June 24 – 28, 2026
Murska Sobota, Slovenia
The International Open Slovenian and Hungarian Hot Air Balloon Championship 2026, taking place from June 24 to 28, 2026 in Murska Sobota, builds on previous national championships and expands them into a distinctly international event.
The competition is conducted in accordance with the rules of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) and its Commission Internationale d’Aérostation (CIA), which define the highest standards for organizing aviation sporting events. The championship is classified as an FAI Category 2 (CAT2) event and includes standardized precision flying tasks such as Fly In, Fly On, Hesitation Waltz, Judge Declared Goal (JDG), and Maximum Distance.
The event takes place in the same area of Murska Sobota that hosted the FAI World Championship in 2022. This provides a strong organizational and international reference, positioning the event among the more significant ballooning events in the wider region.
The results count toward the official World Pilot Ranking System (WPRS), further increasing the event’s importance and visibility. We expect 20 to 30 competing teams and approximately 10.000 visitors. The program is complemented by an engaging side program.
A special highlight will be the so-called fiesta hot air balloons, featuring unique and visually striking shapes that go beyond the traditional concept of ballooning.
