Pampanga Press Club’s First 2026 KapiHANN Media Forum have BCDA President and CEO Jake Bingcang, Tarlac Governor Christian Yap and PIHABF Organizer Capt. Joy Roa as the esteemed guests held at Swissôtel Clark.
The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta returns to Central Luzon from February 13 to 15, 2026, filling the skies above New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac with color, motion, and sound. Now on its 26th edition, the country’s longest-running aviation festival continues its tradition of blending flight, spectacle, and public engagement. Known as “A Weekend of Everything That Flies,” the event brings together pilots, aviation professionals, families, and tourists for three days of aerial displays and ground-based attractions.
This year’s program features more than 20 special-shaped hot air balloons, complemented by a large-scale drone light show, paragliding exhibitions, ultralight aircraft flights, and aviation-related competitions. Beyond the visual appeal, the fiesta has evolved into a platform for education and tourism promotion, with career talks, interactive exhibits, food markets, and live performances forming part of the experience. Its return to New Clark City reinforces the area’s growing role as a national venue for major events.
Strong provincial backing from the Tarlac Provincial Government plays a key role in hosting the festival. Governor Christian Yap has publicly expressed full support for the fiesta, citing its value in stimulating local tourism and business activity. Provincial offices have coordinated closely with host municipalities such as Capas and nearby towns to manage crowd movement, safety, and basic services. Local officials expect the influx of visitors to drive demand across hotels, restaurants, transport providers, and community-based enterprises throughout Tarlac.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority, under President and CEO Jake Bingcang, provides the backbone infrastructure and site management that allow the festival to operate at scale. As steward of New Clark City, BCDA has facilitated the use of its open grounds and sports facilities while improving access to the area. For the 2026 fiesta, BCDA arranged free shuttle services connecting Clark International Airport, Capas, and Bamban to the venue, supported by clear directional signages along major expressways.
BCDA’s broader infrastructure work also feeds directly into the event’s success. Ongoing road expansion projects, including additional ramps at the SCTEX–Luisita Interchange, are designed to ease traffic flow into northern Tarlac and Clark. These upgrades benefit not only festivalgoers but also long-term mobility for residents, businesses, and future events. BCDA officials have described the 2026 edition of the fiesta as larger in scale, aligning with their vision of New Clark City as a premier destination for international sports, leisure, and tourism activities.
Clark International Airport Corporation adds another layer of support by linking air connectivity with on-ground access. Under the leadership of President and CEO Jojit Alcazar, CIAC has committed free shuttle services from Clark International Airport’s point-to-point terminal directly to New Clark City throughout the festival dates. This setup allows arriving passengers and overseas visitors to move easily from airport to venue without added transport costs.
CIAC has also positioned the fiesta as a showcase for Clark’s transformation into a major aviation and tourism hub. Officials describe the event as an iconic gathering that reflects years of investment in airport facilities, open spaces, and event-ready zones within the Clark Aviation Capital. Newly developed parks and large outdoor areas make it possible to host crowds of this size while maintaining safety and comfort. From CIAC’s perspective, events like the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta translate aviation growth into tangible economic activity for the region.
Taken together, the coordinated efforts of the Tarlac Provincial Government, BCDA, and CIAC form the foundation of the 2026 Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. Their combined work on logistics, transport, infrastructure, and promotion allows the festival to operate smoothly while delivering benefits beyond the event grounds. As thousands gather at New Clark City to watch balloons rise at dawn and drones light up the night sky, the fiesta stands as a clear example of how collaboration across government agencies can turn a celebrated event into a regional economic driver.