Icons of the Sky

Welcome to Icons of the Sky 2025! This is a rolling page we'll be updating throughout the weekend with flying decisions and weather conditions. Do also check our social media and the Longleat app.

Don't forget to check out our Top Tips to help you make the most of your day.

Despite our best efforts, the weather has beaten us and sadly Icons of the Sky 2025 has had to wrap early as it would not be safe to fly planes or balloons due to the strong winds forecast, as well as low cloud creating poor visibility. Longleat remains open with plenty to do or see until 5pm  

We would like to thank every single balloonist, pilot, team and crews behind-the-scenes who have worked so tremendously hard to ensure we had spectacular displays for two and half days and to you for supporting the event.

Over the coming days we will be sharing with you, videos and pictures of the best moments and look forward to seeing yours too.

We’re flying this morning! There is a long-awaited break in the weather, and preparations for a mass ascent of hot air balloons into the sky above Longleat is underway. Some will stay behind to entertain you via tethering, including the much-anticipated appearance of Oggy, who stands just under 150 feet tall.

We are constantly reviewing the forecasts, liaising with pilots and the Met Office and will update again mid-morning about the rest of the day’s activities as part of Icons of the Sky which is an added extra to the standard day ticket. In the meantime, all our attractions will be open, and we are looking forward to seeing you.

Tethering of the shaped balloons is planned throughout the morning as the wind permits, and guests are invited to have their photographs taken in the baskets.

The air display is planned to go ahead this afternoon but may be interrupted by showers.

Icons of the Sky is included in our standard day ticket so there remains plenty to see and do this weekend from our drive-through Safari to a trip on the railway to exploring Longleat House.

We are continuing to monitor and review the weather, we will update again at 4:30pm.

The Great British Weather is not being kind to us and there will not be a mass ascent this morning. We are planning to tether between the rain showers. Icons of the Sky is included in our standard day ticket so there remains plenty to see and do. We’re looking forward to seeing you and will be sharing updates throughout the day. 

The air display with warbirds, parachutists and more is proving quite the spectacular; sadly, the windy weather means we are not able to fly balloons this evening. We are hoping to have some balloons tethering. We’re delighted the pyrotechnic air display, Jamma de Samba and Super Pirates are running as planned. The night glow is planned to be a basket glow before fireworks bring the first day to a close. We will update again from 630am tomorrow. 

Tethering of the shaped balloons is planned throughout the morning, and guests are invited to have their photographs taken in the baskets. The air display is planned to go ahead this afternoon but may be interrupted by showers.

Icons of the Sky is included in our standard day ticket so there remains plenty to see and do this weekend from our drive-through Safari to a trip on the railway to exploring Longleat House. We are continuing to monitor and review the weather, we will update again mid-afternoon.

Welcome to Icons of the Sky; unfortunately, the weather is against us this morning and a mass ascent is not possible as the winds at 1000ft plus are three times faster than is safe.

However, our balloonists are hoping to tether so you can see them in action. We are continuing to monitor the weather closely and we will update again early afternoon.

• This weekend – 12-14 September - is expected to be very popular so please make sure to book online to avoid disappointment. Icons of the Sky is an added extra to our Day Ticket, which you can purchase here.

• Members must pre-book throughout the weekend. Make sure to log in to access Member tickets. Pre-book as usual for £1 for Friday 12 & Sunday 14 September, with reduced price tickets on Saturday 13 September. Tickets can be found here.

• You’re welcome to join us from 7am on the 12, 13 and 14 September, with our first aerial event of the day due to take place at 7.15am; weather permitting. Our firework finale is the last event of the day and finishes up at 8.30pm. You can find a full schedule (as well as an introduction to some of the aircraft taking flight) here.

• We are closely monitoring the forecasts, both here and where aircraft are due to fly from.

• Parking, walking routes and the event are all on grass, so we recommend you wear suitable footwear and outdoor clothing appropriate for the season. 
 
• Limited accessible parking is available – please speak to a marshal, if you need to park close to the event; the furthest car park is 1.2km away from the arena and an 18 minutes steady walk.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to this spectacular event from 7am tomorrow; there will be so much to see and do on site!

Some displays are subject to weather conditions which we are monitoring closely with a direct line to the Met Office in Exeter; we will be updating our Social Media, our app and the website regularly from 6.30am tomorrow – Friday 12 September.