A Sparkling Anniversary – 350 Years of the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen

On May 17, 2025, Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH (HVG) will kick off the new season with the 33rd International Fireworks Competition. In this anniversary year, teams from countries that have made significant contributions to the history and development of the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen are invited to Hannover. The theme of this year’s
competition is “Sparkling Anniversary.”.

Over five evenings between May and September, five renowned pyrotechnics teams will present their spectacular shows against the backdrop of the Baroque Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen—traditionally featuring a required piece. This year, it will be the classic “Zadok the Priest,” one of George Frideric Handel’s most famous works, also known as the UEFA anthem. It will be performed by the NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. For the free program, the teams have no limits when it comes to music selection, pyrotechnics, and creativity.

The magic of this event is palpable from the moment you arrive, as the pre-show offers visitors a symphony for the senses: street performers, live music, cabaret, and a children’s program, along with local cuisine and picnic areas, help pass the time until the highlight of the evening, when the garden and fireworks come together to create a truly unique experience.

Five countries – five connections to Herrenhausen

To mark the garden’s anniversary, the spotlight is on five countries that have a special connection to the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen and have helped shape their development.
The United States has historical ties to the House of Hannover—which held the British throne at the time—dating back to the American War of Independence.

The Netherlands influenced garden design through Electress Sophie, who grew up there and introduced design elements such as the Graft. Canada, too, was part of the British Empire under the House of Hanover in the 18th century. Italy, the land of dreams for the garden’s founder, Duke Ernst August, provided artistic inspiration with its grottoes and garden theaters. For centuries, Hannover maintained close royal ties with England—particularly through the personal union.

“All participating fireworks teams not only bring their creative talents to the event, but also represent their countries’ special connection to the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen. These historical and cultural ties are reflected in the diverse shows with which the teams celebrate the anniversary in their own unique way,” says HVG Managing Director André Lawiszus.

Dates, Teams, Shows

Team Rozzi Famous Fireworks
05/17/25 (USA), Theme: A Cultural Tapestry
Rozzi Famous Fireworks was founded in southern Italy in 1895 and has been firmly rooted in Pennsylvania since Paolo Rozzi emigrated to the United States. Today, Nancy Rozzi is the fifth-generation head of the family business. The team captivates audiences with vibrant colors, intricate imagery, and flawless timing—most recently at the 2024 Danang International Festival.
With their show A Cultural Tapestry, the team will open the 2025 competition and bring the American Dream to life over Herrenhausen as a colorful mosaic of history, diversity, and vision.

Team dfp vuurwerk
June 14, 2025 (Netherlands), Theme: Memories
Team dfp vuurwerk was founded in 2012 by Jaco van Vuren and Bob Langras and has since been synonymous with the highest quality, creative choreography, and technical sophistication. Performances in Japan, Spain, and France, as well as a show for King Willem-Alexander’s 40th birthday, underscore their international reputation.
With “Memories,” they are bringing a Dutch fireworks display back to Hanover for the first time in 29 years—an emotional journey through shared memories, accompanied by baroque elegance and modern sounds that harmonize perfectly with the symmetry of the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen.

Team Firemaster Productions
August 16, 2025 (Canada), Theme: Women in Music
Since 2006, the team from Niagara Falls has been synonymous with world-class fireworks. With achievements such as second place in Herrenhausen in 2016 and victory at the Vancouver Celebration of Light in 2019, Firemaster Productions ranks among the world’s most renowned teams. Under the direction of Sean Morris, the team creates shows that captivate audiences with carefully selected music and state-of-the-art production.
With “Women in Music,” the team sets off an emotional fireworks display in honor of pioneering female artists—an evening full of energy, emotion, and a dazzling tribute to the women who have shaped the world of music.

Team Pirotecnica Morsani
09/06/25 (Italy), Theme: Opera in the Sky
This long-established team from Rieti, near Rome, has been delighting audiences since 1880 with elaborately staged musical fireworks displays. Pirotecnica Morsani has already performed at major events such as the Baroque Festival in Lisbon, the New Year’s celebrations in Rome, and the 700th anniversary of Bilbao—always with a passion for artistic precision and emotional depth.
With Opera in the Sky, the team pays tribute to the 350th anniversary of the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen, blending Baroque garden art with classical masterpieces from Handel to Puccini—an opulent spectacle of music, light, and emotion.

Team Pyrotex Fireworks
09/20/25 (England), Theme: Lights, Camera, Action
Founded in 1999 by Mark Kelsall, Pyrotex Fireworx is one of the most successful pyrotechnics teams in the UK. With deep expertise in the art of fireworks and the music industry, the team has impressed audiences worldwide—most recently in 2024 in Vancouver, where they won both the jury and audience awards, and in 2019 as “Grand Champions” in the Philippines.
In their show "Lights, Camera, Action," Pyrotex projects scenes from legendary films such as "Gladiator," "Rocky," and "Star Wars" onto the sky above Herrenhausen, impressively staged with light, music, and the voices of famous narrators.

