This weekend the London skies are set to get very colourful as dozens of hot air balloons fill the skyline for a very special event.

The Lord Mayor's Hot Air Ballon Regatta has become an annual event since starting in 2019 and is the official ballooning event of The City of London.

The Regatta is an aerial extension of the historic Lord Mayor's Show that takes place every November on the streets of London.

Each year up to fifty hot air balloons will take flight in central London, in aid of raising awareness and funds for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

@detritus_rising #BalloonRegatta #london #hotairballoon ♬ original sound - Detritus.

The event is launched by the official Lord Mayor’s Appeal hot air balloon which carries both the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress.

Hot Air Balloon Regatta to fill the skies of London this weekend

The Hot Air Balloon Regatta first took place in 2019 in Battersea Park and saw 46 hot air balloons fill London’s skyline early in the morning at 5.30am.

It raised £76,000 for the Lord Mayor's Appeal and since its beginning has made £251,724 so far.

However, due to the Coronavirus pandemic the 2020 and 2021 Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta and in 2022 and 2023 due to weather conditions the event could not go ahead.

So far this year, the Hot Air Balloon Regatta was set to take place on July 7 with standby dates of July 21 but due to conditions could not take place with the final standby date this weekend, Sunday, July 28. 

You can get the latest updates on whether the Regatta will go ahead this weekend in London via this website.

Discussing London's Hot Air Balloon Regatta, The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Michael Mainelli said: "The Lady Mayoress and I look forward to flying above London as part of this very special event.

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"Raising funds and awareness for The Lord Mayor’s Appeal and its charity partners – MQ Mental Health Research, Homewards and National Numeracy – is important for the whole City of London.

The Regatta and its corporate partners are supporting the Appeal in its aim to create an inclusive, healthy, fair and skilled city – A Better City for All.

"This Regatta – one of the most unique, fun and colourful events of any Mayoralty – is raising money to improve lives across the capital and beyond."