For three days in late August, the skies above Leszno will become a stage for hot air balloons, from sunrise flights to illuminated evening displays.
Leszno Balloon Night returns from 28 to 30 August 2026, bringing hot air balloons from Poland and across Europe to the city for a weekend centred on ballooning.
The organisers say more than 100 hot air balloons are planned to take part, making this year's event one of the largest balloon festivals in Europe. The programme combines flights with evening displays designed to transform the balloons themselves into part of the spectacle.
For Leszno, the event offers a different perspective on the city, with the balloon-filled skies becoming the setting for a summer gathering that can be experienced both during the day and after sunset.
From sunrise flights to illuminated skies
The programme changes character as the weekend progresses.
On Friday and Saturday evenings, 28 and 29 August, visitors can expect air displays followed by a night balloon show. Illuminated balloons will form the centrepiece of the evening, accompanied by music and pyrotechnics.
The night display is one of the defining elements of the event. Rather than seeing balloons only as aircraft, the evening programme presents them as illuminated objects in the night sky, creating a visual spectacle quite different from the daytime flights.
The morning programme offers another perspective.
On Saturday and Sunday, 29 and 30 August, sunrise balloon flights are planned. These early flights will bring the balloons into the sky as the day begins, with the changing light providing a very different setting from the evening displays.
The organisers also plan opportunities for members of the public to take part in balloon flights, offering the possibility of seeing Leszno from above rather than simply watching the balloons from the ground.
A weekend built around the ballooning experience
The appeal of Leszno Balloon Night comes from the contrast between the different parts of its programme. Evening displays create a shared spectacle on the ground, while the morning flights focus on the experience of being in the air.
That combination also gives the event a broad character. The organisers describe it as suitable for families, couples and people looking for an unusual weekend experience, while the planned participation of balloon teams from across Europe gives the event an international dimension.
For those watching from below, the scale of the gathering will be one of its most striking features. More than 100 balloons are planned, bringing together aircraft and crews from Poland and other European countries.
At the same time, the opportunity for members of the public to fly offers a more personal connection with the event. Instead of being solely a spectacle to observe, ballooning becomes something visitors can potentially experience themselves.
As August draws to a close, Leszno Balloon Night will therefore bring together several sides of the same activity: the quiet spectacle of sunrise flights, the movement of balloons across the daytime sky and the dramatic transformation of the balloons after dark.
It is this change of perspective, from watching the sky to becoming part of it, that gives the event its distinctive character.
Visitor Information
Event: Leszno Balloon Night
Dates: 28–30 August 2026
Friday, 28 August: Evening air displays and night balloon show
Saturday, 29 August: Morning sunrise flights and evening air displays and night balloon show
Sunday, 30 August: Morning sunrise flights
Planned participation: More than 100 hot air balloons from Poland and across Europe
Public flights: Planned for Saturday and Sunday mornings
