Summary

Send us your photos of balloons flying across Bristol

Live Reporting

  1. Last balloons take off

    Bristol's skies are looking good this morning!

    The last balloons are now getting ready to take off.

    People are standing in a balloon basket on the ground.
    Balloons are in the sky while some are inflating on the ground.

  2. Action on the field

    Everyone is busy on the ground getting their balloons ready to go up.

    Colourful balloons are inflating on the ground while some are flying in the sky behind them.
    A balloon going up with people in the basket.
    People in a balloon basket.

  3. Lift-off! First balloons go up

    Clara Bullock
    Live page reporter

    The first balloons are going up this morning.

    A colourful balloon is seen against a cloudy morning sky.
    People are in the process of getting up a hot air balloon on the ground.

  4. And we're off - for a fifth time
    Breaking

    Get ready everyone!

    We've seen the green smoke, so the balloons are going to take to the skies this morning.

    That means five out of five mass ascents (so far!) have gone ahead this year.

    Green smoke is coming out of a black chimney in front of some trees.

  5. How easy is it to use this page?

  6. Waiting in the wings

    Will the balloons go up a fifth time?

    We're still waiting to hear whether the mass ascent is going ahead this morning.

    Our reporter Jonathan Holmes is poised at Ashton Court to bring us the latest.

    A balloon isinflated in front of a sunrise, with other balloons flat on the ground.

  7. A lookback on Saturday

    Maisie Lillywhite

    Seven hot air balloons tethered on the ground fire their burners as part of the nightglow at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. The flames are bright orangePaul Box

    Scarecrows, Sweet Caroline and green smoke. Twice. Saturday was a busy one at the fiesta.

    Two mass ascents delighted watchers at Ashton Court and across the city, and then crowds gathered for the nightglow - with organisers having to ask people not to travel to the site due to it being full.

    Here are some of the best pictures from yesterday.

    The scarecrow balloon has been a big hit throughout this year's Bristol International Balloon FiestaReuters
    A large crowd is creating hundreds of individual points of light by holding up their mobile phones. In front of them are parked multiple large vehicles with hot air balloon boxes attached to themPaul Box
    Four hot air balloons - one of which is in the shape of a lion - hover above a white and red helter skelter at a fairgroundReuters
    A man stands inside a colourful hot air balloon, which is half deflated on the floor, as he prepares it for flightReuters
    Lit-up hot air balloons are prepared for launch against an early morning blue sky. One of the balloons has a picture of Wallace and Gromit on it.Reuters

  8. Welcome to day three

    Maisie Lillywhite

    Happy Sunday, everyone. Today is the last day of the 2026 Bristol Balloon Fiesta.

    So, what can we expect?

    Weather permitting there will be a mass ascent at 06:00 BST, which would be a lovely way to start a Sunday morning. Another mass ascent is planned later on in the day at 18:00.

    Unlike Friday and Saturday there is no night glow this evening, but you can scroll through this live page to see the best bits of the Friday and Saturday night action.

  9. If you go down to the woods today

    A hot air balloon designed to look like the head of a white wolf is seen peeking out of a forested area as it comes in to landReuters

    You might see some hot air balloons. Welcome to day three of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta.

  10. That's it for tonight

    We are once again winding down our coverage for now, but will be back bright and early right here to hopefully bring you good news about Sunday's early mass ascent.

  11. 'This is actually really, really cool'

    We attached microphones to one family watching the nightglow on Saturday night.

    We think they speak for a lot of people....

    One family at the balloon fiesta is mic'd up for the nightglow

  12. Anyone still up?

    We did promise you a bit more content.....

  13. Nightglow brings Saturday to an end

    It's been another successful day at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta, with two mass ascents seeing dozens of balloons heading across the city, and a nightglow watched by a capacity crowd.

    Ashton Court is emptying now, but we hope to bring you some more content before the night is out.

  14. Enjoying the action up close

    For those who get to watch the nightglow from the centre of the launch field, it looks like a magical experience.

    Groups of families are seen under a series of hot air balloons, with the scene illuminated by their burnersPaul Box
    A close-in view of some hot air balloons being lit up by their burners on a dark nightPaul Box

  15. Heart of the action

    The BBC's Adam Crowther took this shot as the nightglow came to an end.

    Hot air balloons are illuminated by their burners at night

  16. Surrounded by the light

    A circular 360 picture taken from the inside of a balloon nightglow

    The BBC's Liam McGuinn took this stunning shot using a 360 camera.

  17. Final nightglow of the fiesta begins

    Hot air balloons glow against the night sky. They are on the ground as people watch on.

    Some early pictures from Ashton Court.

    We'll try and bring you more as the event unfolds.

    Hot air balloons - including one shaped like a wolf - stand in a line as they glow at night

  18. And we're off!

    Stand by for pictures.

  19. 'Hands...touching hands..'

    The crowd are singing Sweet Caroline. Expecting the nightglow to begin inside 10 minutes.

  20. Getting ready to glow

    The crowd all have their phones out, which is usually a strong sign the nightglow is about to begin.

    A large crowd holds up their phones with camera lights on at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta

  21. Waiting for the nightglow to begin

    Chloe Harcombe
    Live page reporter at Bristol Balloon Fiesta

    Everybody here at Ashton Court Estate has taken up their spot ready to watch the final nightglow of this year's fiesta.

    Last night it did not begin until about 21:30.

    A large crowd of people sat in a field
    Cars and deflated hot air balloons in the middle of a field. A large crowd can be seen in the distance