The 54th Irish Hot Air Balloon Championships took place at Lough Key Forest Park, Boyle, from 19–25 September 2026, bringing together pilots and crews from across Ireland and overseas for a week of competitive flying.
The annual event, held in the final week of September for more than five decades, saw competitors take to the skies for scheduled morning and evening flights, with launches planned for 7am and 5pm each day.
Weather conditions played their part throughout the week, with the Irish climate requiring some adjustments to the flying programme. Despite the challenges, pilots completed a series of aerial challenges across the Roscommon landscape.
The championship attracted balloons, pilots and crew from the United States, England, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany and Ireland, creating an international field for the 54th staging of the event.
Lough Key Forest Park once again provided a scenic backdrop for the competition, with the colourful balloon fleet visible above the surrounding woodland and lakes as teams tested their precision flying skills.
The Irish Hot Air Balloon Championships remain one of Europe's longest-running ballooning events, continuing a tradition that began more than half a century ago.
