As we step into 2025, we want to take a moment to thank our customers for their support throughout the last year. Your continued trust means the world to us. We are excited for the year ahead and look forward to bringing you even more amazing experiences and fireworks in 2025!
To kick off the new year, cities around the world celebrated the new year with amazing fireworks displays, lighting up the skies. In today’s blog, we have compiled a list of some of the best fireworks displays from all over the globe.
1. London, UK
The iconic London New Year’s Eve fireworks display, often known as one of the world’s largest and most widely recognised, returned to welcome in 2025.
The 11-minute show lit up the sky above the River Thames, highlighting landmarks like the London Eye and Big Ben.
More than 12,000 fireworks and 420 lights were used, with animations including Olympic medals, the Union Jack, and Paddington Bear, reflecting important moments from the past year.
The display was broadcast live, allowing people around the world to enjoy the celebration and experience the stunning fireworks in real-time across the UK.
2. Sydney, Australia
Sydney’s New Year’s Eve 2025 celebrations were spectacular, with fireworks lighting the famous Sydney Harbour. There were two main displays, one at 9pm and another at midnight.
For the first time, fireworks lit up both sides of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, and rooftops across the skyline. Robbie Williams also performed live, leading a singalong just before the clock struck midnight.
The midnight display was seen by over 1 million people along the harbour and reached over 425 million worldwide.
3. Dubai, UAE
The 2025 Dubai New Year’s Eve fireworks took place at the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, which has been a tradition since 2010.
The display, which Emaar Properties organised, included fireworks, lights, and lasers.
The celebration also showcased an impressive drone show with over 10,000 drones, setting two Guinness World Records for the largest drone formations of a tree and a seashell.
Additionally, there was a live Dubai Fountain performance, and premium experiences were offered at Burj Park and Dubai Mall.
4. Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland, the first major city in the world to welcome the New Year, is famous for its incredible New Year fireworks display at the Sky Tower, and this year was no exception.
Thousands of people gathered at the tower and along the waterfront to watch the sky light up at midnight, and for those wanting a better view, many climbed Auckland’s volcanic peaks surrounding the city.
This year’s display was even more special with a laser light and animation show, plus stunning visuals projected onto the Harbour Bridge.
5. Shanghai, China
Shanghai’s New Year’s Eve fireworks lit up the skyline along the Huangpu River, which offered a stunning view against the backdrop of the oriental pearl tower and surrounding skyscrapers.
Thousands of spectators gathered along the riverbank to watch the fireworks display which took place at Baoshan International Cruise Port. China’s New Year celebrations also featured a drone display, which included animations of cultural symbols and Chinese text.
6. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach was the site of Brazil’s 2025 New Year celebrations. The beach was packed with 2.5 million people in attendance, with many dressed in traditional white outfits to symbolise peace and renewal for the year ahead.
At midnight, a spectacular 12-minute firework display lit up the sky with over 35,000 pyrotechnic shots synced to music.
The fireworks were launched from ten barges on the seas, and the celebration spanned over 5 locations across the cities, including Copacabana, Flamengo, Penha, Parque Oeste and Parquet Realengo.
7. Paris, France
Paris celebrated the arrival of 2025 with a stunning New Year’s Eve event on the Champs-Élysées.
Thousands gathered along the iconic avenue, where the Arc de Triomphe was transformed into the centrepiece of the celebration. A dazzling light show was projected onto the monument, featuring a countdown to midnight before fireworks filled the air to welcome the new year.
At midnight, over 3,300 fireworks lit up the sky during an 8-minute display, set to music by popular French artists like Juliette Armanet and Clara Luciani.
8. Southend, UK
Closer to home, where our factory is located in Essex, Southend-on-Sea hosted its first-ever New Year’s fireworks display.
There were 2 displays, with a family-friendly one at 6pm, which gave families with young children the chance to enjoy the festivities early, while the midnight show celebrated the official arrival of the new year.
Both displays lit the sky over the Thames Estuary, offering a stunning view along the seafront. The event drew large crowds, making it a memorable way for locals and visitors to ring in the new year. Hopefully, this will be the start of a tradition.
Cancelled displays across the UK.
Unfortunately, several New Year fireworks displays in the UK were cancelled due to bad weather, including those in Blackpool and Newcastle.
The most notable cancellation was Edinburgh’s famous Hogmanay celebration. The Met Office issued a weather warning for heavy rain, strong winds, and snow, leading organisers to cancel the event to keep everyone safe.
This meant the street party and fireworks over Edinburgh Castle were called off, marking the fifth time in twenty years that weather caused the event to be cancelled.
Drone fireworks displays: a new trend?
As technology advances, drone firework displays are becoming increasingly popular.
For the 2025 New Year celebrations, cities like Dubai and Shanghai embraced these cutting-edge light shows. Thousands of drones equipped with LED lights were used to create these displays, which create breathtaking visuals while offering a more sustainable and controlled option than traditional fireworks.
Heres to more fireworks and fun in 2025
In conclusion, the 2025 New Year fireworks were amazing, with both traditional displays and exciting new drone shows lighting up the skies.
From London to Dubai, each city brought something special to welcome the new year. We’re excited for what’s to come and look forward to more incredible fireworks in 2025!