Media partner Radio21 will be streaming all five events live.

The supporting program

For 350 years, the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen have epitomized a feudal lifestyle in a lush green setting. Just as the court society once did, visitors today stroll among magnificent plants, sculptures, water features, and the colorful grotto created by artist Niki de Saint Phalle. All of this provides the perfect backdrop for the event.
In addition, street performers, live music on various stages, comedy, dance, shows on the children’s lawn, and regional culinary offerings invite you to enjoy the wait until the fireworks. The program begins with a welcome at the East Main Entrance at 5:45 p.m.; admission to the Great Garden starts at 6 p.m.

Additional shows during the anniversary year

To mark the 350th anniversary of the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen, guests can look forward to special program highlights. On the first two evenings of the event, two special shows will take place in front of the Great Cascade—an atmospheric opening against the backdrop of the Baroque water feature.
On May 17, “Noah—The Drunken Master Show” will leave audiences in awe with a spectacular vertical theater performance. On June 14, the Universal Druckluft Orchester will transform the same location into a unique open-air stage with extraordinary sounds.
In addition, visitors to the Great Garden will encounter historical figures, experience short theatrical scenes with a Baroque flair, and listen to stories about garden art, narrated by Electress Sophie.

Baroque equestrianism in the Great Garden

A unique highlight of the supporting program awaits visitors on June 14. On this evening of fireworks, the Institut für klassische Reiterei Hannover e.V. will present an impressive demonstration of historical Baroque equestrian art in the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen. This exquisite display of 17th- and 18th-century dressage, featuring challenging maneuvers, elegant pirouettes, and artistic side movements, will be performed by highly skilled riders on approximately 25 magnificent horses.

New: The Design

The International Fireworks Competition now features a new, modern logo that perfectly captures the event’s unique atmosphere. The new website is also live. At www.feuerwerk-hannover.de, visitors can find all the information they need about the teams, dates, and the supporting program. The clean, minimalist yet evocative design of the logo and website reflects the precision and aesthetics of the art of fireworks while creating a contemporary, recognizable brand identity.

New: Front-of-Row Areas
 
For the first time, exclusive “front-of-row” seats are available at the International Fireworks Competition in the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen. These are located in the three so-called “fingers”—directly adjacent to the launch site. Access to the color-coded zones (orange, blue, pink) is on a “first come, first served” basis and is only possible with a wristband matching the respective color. These wristbands are available directly at the respective “finger entrance.” To ensure safety and clarity, the limited seats are divided into seating and lawn areas. You can find more information and an overview here.

Advance ticket sales and ticket prices

Tickets are available at the Hannover Tourist Information Office at Ernst-August-Platz 8 or online at https://www.feuerwerk-hannover.de/ticketshop/. A ticket costs 26 euros; the reduced price is 23 euros. A family ticket for two adults and two children aged 6 to 14 is available for 69 euros; there is an additional charge of 11 euros for each additional child. A season pass for 110 euros is a good value for all five events in this year’s competition.

Easter Special: Season Ticket Discount

Exclusive and limited edition: The last 80 of a total of 700 season tickets will be available only on Easter Saturday (April 19) at a special price of 100 euros—exclusively in person at the Tourist Information office at Ernst-August-Platz 8 in Hannover (open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

All-inclusive adventure packages

The “Sparkling Sky over Herrenhausen” package includes one night’s accommodation in a double room at a three- or four-star hotel, with breakfast and a ticket, for 89 or 99 euros.
The “Exclusive” package includes one night’s accommodation at a four-star hotel, with breakfast and a four-course dinner at the Schlossküche on the evening of the fireworks display. Admission to the fireworks competition is included—as is access to the VIP area at the Grotte, offering the best view of the spectacle. Price per person in a double room: 209 euros.
You can find more information about the packages here.

Arrival and departure

There are no special travel regulations in effect. The HVG strongly recommends that all guests use public transportation to get there. On the day of the event, your admission ticket is valid as a transit pass for all public transportation throughout the GVH network, starting three hours before the event begins and valid until 5:00 a.m. the following day. The “Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen” stop (lines 4 and 5) is located directly at the entrances to the fireworks competition.
During peak departure traffic, Herrenhausen is relieved by a parking guidance system. Part of the departure traffic is routed through uninhabited areas past the Graft via Steintormarsch and Nienburger Straße toward Königsworther Platz. Traffic is also directed toward Haltenhoffstraße via Burgweg in the north.
Those arriving by car will find parking available on the streets “Am Großen Garten” west of the gardens and “An der Graft” east of the gardens, as well as near the main east entrance.

About 58,000 visitors are expected
 
André Lawiszus: “As the new managing director of Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH, I am delighted to be overseeing the International Fireworks Competition as part of the special celebrations marking the 350th anniversary of the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen. With an expected 58,000 visitors from the region and around the world, the event is a true highlight of the calendar. With a varied special program, new offerings such as the front-row areas, and exciting innovations, we aim to provide all guests with unforgettable evenings in a unique setting.”