Mildura’s winter skies are set to come alive with colour when Balloons Over Mildura returns this July.
The event runs from 4 to 12 July 2026, bringing hot air balloons, pilots, crews and visitors to the region for more than a week of flying over Sunraysia.
For anyone who has always wanted to see Mildura from above, public joy flights will also be available around the event period. Flights are listed as running from 27 June to 12 July 2026 through Global Ballooning, giving passengers the chance to float over the Murray River, vineyards, open country and the city itself, depending on weather conditions.
Video from previous event at the Merbein Golf Club
But this is not just a sightseeing event. Balloons Over Mildura will also host Round Two of the Australian Balloon Federation Hot Air Balloon Grand Prix, bringing skilled pilots to town for serious competition flying.
The competition involves precision, planning and plenty of skill, with pilots chasing points, rankings and bragging rights in the skies above Mildura. So while the balloons might look like they are simply drifting across the sky, there is a fair bit more going on than meets the eye.
The big crowd favourite is expected to be the Night Glow on Saturday 4 July at Mildura Recreation Reserve. Balloons will light up to music, creating what should be one of the most colourful winter sights in Mildura.
More details and bookings:
Joy flight details and bookings:
https://www.globalballooning.com.au/mildura/
Competition details:
https://watchmefly.net/events/event.php?e=mildura2026
Night Glow ticket details:
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1558099
With big skies, cool mornings and plenty of open country, Mildura is a natural fit for ballooning. If the weather behaves, this could be one of the standout events of the winter calendar.