IVO	United States
JOELLY	United States
JOEY LITTLE BEE	United States
KEEF THE TEEF	United States
KOSHARE GALLUP	United States
KOOLA KOALA	United States
LANCHERITO	Mexico
LILLY LITTLE BEE	United States
LINDY	United States
LULU	United States
LUNA BALLOON	Brazil
MARV’N	United States
MASTER YODA BALLOON	Belgium
MASTER ZABA	Canada
MILKYWAY	United States
MILTON	Australia
MONTIE THE BLACK SHEEP	United States
NO PROB LLAMA	United States
OFF THE WALL	United States
PARTY!	United States
PENCIL BOY	United States
PICO	United Kingdom
PIRATE BOY	Brazil
PRINCESS NELLY	Belgium
PUDDLES	United States
RED MACAW	Brazil
SUNNY BOY	United States
SUSHI	United States
SPEEDY	United States
SPLASH DUCK	United States
SIR MIX-A-LOT	United States
SMOKEY BEAR	United States
SNOBIRD	United States
SOMETHIN’ FISHY	United States
SPLASH	United Kingdom
SPYDERPIG	United States
STEGGY	Brazil
STORK	United States
TALL STEVE	United States
TE AMO	United States
TED D. BEAR	United States
TEDDY TWINS	United States
TICO THE SLOTH	Canada
TOYCAR	Brazil
TINY THE FIRE DOG	United States
VAMPIRELLA	Belgium
VLAD DRÁCULA	Brazil
VOLUNTOLD	United States
WAGZ	United States
WES THE WOLF	United Kingdom
XFINITY	United States
Z-BOY	Brazil
ZIGGY	United States
ZOZOBRA²	United States
ZORRO	United States
VISIT ALBUQUERQUE – LA RISTRA	United States

In addition, the 2026 ExxonMobil Balloon Fiesta® will feature 16 special shape “globitos.” Globitos are 1/3-scale remote controlled balloons and this year Balloon Fiesta will welcome over 100 of these miniature marvels.  

Special Shape globito balloons at this year’s Balloon Fiesta include:

Balloon Name	Country
AIRIEL, THE LITTLE UNICORN	United States
AJ	United States
BABY BURD (BBURD)	United States
BISCUIT	United States
BRIGHTY BOO	United States
CHEEKYTITA (CHEEKY)	United States
CORK THE PUPPY	United States
HOT SPOT	United States
LASKA	United States
MUFFIN	United States
PETER PORKER	United States
PIGGY	United States
RT66 AMERICA250	United States
SANTA CLAUSE	United States
STEGGY THE DINO-SOAR	United States
TWEETY	United States

About the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc.

The ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® is an annual festival of hot air balloons that takes place every October in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. It is the largest gathering of balloons and balloonists in the world. For details on events, schedule, and entertainment, visit our website, BalloonFiesta.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, or TikTok.

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