Air traffic More than 45,000 visitors at the balloon festival in Château-d'Oex VD
More than 45,000 visitors attended this year's international balloon festival in Château-d'Oex in the canton of Vaud. Thanks to "exceptional" weather conditions, it was possible to fly on seven of the nine festival days.
01.02.2026, 17:38
SDA
The organizers of the 46th "Festival International de Ballons" announced on Sunday that 350 balloon flights with a total of over 450 flight hours were completed. 640 passengers were transported and over 1000 children experienced their first launch in a tethered balloon.
A highlight of the festival took place on Thursday, when almost 40 balloons flew together to the Gruyères region in the canton of Fribourg to take part in the precision competition. Balloons were dropped onto a target in the courtyard of Gruyères Castle.
A total of 81 launches were counted on Saturday. The balloons used a wind inversion close to the ground to return and land not far from the launch site, the festival organizers wrote.
In 2027, the balloon festival will take place in the Pays d'Enhaut from January 23 to 31.
