Canberra’s annual Balloon Spectacular will return for nine days in March, bringing up to 40 hot air balloons back to the capital’s skies.

A feature attraction for 2026 will be the debut of a special-shaped balloon known as Finley the Turtle. The ACT government says the balloon is from the UK and completed its first flight in Qatar last month. Its owner, Chris Freeman, hopes the balloon’s appearance will raise awareness of turtle conservation efforts in Australia.

The ACT government says the balloon event will run from Saturday, March 14, to Sunday, March 22, and will again be based at Patrick White Lawns behind the National Library, while restoration works continue at John Dunmore Lang Place.

According to the government, the festival is the only hot air balloon event in the world that launches over a national capital, with balloons expected to take off at sunrise each morning, weather permitting.

Entry to the Canberra Balloon Spectacular will be free.