{"id":555122,"date":"2025-11-07T12:45:49","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T12:45:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/555122\/"},"modified":"2025-11-07T12:45:49","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T12:45:49","slug":"bristol-international-balloon-fiesta-announces-profit-and-future-of-ashton-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/555122\/","title":{"rendered":"Bristol International Balloon Fiesta announces profit and future of Ashton Court"},"content":{"rendered":"

A report from organisers reveals that for the first time in years the fiesta made a small profit<\/p>\n

11:43, 07 Nov 2025Updated 11:44, 07 Nov 2025<\/p>\n

\"TheThe first mass ascent of the 47th Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2025 – Friday, August 8 – at Ashton Court Estate(Image: Paul Gillis\/Reach Plc)<\/p>\n

The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta<\/a> has revealed the future of its home at Ashton Court Estate<\/a>, having already announced the dates of next year’s event<\/a>, in what will be the 48th edition of the iconic festival of ballooning.<\/p>\n

The not-for-profit event will return to its beloved home at Ashton Court Estate from Friday August 7, to Sunday, August 9, 2026. It secured stability at an evening of celebration on Thursday, November 6, where a new partnership was agreed with Bristol City Council<\/a> to grant use of the estate for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n

Organisers say that the fiesta’s viability has also been ‘underpinned by significant support from the region’s business community’, particularly its first headline partner in a decade, accountancy firm Albert Goodman. The event has also seen long-term support from the likes of Thatchers, Butcombe, Great Western Railway<\/a> and the event’s delivery partners.<\/p>\n

As the Fiesta\u2019s 2025 Impact Report was published, a memorandum was signed by Don Cameron, founder and director of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta and Cllr Tony Dyer, Bristol City Council leader, to grant permission for the Fiesta to continue to use Ashton Court Estate until at least 2030.<\/p>\n

This year’s event was hugely successful, with two Night Glows, four out of six successful mass ascents, and brand new attractions<\/a> like the ‘In The Clouds’ area, where festival goers could step inside a cold inflated hot air balloon envelope, and the Flight Control big screen, which showcased where each and every balloon landed and how far they travelled during the Fiesta weekend. There were also plenty of opportunities to meet the ballooning teams themselves, some incredible special shapes, and even a Schools Tether Roadshow in the lead up to the main event in the summer.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Bristol International Balloon Fiesta’s Meet The Pilot sessions have proved popular once again(Image: Paul Gillis\/Reach Plc)<\/p>\n

It marked the second year to feature a major change to the structure and schedule of the iconic Bristol International Balloon Fiesta<\/a>. One of the biggest staples in the Bristol calendar, the 46th annual fiesta in 2024 went from a four-day event to a three-day event, which continued this year.<\/p>\n

As well as celebrating the event\u2019s civic contributions, the fiesta\u2019s 2025 Impact Report revealed that for the first time in years, the event made a small in-year profit. As a not-for-profit organisation, run by a voluntary board, organisers say the surplus will reduce aged debt.<\/p>\n

When the major change from a four day to a three day event was announced back in 2024<\/a>, organisers said at the time that this staple of the Bristol calendar has, in recent years, been affected not only by poor weather<\/a>, but by the Covid-19<\/a> pandemic, the rising cost of living, inflation and organisers say “challenges in the supply chain” – all of which have added to financial pressures.<\/p>\n

Organisers added that the commitment to continue the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta<\/a> was made ‘more prevalent’ following an economic impact survey carried out last year, which they say identified the event as the city’s most valuable outdoor event – injecting a staggering \u00a322.2million into Bristol’s economy in 2023 alone, \u00a314.7million of which was new expenditure in the city that would not have occurred without the event taking place.<\/p>\n

‘From humble beginnings’\"DonDon Cameron at the Sunday mass ascent(Image: PAUL GILLIS \/ Reach PLC)<\/p>\n

Don Cameron, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, said: \u201cFunny thing about humble beginnings, they have a habit of growing into something remarkable! When we first came up with the idea of hosting a balloon meet in Ashton Court in the seventies, we were simply wanting to bring some balloonists together to have a bit of fun.<\/p>\n

“To see it now, woven into the fabric of our city, is humbling beyond words. It has become part of all our stories, a gentle triumph that we now have a social and economic responsibility to protect.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy thanks go to Cllr Tony Dyer, and the council for granting us the continued use of Ashton Court Estate, which has unwittingly become one of ballooning\u2019s global capitals. Equally thanks must go to our sponsors, and every visitor and supporter \u2013 you have all helped turn a simple idea into something extraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n

Councillor Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council, added: \u201cIt\u2019s undeniable that the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta has played a significant role in shaping our city\u2019s global reputation for the past few generations. It sits proudly amongst the highlights of Bristol\u2019s world-renowned events calendar, a showcase for our city\u2019s heritage of ingenuity, enterprise, and curiosity.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m delighted to have been able to work with Don and his team to secure the use of Ashton Court for the foreseeable future. Whilst the value of the Fiesta to our local tourism and social economies is significant, equally as important is the inspiration the event sparks in many of the children and families who visit each year.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Image: Plaster PR)<\/p>\n

In addition to all of this, the 2025 Impact Report celebrated the progress the new strategy has made including:<\/p>\n