Best Firework Shows

There's nothing quite like standing under a sky that explodes into sound, color, and light. From international spectacles to legendary hometown celebrations, the best firework shows light up the world with stunning visuals and heart-thumping excitement.

Whether you're a DIY pyro fan or a family looking for a holiday to remember, these shows set the gold standard for celebration.

They're choreographed experiences, engineered for precision, emotion, and crowd-shaking awe. And if you're inspired to create your own backyard spectacle, Red Apple® Fireworks gives you everything you need to match that energy, shell for shell.

What this article covers:

• Experience the World's Best Firework Shows
• Watch Iconic U.S. Firework Shows Light Up the Nation
• Attend Fireworks at International Festivals
• Explore Fun Fireworks Facts and Trivia

Experience the World's Best Firework Shows

Some of the most mind-blowing firework displays on Earth happen outside U.S. borders. These festivals blend heritage, creativity, and serious firepower in unforgettable ways.

International Fireworks Festival (Taiwan)

Each fall, Taiwan's Penghu Islands host the International Fireworks Festival, turning the archipelago into a pyrotechnic paradise. The fireworks are launched from barges and reflected in the harbor, creating a double-layered illusion of motion and color.

These events feature synchronized soundtracks, dramatic drone formations, and firepower from some of the world's best competitive teams.

With entries from Italy, Japan, South Korea, and beyond, this event is essentially the international fireworks competition of the Pacific. It's a multi-night celebration of technical mastery and visual storytelling.

The Dubai Fountain Show (Dubai, UAE)

If there's one city that doesn't do anything halfway, it's Dubai. On New Year's Eve, the Burj Khalifa and surrounding skyline erupt with aerial fireworks, lasers, and LED displays timed to music.

These effects are integrated into the world's tallest building and the Dubai Fountain, creating a 360-degree experience you can feel from miles away.

This spectacle is not just about altitude but about ambition. The show reportedly uses more than 500,000 fireworks in one night, putting it in the running for the world's biggest firework display.

Sydney New Year's Eve Fireworks (Sydney, Australia)

Few views are as iconic as Sydney Harbour on December 31. With pyrotechnics launched from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, and barges across the bay, this show draws over 1 million spectators on-site and tens of millions of global viewers.

The show layers precision-engineered bursts with indigenous themes, storytelling, and crowd interaction. For a sneak peek into what high-end choreography looks like in fireworks, Sydney's show delivers every time.

Watch Iconic U.S. Firework Shows Light Up the Nation

When it comes to holiday celebrations, America knows how to go big. From coast to coast, cities battle for bragging rights in delivering the best 4th of July fireworks in USA.

Macy's 4th of July Fireworks (New York City)

If you're counting iconic, this is the heavyweight champ. Macy's 4th of July Fireworks event draws more than 3 million in-person viewers and over 10 million watching live across the country. The 25-minute show features more than 60,000 shells launched from multiple barges on the East River.

Choreographed to a patriotic soundtrack, the show delivers colossal cake fireworks, themed bursts, and record-setting finale fireworks that light the skyline like a rolling thunderstorm of color.

Washington D.C. National Mall Fireworks (Washington, D.C.)

Nothing says patriotism like fireworks over the Lincoln Memorial. The National Mall show is deeply rooted in history and tradition, with over 7,000 aerial fireworks launched above some of America's most sacred landmarks.

This event combines live music, reflective storytelling, and sky-high drama to produce a Fourth of July show that's as emotionally stirring as it is visually powerful. Many families plan yearly pilgrimages just to witness the event up close.

Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular (Boston, MA)

Classic, refined, and wildly powerful, the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular blends orchestral music with master-level pyrotechnics.

Launched over the Charles River, the show is famous for its 1812 Overture segment, where canister shells burst in rhythm with live cannon fire.

The Boston Pops performance draws over 500,000 live attendees and delivers a rich sensory experience that's both educational and explosive.

Attend Fireworks at International Festivals

Fireworks aren't just limited to holidays. Some of the world's most captivating shows take place at festivals that celebrate everything from culture to creativity.

Festival of Fireworks (London, UK)

This choreographed showcase draws elite pyrotechnic companies from across Europe. Set at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, the Festival of Fireworks is a rare opportunity to see firework artistry from multiple nations compete in a single night.

Expect multilayered aerial fireworks, unusual color patterns, and ground-level effects that sync perfectly with customized music mixes. It's a battle of vision, timing, and firepower.

La Patum de Berga (Spain)

Held in Catalonia, this UNESCO-recognized festival dates back to the Middle Ages. The La Patum de Berga fireworks aren't just for the sky. They're embedded in costumes, props, and parade elements.

Known for its “Plens” performance, where the streets are flooded with fire devils launching sparking bursts just feet from spectators, La Patum transforms fireworks into immersive theater. While not for the faint of heart, it's an unforgettable showcase of cultural firecraft.

Explore Fun Fireworks Facts and Trivia

Behind every great fireworks show is a ton of tech, tradition, and trivia.

Here are a few eye-openers:

• The biggest firework show in the US took place in New York City in 2023, firing over 75,000 shells in under 30 minutes.
  
• The Chinese invented fireworks over 2,000 years ago using bamboo stalks filled with gunpowder.
  
• Aerial shells often contain multiple “breaks,” meaning one single shell can create multiple explosions at different altitudes.
  
• Fireworks colors are created using metal salts: strontium makes red, copper makes blue, and barium creates green.
  
• Want to know how many fireworks are used on July 4th? Millions. In 2024, Americans spent over $2.3 billion on fireworks, with tens of thousands of displays nationwide.

Whether you're into pyrotechnic trivia or just love the thrill of the boom, fireworks bring together science, history, and artistry like nothing else.

Conclusion

From skyline-shaking events to backyard bangers, the best firework shows capture the imagination and stir the soul. Around the world and across America, these epic displays prove that fireworks are a universal language of celebration.

At Red Apple® Fireworks, we make it easy to bring that same wow factor home.

With expertly crafted fireworks, from showstopping finale fireworks to budget-friendly firework bundles, your next show is only a spark away.

Check out our fireworks store locations or unlock exclusive perks with a Red Apple® membership. Let's light up the sky together!

Ready to learn more about fireworks? Check out these articles:

• Best Fireworks For New Years