– Everyone can enjoy the sky filling with color as over 200 static hot-air balloons from 25 countries lift off, thanks to “People’s Friday.”
– Guanajuato continues to solidify its reputation as a world-class destination with the Festival of Festivals.
León, Guanajuato – November 13, 2025
The sky over Guanajuato will once again burst with color, music, and excitement at the 2025 International Balloon Festival (FIG), taking place November 14–17 at León’s Parque Metropolitano.
This year’s festival opens with a brand-new initiative: “People’s Friday,” a free-admission day for all families announced by Governor-elect Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo, welcoming thousands of visitors from the very first hours of Friday, November 14. The goal is to ensure nobody is left out of one of the country’s most anticipated events. In the morning, locals can enjoy the first balloon ascents at no cost; in the evening, ticketed access grants entry to Gloria Trevi’s inaugural show.
The International Balloon Festival is one of Mexico’s flagship tourism events and ranks among the world’s largest celebrations of its kind. Backed by the State Secretariat of Tourism and Identity (SECTURI), FIG enjoys growing international exposure and cements its role as a cultural and economic engine for the Bajío region.
Over 200 hot-air balloons from 25 countries will participate in this year’s edition, including 30 special-shaped balloons—ten of which will debut in León. Highlights include the Swiss Cow (Switzerland), Hammerhead Shark (Brazil), Save Me (Lithuania) with its environmental message, and the official Disneyland balloon celebrating its 70th anniversary by flying outside the U.S. for the first time, starring Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
For more than two decades, FIG has drawn over six million attendees from Mexico and 25 other nations. Its economic impact is significant: an estimated MXN 850 million infusion and 90 percent hotel occupancy across the four-day event. In 2024, FIG’s digital content reached over 425 million people worldwide and generated 3,500 news stories in national and international media.
FIG doesn’t just fill the sky—it fuels the local economy. Each edition creates 250 direct jobs and more than 4,000 indirect jobs, benefiting hoteliers, restaurateurs, transport operators, artisans, local artists, entrepreneurs, and families around the Parque Metropolitano.
This year’s social innovations include the People’s Caravans—bringing hot-air balloons to various Guanajuato municipalities—and the People’s Pavilion, showcasing and selling Marca Guanajuato products to boost local consumption and regional identity.
FIG 2025’s music lineup will draw audiences of all ages:
• Friday, Nov. 14 (“People’s Friday”): Gloria Trevi opens the festival.
• Saturday, Nov. 15: The Dream Nite transforms León’s sky into a light-filled dance floor with international DJs Dimitri Vegas & Afrojack in an unprecedented electronic music spectacle.
• Sunday, Nov. 16: Mexican pride Carín León closes out the festival with an emotional performance at the Parque Metropolitano esplanade.
Magical Nights return featuring illuminated flights, Star Dance drone choreographies, and synchronized music, while the Coca-Cola Stage alternative forum offers a platform for local and national artists, promoting Guanajuato talent and family-friendly fun.
Held in the Parque Metropolitano—a protected natural reserve that becomes Mexico’s aerial heart each November—FIG operates under strict sustainability and environmental protection measures, ensuring every flight and show is eco-responsible.
In 2024, the festival granted 1,500 complimentary tickets to associations and foundations such as Dr. Sonrisas, ALUCCA, Inspiración del Corazón, DIF León, and rural schools, reaffirming its social commitment and inclusive focus.
The Government of the People, through the Secretariat of Tourism and Identity, drives FIG in coordination with the organizing committee and municipal authorities to ensure a safe, inclusive, and emblematic event that keeps León and Guanajuato on the map for world-class gatherings.
More than a festival, FIG 2025 is a celebration of who we are: a community that looks skyward with hope, transforms creativity into economic momentum, and proudly celebrates its identity.
