CHIANG RAI – Singha Park is ready to brighten the northern skies this Valentine’s season with the 10th anniversary of the Singha Park International Balloon Fiesta. The celebration is set to spotlight Chiang Rai province as a “World Class Love Destination.”
Running from February 11 to 15, 2026, this much-loved event brings romance, adventure, and local culture together in one standout week, attracting visitors from across Thailand and overseas to see ASEAN’s largest hot air balloon festival.
The Singha Park International Balloon Fiesta started as a bold idea, mixing agro-tourism with the natural beauty of Singha Park Chiang Rai. The park itself is well known for wide green views, tea fields, and calm lakes.
The first fiesta took off around 2017 and soon became a key event in northern Thailand’s travel calendar. Early years had balloons from just a few countries, but interest grew quickly.
Singha Park International Balloon Fiesta Teams
From 2018 onwards, the festival welcomed pilots and teams from more than a dozen nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Latvia, France, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Spain, the Philippines, and Thai balloonists.
What began as a sweet Valentine’s-themed celebration turned into the region’s leading balloon event. It’s best known for early morning mass ascents, evening night glow shows with music and lighting, and competitive balloon races with prize money that often tops 100,000 baht.
The timing, close to Valentine’s Day on 14 February, has helped make the fiesta a symbol of romance. One of the most talked about moments is the “Balloon Love” (or “Love Balloon”) activity.
Couples, both Thai and international, can register marriages or renew vows while floating above Chiang Rai’s mountains, valleys, and morning mist. In past years, around 14 to 16 couples have been chosen for these sky-high ceremonies, sharing a rare view and a once-in-a-lifetime memory.
For 2026, the 10th anniversary is set to be bigger again. Organisers have announced more than 30 balloons from 13 countries, plus upgraded shows, live music, cultural displays, and activities for families. The goal is clear: to keep building Chiang Rai into a global place for love and outdoor fun, backed by a decade of crowds and strong support.
Valentine’s Day in Thailand: Loved, Celebrated, and Always Colourful
In Thailand, Valentine’s Day, often called “Wan Valentine”, has become a major date on the calendar. It isn’t a traditional Thai festival, but it’s grown fast since the 1990s, helped by media, shopping, and Thailand’s open attitude towards world trends.
Couples usually swap flowers, chocolates, soft toys, and cards. Surprises pop up at homes, offices, and schools. Red is everywhere, linked with luck and passion in Thai culture, so you’ll see it in outfits and decorations.
Many couples also travel to well-known places for the day. Bangkok’s Bang Rak district (the “Love District”) is famous for group wedding registrations, and temples such as Wat Trimurti draw crowds who come to pray for long-lasting love or a partner.
Thailand also puts its own spin on the day. Some couples choose underwater weddings in the south, skydiving ceremonies, or romantic dinners on cruises along the Chao Phraya River. More recently, as Thailand has moved forward with inclusive laws (including same-sex marriage legalisation), Valentine’s Day has become a wider celebration of love in all forms.
Where Love Takes Flight
That spirit carries into Chiang Rai during the fiesta. Visitors can watch lakeside performances, including grand Khon dance shows that tell stories from the Ramayana, plus concerts with top Thai artists. Food stalls serve local favourites, which makes it a great trip for couples, families, and groups of friends.
This 10th-anniversary year is shaping up to be the biggest yet. Expect sunrise launches that colour the morning sky, night glows that light up the park after dark, and extra Valentine’s touches throughout the week.
Whether you’re drifting above the countryside with someone special or watching from the ground, the Singha Park International Balloon Fiesta invites everyone to see Chiang Rai as a place where love really does take flight.
As Singha Park gets ready to mark this milestone, excitement is building for a celebration that looks back on ten years of sky-high moments while setting the stage for an even brighter future for Chiang Rai tourism.
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