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Media Contact:
Brenna Moore/Visit Albuquerque
Office: (505) 222-4349
Moore@VisitABQ.org
Visit Albuquerque Highlights Promotions for 2026 Balloon Fiesta
Route 66 collectibles, a new “Red or Green?” globito and a special “Balloon of the Day” flight are among this year’s highlights
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – (Sept. 30, 2026) – Visit Albuquerque promotes travel to Albuquerque year-round, including a dedicated advertising campaign for the ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® running in 12 cities across five states from May 1 through Oct. 2 and featuring the 2026 commercial. To celebrate the 2026 event, the organization is offering on-field experiences and visitor resources to help guests enjoy the event and discover more of the city.
- To celebrate the Route 66 Centennial and this year’s Balloon Fiesta theme, “The Scenic Route,” Visit Albuquerque will offer new Route 66-branded souvenirs at its Mobile Visitors Center, located midfield on Main Street at Balloon Fiesta Park. Guests who stop by will have a chance to win sunglasses, a keychain or a bandana, along with other Visit Albuquerque collectible items. On Monday, Oct. 5, guests will have a chance to win a Visit Albuquerque-branded tote bag in celebration of New Mexico Day. The Route 66 Mailbox also returns during evening sessions, inviting visitors to write postcards to friends, family or themselves. Visit Albuquerque will stamp and mail the postcards after Balloon Fiesta concludes.
- The 2026 City Guide, a 72-page publication, is again available for Balloon Fiesta visitors. The guide features coupons to local businesses, a citywide calendar of events and helpful information about things to do and see in Albuquerque. It also includes the Balloon Fiesta schedule and a map of Balloon Fiesta Park. The special publication will be distributed to more than 30,000 visitors during Balloon Fiesta and will be available at area hotels, at Visit Albuquerque’s Visitor Information Centers in Old Town and at the Albuquerque International Sunport, its Route 66 Crossroads Information Station in Downtown and at its Mobile Visitors Center, located on Main Street at Balloon Fiesta Park.
- Throughout the nine-day Balloon Fiesta, Visit Albuquerque will extend hours at its visitor information centers. The Route 66 Crossroads Information Station in Downtown will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Old Town Visitor Information Center will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Visitor Information Desk at the Albuquerque International Sunport is slated to be staffed from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
- The Albuquerque Frame returns to midfield, inviting guests and media crews to take photos against a backdrop of hundreds of balloons. The 8-by-8-foot frame features Route 66 touches for the highway’s centennial, with props including Route 66 signs and red and green chile peppers. It is located next to the Mobile Visitors Center, where attendees can pick up an Official Albuquerque Visitors Guide and the City Guide or talk with volunteers about things to do around the city.
- Digital billboards on I-25 and I-40 will welcome Balloon Fiesta visitors and pilots and encourage them to explore Albuquerque. The billboards will display four different messages that will run from Oct. 1 through Oct. 11.
Visit Albuquerque Balloons and new “Red or Green?” Globito
- In partnership with Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Ride Co., Visit Albuquerque will debut its new “Red or Green?” globito at this year’s Balloon Fiesta. The remote-controlled balloon stands about 23 feet tall and has a volume of 100 cubic meters. Its envelope has 20 gores, the vertical panels that give a balloon its shape. Sewing took approximately 160 hours and used about 130 yards of fabric, including 90 square meters of digitally printed fabric. It will participate in Globito events throughout the festival and join Visit Albuquerque’s full-size “Red or Green?” and La Ristra hot air balloons on the field. La Ristra, a 128-foot-tall chile ristra with 56 pods, celebrates one of New Mexico’s most recognizable symbols, while “Red or Green?” pays tribute to the state’s official question and New Mexico’s star ingredient.
- On Sunday, Oct. 4, Visit Albuquerque’s “Red or Green?” hot air balloon, flown by Rainbow Ryders, will be the Balloon of the Day. It is scheduled to be the first balloon to launch after Dawn Patrol, carrying the American flag and taking off during the national anthem, weather and flight conditions permitting
Representatives of Visit Albuquerque are available in advance of and during Balloon Fiesta to discuss visitor impact for the event, including anecdotal lodging and direct spend information, and can speak to the variety of additional events taking place throughout the city. Available interviewees include:
- Tania Armenta, President & CEO
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Ceela McElveny, Vice President of Marketing & Communications
- Brenna Moore, Director of Communications & Public Relations
Many other events take place throughout Albuquerque during Balloon Fiesta. Because the event draws hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world, it is a prime time for a flurry of activity. Our website lists events happening throughout the city during Balloon Fiesta in addition to the main events on the field.
About Visit Albuquerque
Visit Albuquerque is an accredited destination marketing organization (DMO), and a private, not-for-profit organization [501(c)(6)]. The mission of Visit Albuquerque is to stimulate economic growth by marketing Albuquerque as a convention, sports and visitor destination. For more information, go to www.VisitABQ.org.
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