Colourful accents in the winter sky

Arosa Balloon Week 2026 is already part of history.

It leaves behind striking images, moving moments and many delighted faces. From 4 to 10 January, Arosa was entirely dedicated to hot air balloons, offering locals and guests alike a unique interplay of nature, technology and emotion. The week was opened on Sunday with the traditional Night Glow on the Obersee.

As dusk fell, the lakeside quickly filled with numerous spectators. In the winter cold, mulled wine and punch provided warmth, while the balloons lit up in time with the burners, bathing the Obersee in magical light. The combination of music, light and the snow-covered mountain backdrop made this opening a truly atmospheric experience.

Ideal wind conditions

Monday showed itself at its very best. Clear visibility, calm air and ideal wind conditions made for a breathtaking balloon flight. All six hot air balloons took off from the Obersee and drifted gently over Arosa. For the passengers, an impressive panorama opened up over the snow-covered Schanfigg, the surrounding peaks and the village from a bird’s‑eye view.

While five balloons landed back in Arosa after their flight, one team used the optimal high-altitude winds for an extended journey. The balloon climbed to an altitude of up to 3,800 metres above sea level, initially heading towards the Parsenn mountain station, before being carried by lower winds to Davos Frauenkirch, where it landed safely after about two hours.

In conversation with the crews

On Tuesday, the weather once again delivered a dream winter’s day, but the wind conditions presented challenges for the pilots. The winds in the valley basin did not allow for a safe flight, and the direction of the high-altitude winds would have carried the balloons into rough terrain. Safety is the top priority in ballooning, which is why this launch was cancelled. Spectators still got their money’s worth: at the Obersee as well as at “Islen” and “Hof Maran”, balloons were set up and there was the opportunity to experience them up close and talk to the crews.

Above the snow-covered landscape

Thanks to light winds in the valley, another two-hour flight could be undertaken on Wednesday afternoon. For around an hour, the balloons glided calmly over the snowy landscape, adding colourful accents to the winter sky, before landing again around “Hof Maran”. With the prolonged snowfall, conditions then changed significantly, so the remaining planned flights had to be cancelled for safety reasons.

The Arosa Balloon Club looks back on a successful and impressive Balloon Week 2026. Sincere thanks go to all sponsors, the participating hotels, the many volunteers, as well as Arosa Bergbahnen AG, Arosa Tourism and the civil engineering department for their energetic support. Without this teamwork, an event of this kind would not have been possible.

- Francis Horni