Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival: tips for first-timers
What to expect at Lubao's balloon and music festival at Pradera Verde, and how to plan around the crowds.
✓ Reviewed by our editors
Discover Pampanga Editors · October 2026
Hot air balloons have flown over Lubao since 2014, when the Philippine International Balloon Festival was first held in Prado Siongco. Since 2017 the event has combined balloons with music, and the Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival now ranks among Pampanga's biggest annual events, held at Pradera Verde.
What to expect
The 2026 edition ran over two days, March 7 and 8, with balloon displays and a long lineup of OPM acts, from Kamikazee and Bamboo on the first day to Rico Blanco and December Avenue on the second.
Tips
- Buy tickets early. Organisers urged fans to do so in 2026.
- Balloon flights depend on wind and weather, so be ready for delays.
- Expect heavy traffic into Prado Siongco. Lubao is about 18 km from San Fernando and 84 km from Manila.
- Bring sun protection, water and something to sit on for the open fields.
- Few hotels are in Lubao itself, so many visitors stay in San Fernando or Clark.
Also in: Travel Guides, Travel Tips
Spotted something out of date? Suggest a correction.
More in Lubao
Travel Guides
Where to stay near Lubao
Lubao's few places to stay, and nearby options in Guagua, for the balloon festival and Pradera Verde.
Getting Around
How to get to Lubao
Lubao is 18 km from San Fernando and about 84 km from Manila, on the road to Bataan. Distances and what to plan around.
Things to do nearby
Adventure
Golf at Pradera Verde Golf Club
Championship golf in the Lubao countryside, about 45 minutes from Clark, with wide fairways, water hazards and a clubhouse.
Adventure
Pradera Verde, Lubao
Leisure estate in Prado Siongco with a golf course, the home ground of the Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival.
Attractions
Jose B. Lingad Park and Museum
Park and museum in San Nicolas 1st, Lubao, named after Jose B. Lingad.