SeasonalJune 3, 2026
The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival: What It Is and Where It Stands in 2026
The valley's signature festival, explained: what makes it special, the honest 2026 status, and how to get the balloons-plus-wine experience this year anyway.
By Heath Clendenning, REALTOR® and your local guide
For more than four decades, the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival has been the valley's signature weekend: dozens of hot air balloons rising off Lake Skinner at dawn, wine tasting through the afternoon, and headline concerts after dark. If you searched for 2026 dates and found confusion, here is the clear answer, plus the local playbook for getting everything the festival offers without the festival.
What the festival is
Held at Lake Skinner Recreation Area in Winchester, about 10 miles northeast of Temecula, the festival traditionally packs three signature experiences into one weekend:
- Dawn mass ascensions: dozens of balloons inflating and lifting off the lake's grassy flats at first light, the photo the valley is known for.
- An evening balloon glow: tethered balloons firing their burners in sync after sunset, lighting up like paper lanterns.
- Wine, food, and music: tasting from local wineries, craft food, and concert headliners on the main stage.
Where 2026 stands
The short version: the county and the festival association parted ways this spring. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted in March 2026 to terminate the association's use agreement for Lake Skinner, citing unpaid obligations from the 2025 festival, which released the dates the festival had reserved. The organizers have publicly said they hope to bring the event back on a fall date. Nothing is confirmed as we write this, and we would treat any third-party site listing 2026 tickets with real suspicion. When an official date exists, it will be announced by the festival association and the county, and this page will say so.
How to build the festival weekend yourself
Here is the local secret: everything the festival bundles exists in the valley year-round, and most of it is better without the crowds.
- The balloons: commercial operators fly at dawn nearly every clear morning, taking off from the wine country itself. A private or shared basket over the vineyards is the festival's best moment, upgraded. Our outdoors guide lists the operators with booking links.
- The wine: more than 40 wineries pour every week along Rancho California and De Portola roads. Pick a trail, book two tastings, and have a long lunch between them. The wine country map on our wine guide is built for exactly this.
- The music: winery concert series run all summer, and Pechanga books national acts year-round. Check our music guide for the venues that matter.
- The lake itself: Lake Skinner's campground, fishing, and picnic flats are open as usual, and the county confirmed public access on the dates the festival had held.
If the fall revival happens
A fall festival at Lake Skinner would land in the valley's best season: harvest wraps up, the light goes gold, and mornings are calm and cool, which is exactly what balloons want. Sign up for our newsletter and we will send the announcement when it is real, not rumored.
Frequently asked
Is the Temecula Balloon & Wine Festival happening in 2026?
No. Riverside County terminated the festival association's Lake Skinner use agreement in March 2026, and no 2026 festival is scheduled. Organizers have said they hope to revive it on a fall date; nothing is confirmed yet.
Why was the 2026 Balloon & Wine Festival cancelled?
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted in March 2026 to end the festival association's agreement to use Lake Skinner, citing unpaid bills from the 2025 event. That released the dates the festival had reserved for 2026.
Can I still ride a hot air balloon in Temecula without the festival?
Yes, and locals would argue it is the better version. Commercial balloon operators fly at dawn nearly every clear morning over the wine country, with private and shared flights bookable year-round. See our outdoors guide for the operators.
Where was the Balloon & Wine Festival held?
At Lake Skinner Recreation Area in Winchester, about 10 miles northeast of Temecula, with balloons launching off the lake's grass flats at dawn.
What is the best way to find out if the festival comes back?
Watch for an official announcement from the festival association and Riverside County, or subscribe to our newsletter; we track valley events weekly and will cover a confirmed revival immediately.