Paper balloons fill sky with art - 10th August 2026

More than 250 colourful, tissue-paper balloons have floated through the sky over Michoacán region in Mexico. The city of Pátzcuaro's tenth Cantoya Fest was attended by over 20,000 visitors, who came to see the unique, hand-made designs.

The balloons, which are called 'cantoya', are named after Don Joaquín de la Cantolla y Rico. This self-taught aeronaut built Mexico's first hot-air balloons. He also created miniature paper models of his balloons.

Local craftspeople began making these toy balloons. Their popularity led to balloon makers organising local competitions. 10 years ago, a group created Cantoya Fest to celebrate this craft on a larger scale.

It's an opportunity to appreciate their design, says one of the organisers, Raúl Dionisio Cortés.

Raúl Dionisio Cortés: "The significance of creating a work of art using a paper balloon is something that only balloon makers can truly appreciate."

The tenth Cantoya Fest included local teams and 100 national teams. They were joined by 17 guests who arrived from Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, France and Italy.

Although teams get competitive, it's a fun, supportive experience, explains Jorge Alberto Belmont, a competition judge.

Jorge Alberto Belmont: "It's a 100 percent family-friendly event that brings people together. It's really lovely. For us, it's a traditional toy, but that traditional toy brings families and friends together. Even though there's a competition among the balloon groups, everyone comes together to support one another and get their balloons to fly."

This year's designs were inspired by the festival's 10th anniversary slogan "where dreams take flight". Pátzcuaro's name in the local P'urhépecha language means 'place of happiness'. The brightly coloured balloons delighted the spectators who attended at Cantoya Fest as they rose into the sky.