Festival Internacional de Balonismo de Alter do Chão
FIBAQ visits several Alto Alentejo towns on 7–12 November 2026. Watching, passenger flights and tethered ascents have separate arrangements.
The 29th Festival Internacional de Balões de Ar Quente moves between locations rather than using one field for the whole week. The organiser lists activities in places including Ponte de Sor, Montargil, Monforte, Fronteira and Alter do Chão. Check the meeting point for the session you select.
Watching launches and the night glow does not require registration. Passenger balloon flights use the Pulseiras Solidárias booking system, with a charitable contribution and limited places. These flights are for adults; tethered ascents have their own registration process and participation conditions.
The programme includes morning and afternoon sessions, ending in Alter do Chão. Weather may change the schedule or prevent flying. Book through the organiser and check the rules for your activity: a tethered ascent stays attached to the ground, while a passenger flight travels with the wind. The cover shows Alter do Chão’s castle, not a launch site.
Sources and photograph
The castle at Alter do Chão, one of the host towns. Context photograph, not a festival launch. Photograph by Portuguese eyes [2]. CC BY 2.0. Responsive versions may be cropped and resized.