The Château-d’Oex International Balloon Festival is scheduled for 23 to 31 January 2027.[1][3] From Montreux, take the GoldenPass train up the Pays-d’Enhaut (roughly an hour), go early for the morning ascents and keep a buffer for weather: in the 2026 edition balloons flew on seven of nine days.[1]
Dates: 23–31 January 2027 · Last edition: 24 January–1 February 2026 (46th), 45,000+ visitors.[1][2] Check the programme on the official site before you book.[4]
Photo: Pexels
In this guide
What the festival is
The International Balloon Festival is the winter event of the Pays-d’Enhaut: nine days at the end of January when dozens of hot-air balloons lift off from Château-d’Oex into the Alpine valley. The 2026 edition, the 46th, ran from 24 January to 1 February.[2] Organisers counted more than 45,000 visitors, and exceptional weather allowed flying on seven of the nine days.[1]
The next edition is scheduled for 23 to 31 January 2027.[1][3] That makes it a natural winter outing from Montreux, one hour up the valley and well clear of the lakeside crowds.
Getting to Château-d’Oex from Montreux
Take the GoldenPass line from Montreux station. It climbs out of the Riviera, crosses the Pays-d’Enhaut and stops at Château-d’Oex, roughly an hour away; check the timetable on sbb.ch for the festival-week schedule. The same line continues to Gstaad and, with a change, to Interlaken — see our GoldenPass Express guide. The train is the easy choice on festival days, when village parking fills quickly.
Plan around the weather
Balloons fly only in suitable wind and visibility, so the programme moves with the forecast. Even in the 2026 edition, which had exceptional conditions, balloons flew on seven of nine days.[1] Treat the first morning as a bonus rather than a promise: if you want a passenger flight, book one with a buffer day, and keep a fallback in the valley for a no-fly morning.
Watch or fly
Most visitors watch. The early-morning ascents are the highlight: arrive before sunrise, dress for sub-zero temperatures and give yourself time to walk to the launch field. Passenger flights are sold separately from entry; the official site is the place to check 2027 terms and how to book.[4] If a flight does not fit your plan, a cold, clear morning on the ground is still a memorable start to the day.
A day that works
- Early train from Montreux to be on the field for the morning ascents.
- Late morning: warm up in the village; Château-d’Oex is small and walkable.
- Afternoon: continue up the line to Gstaad (our Gstaad guide), or head back to the lake for dinner.
- Evening: back in Montreux — the lakefront is quiet in January, which is part of its charm.
Where to stay
If you want a dawn launch, sleeping in Montreux and taking the first train is simpler than finding a bed in the valley during festival week. A Montreux apartment with a kitchen keeps costs down for a family or a group, and the station is a short walk from central Montreux.
Base yourself in Montreux
RivieraHost manages apartments in Montreux and Clarens, close to the station for the early GoldenPass train.
Check availabilityRelated reading: GoldenPass Express: Montreux to Interlaken · Gstaad day trip from Montreux · Where to ski near Montreux in winter · Montreux winter guide
10+ years in hospitality. BBA Hospitality (Glion), MSc Tourism (FHGR), MSc Data Science (HSLU).
Frequently asked questions
When is the Château-d'Oex balloon festival in 2027?
The next edition is scheduled for 23 to 31 January 2027, according to Swissinfo and the regional broadcaster La Télé[1][3]. The 2026 edition, the 46th, ran from 24 January to 1 February 2026[2]. Confirm the programme on the official festival site before booking travel.
How do I get from Montreux to Château-d'Oex?
By train on the GoldenPass line, which runs from Montreux up through the Pays-d'Enhaut and stops at Château-d'Oex on its way to Gstaad. The ride takes roughly an hour; check the exact times on sbb.ch. There is no need for a car, and on festival days the train avoids the parking pressure in the village.
Is the balloon festival free?
Entry arrangements and flight prices are set by the organisers and can change between editions, so check the official site festivaldeballons.ch for the 2027 terms rather than relying on a past price. Passenger flights are sold separately from entry and are limited by weather and by the number of balloons in the air.
Will the balloons fly if the weather is bad?
Not always. Balloons only fly in suitable wind and visibility. In 2026 exceptional weather allowed flights on seven of the nine festival days[1], which means two days were not flying days even in a good year. Plan a buffer day if you want a passenger flight, and dress for sub-zero mornings.
Can I do it as a day trip from Montreux?
Yes. An early train gets you to Château-d'Oex for the morning ascent, and you can be back on the lake the same evening. If you want the dawn launch, or a passenger flight, staying overnight in Montreux and taking the first train is the practical compromise.
Sources
- Swissinfo, More than 45,000 visitors at the balloon festival in Château-d'Oex (VD) — 2026 attendance, flying days, and the 23–31 January 2027 dates.
- MySwitzerland, 46th Château-d'Oex International Balloon Festival — event listing for the 2026 edition (24 January – 1 February 2026).
- La Télé, Une semaine inespérée pour les montgolfières à Château-d'Oex — report on the 2026 edition, which gives the next edition as 23–31 January 2027.
- Official festival site, festivaldeballons.ch — the reference for the 2027 programme, entry arrangements and flight booking; not consulted for the figures above, check it before you travel.
Dates and conditions are those announced at the time of writing and can change; confirm on the official festival site.
Base yourself in Montreux
RivieraHost’s apartments sit steps from the lake — with kitchens, more space and better value than a hotel for families and groups. Every one is right on this guide’s doorstep.