Dates and venues of Kite, Hot Air Balloon and Drone Festivals 2026 in Hyderabad announced

The upcoming programmes in and around Hyderabad coinciding with Sakranthi festival generated interest among people. Telangana Tourism Department announced the dates and venues of the International Kites & Sweets Festival, Hot Air Balloon and Drone Festivals to be organised between January 13 and 18.

Various kinds of huge size kites will take to the skies over Parade Grounds in Secunderabad during the International Kite and Sweets Festival 2026 festival from January 13 to 15. Special night-flying event is scheduled on the three dates. Handloom and handicraft stalls and food courts with Telangana and other cuisines would be set up at the venue. The International Sweets festival will be organized in association with Culture Language Indian Connections (CLIC) where large number of various sweets prepared by residents of  Hyderabad — natives of other States and countries — would be showcased. Around 40 international and 55 national kite flyers from 15 States would participate.

The festival, to be held from January 16 to 18, would feature 15 International standard balloons which will arrive from European countries. The morning session would be organised on Hyderabad outskirts and the evening session with night glow balloons at Parade Grounds, as per a press note from the Tourism Department. It was reported in The Hindu earlier that the Department has identified three tentative locations, including Jalamandalli Park near Gandipet and another area near Himayatsagar.

It would be held at Gachibowli stadium on January 13 and 14, with high-tech drones, multi-colour LED lights and aerial manoeuvres, representing India’s leap from cultural heritage to modern innovation in aerial sports. “The event will feature a full LED-lit racecourse spanning the stadium field with FPV (First Person View) video feeds on giant screens for immersive viewing, soccer playing by drones and Telangana destinations will be showcased,” as per the press note.