Blackpool International Firework Competition

Do you miss having to wait for the 1 day a year when you see an organized firework display? Do you miss the rockets, roman candles, comets, crackles, whistles, star bursts? Well Blackpool may have the answer, each September/October it holds the International Fireworks Championship from Blackpool's Beach.

Blackpool Fireworks

Each September/October Blackpool plays host to the International Fireworks Championship. There is a display on the weekend after the Illuminations Switch On. The build-up usually starts at 7:30pm and the fireworks start at 8:30pm subject to weather conditions. It is staged on Saturday on selected weekends in September and October.

Each year a number of countries are represented by their best firework display team. They are given the opportunity to set up huge displays from the Beach. This display is designed by the respective company and choreographed to of a piece of music of their choice.

Gone are the days of lighting the blue touch paper and running, now its another thing that's all done by computers. Well computers will brilliant engineers to program them, and amazing designers to imaging the display in time and space. These days multipoint remote firing increases safety, accuracy, and timing. But without the skill of the technicians this would all add up one big bang and lots of smoke.

The displays usually start with a big build up from a local radio station playing great music and whipping up the crowd between North and Central piers.

Then when this sky is dark and the promenade is lit by the famous Blackpool Illuminations and you thought that Blackpool couldn't get any more colourful, a magical, shooting fountain erupts, followed by a bang and off it goes. With multiple rockets firing simultaneously and bursting in perfect synchronization with matching or complementary colors. A spectacular crescendo of colour and sound as giant Chinese "cakes" hypnotize you with crackles, screamers, and comets.

The displays can be seen from Bispham in the North to Squires Gate in the South. Probably the best vantage point is from Central pier looking towards North Pier. The images you see on this page where taken from the headland that is adjacent to South Pier, as you can see you can still have a great viewing location from South Pier. If you are lucky the tide will be in and the reflections of the fireworks in the sea is brilliant.

For 2022, the event will take place with revised dates and a new launch-pad over the beach in front of The Blackpool Tower.

2022

• Saturday 17th September – Postponed - because of the proximity to the State funeral.
• Saturday 1st October – Caribe Fire FX from Barbados
• Saturday 15th October – Celtic Fireworks from Wales
• Thursday 27th October – Fireworks Factory from Finland
• Friday 28th October – Celebratory display with Titanium Fireworks

All displays are subject to weather conditions. Details of competing countries and firing times will be announced soon.

2021

• Saturday 11th September – Russia
• Saturday 25th September – Ireland
• Saturday 9th October – Germany
• Saturday 23rd October – UK - Winner announcement and display by Titanium Fireworks

2020

• Cancelled due to Covid

2019

• Friday 6th September – Estonia - Pyrocom
• Friday 13th September – Canadian - Orion Fireworks
• Friday 20th September – Ukraine - Dance of Fire
• Friday 27th September – UK - Winner announcement and display by Titanium Fireworks

2018

• Friday 7th September – France - Pandora Pyrotechnie
• Friday 14th September – Romania - Pyri-Technic
• Friday 21th September – Canada - Firemaster
• Friday 28th September – UK - Winner announcement and display by Titanium Fireworks *Postponed due to high winds
• Friday 5th October – UK - Winner announcement and display by Titanium Fireworks
• Saturday 13th October - Special Fireworks display - entertainment from 7:30 pyrotechnics starting at around 8.30

2017

• Friday 8th September – Poland - Super Power
• Friday 15th September – France - Brezac Artifices
• Friday 22th September – South Africa - Fireworks for Africa
• Friday 29th September – Non competing Fireworks Display from a UK team and the competition winner announcement

2016

• Friday 9th September – Australia
• Friday 16th September – Slovakia's Privatex Pyro
• Friday 23rd September – USA's Rozzis Famous Fireworks
• Friday 23rd September – Non competing Fireworks Display from a UK team and the competition winner announcement

2015

• Friday 11th September – China, Tanghua Fireworks
• Friday 18th September – France, Feerie
• Friday 25th September – Canada, Orion Fireworks
• Friday 2nd October – Non competing Fireworks Display from a UK team and the competition winner announcement

2014

• Friday 5th September 2014 – Team Sweden
• Friday 12th September 2014 – Team Austria
• Friday 19th September 2014 – Team Canada - WINNERS
• Friday 26th September 2014 – Closing Display – UK’s Titanium Fireworks

2013

• Friday 6th September 2013 – Ireland – Rocket Fireworks
• Friday 13th September 2013 – China – Vulcan Fireworks
• Friday 20th September 2013 – France – Focus Pyro - WINNERS
• Friday 27th September 2013 – exhibition only – UK’s Titanium Fireworks

2012

• Friday 7th September 2012 – FAE Pyrotechnie inc – Canada - WINNERS
• Friday 14th September 2012 – Brezac Artifices – France
• Friday 21st September 2012 – Howard & Sons Fireworks – Australia
• Friday 28th September 2012 – exhibition only – Kimbolton Fireworks

2011

• Friday 9th September 2011 GFA Pyro – Canada
• Friday 16th September 2011 Rohr – Germany
• Friday 23rd September 2011 Foti International – Australia - WINNERS
• Friday 30th September 2011 – exhibition only – UK’s Kimbolton Fireworks

2010

• Friday 10th September 2010 - San Tai - Taiwan
• Saturday 11th September 2010 - Féérie - France - WINNERS
• Sunday 12th September 2010 - DW Fireworks - Canada

2009 saw Focus Pyro from France, Rocket Pyrotechnic from Ireland, Vulcan International from China, Lukasser Design Fireworks International from Austria, and finally a Celebration Display by Kimbolton Fireworks. The voting is via text messaging and the winner was announced during the Celebration Display.

2008 saw Zink Feuerwerk from Germany, Firemaster Productions from Canada, Forward Fireworks from China and Rocket Fireworks from Ireland compete. With a public text vote to decide the winners. On the last Friday evening in September Kimbolton Fireworks from the United Kingdom produced a celebration display and the results were be announced. The winner of the 2008 World Fireworks Championship was Forward Fireworks from China.