England wins the 33rd International Fireworks Competition

Brilliant highlight of the anniversary year: ^{The British team Pyrotex Fireworx has won the 33rd International Fireworks Competition organized by Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH (HVG). With their show “Lights, Camera, Action,” they wowed both the jury and the audience on September 20, 2025, in Herrenhausen, prevailing over strong international competition.}

Second place went to the Firemaster Productions team from Canada, while the dfp vuurwerk team from the Netherlands took third place.

The winning team from England

In front of an audience of around 11,500, Pyrotex Fireworx transformed the Großer Garten into an open-air cinema filled with light, music, and emotion. Under the theme “Lights, Camera, Action,” the team told stories from legendary films such as *Gladiator*, *Rocky*, and *Star Wars*. The precise synchronization of fireworks, music, and famous voice actors brought scenes to life and made the evening a special experience.

Founded in 1999 by Mark Kelsall, Pyrotex Fireworx is now one of the most successful pyrotechnics teams in the UK. With their combined expertise in pyrotechnics and the music industry, they have made a name for themselves worldwide—most recently in Vancouver in 2024, where they won both the jury and audience awards, and in 2019 as “Grand Champions” in the Philippines. With their victory in Hanover, the team continued its impressive success story.

The jury judged the performances according to clear criteria:

• Overall impression and creativity
• Synchronicity with the music
• Technical implementation
• Color design and effects
• Level of difficulty and innovation

In the end, it was the harmonious overall impression that made the difference: the perfect interplay of music, light and fireworks made the 25-minute show the winner of 2025.

The Historical Ties Between England and Hanover

In the anniversary year of 2025, only pyrotechnics teams from countries with close ties to the history of Hannover and the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen were invited. This includes England: in 1701, the “Act of Settlement” laid the foundation for the English royal throne of the House of Welf. Sophie of Hanover, the first Protestant in the line of succession, died in 1714 shortly before her coronation, but her son George I ascended the throne and established the personal union between Great Britain and Hanover, which lasted until 1837. English Guelph kings visited Herrenhausen regularly—a cultural legacy that was impressively brought to life by the guest performance of Pyrotex Fireworx.

International Fireworks Competition 2026: Dance of Northern Lights

In 2026, the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen will once again be transformed into a stage for world-class pyrotechnics. Under the theme “Dance of the Northern Lights,” five teams from Northern Europe will compete against one another—inspired by the mesmerizing aurora borealis. Between May and September, they will put on spectacular shows featuring music, light, and color against the backdrop of the Baroque gardens. Each performance begins with the compulsory piece, Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter,” performed by the NDR Radio Philharmonic, before the teams present their free programs. A diverse supporting program featuring culinary delights, music, and activities for children rounds out the evenings.

Dates & Teams

• May 16, 2026 - Denmark: Højen & Magic Fyrværkeri ApS
• May 30, 2026 - Norway: Pyroteknikk AS
• August 15, 2026 - Finland: Suomen Pyroteknikka (SPT)
• September 05, 2026 - Scotland: Fireworx Scotland Ltd
• September 19, 2026 - Sweden: Göteborgs FyrverkeriFabrik

Information and tickets are now available at
www.fireworks-hannover.de