Boost for ballooning with Art of Flight grant

The Nationals Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland MP, has welcomed a $30,000 grant to support the Art of Flight Ballooning Festival in Benalla.

The funding will help deliver the festival at Benalla Airport from 6 to 12 April 2026, bringing a spectacular celebration of hot air ballooning to the region while attracting visitors and boosting the local economy.

Ms Cleeland said the event would strengthen Benalla’s reputation as a tourism centre of the North East, building on its vibrant arts profile and growing calendar of major events.

“This is fantastic news for Benalla, with the Art of Flight Festival set to fill our skies with colour, bring visitors to town, and deliver real benefits for local families and businesses,” Ms Cleeland said.

“Benalla already has a strong arts and cultural identity, and events like this help extend that story, positioning the town as a must-visit destination in the North East,” Ms Cleeland said.

“I also want to acknowledge Paul Gibbs from Goldrush Ballooning, whose passion and leadership have been instrumental in raising the profile of ballooning in our region and helping create opportunities like this that buoy our regional economy,” Ms Cleeland said.

The Art of Flight Ballooning Festival promises a colourful and memorable experience for the community, and this grant ensures the festival can continue to grow and attract visitors from across Victoria and beyond.

The event is held at the Benalla Airport between the 6th and 12th April 2026 and more information can be found at https://art-of-flight.com/