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THIS year's British Musical Fireworks Championships is taking place again i Southport tonight. We asked the Southport's Tourism Team a few questions and this is the teams and Sefton Council Tourism Team's response:-
1. What makes Southport's British Musical Fireworks Championship so different from all the other Fireworks Championships?
"What makes the British Musical Fireworks Championship special is the combination of fireworks and music. It is a pyro-musical competition, so each display is carefully choreographed to a soundtrack, with the fireworks timed to complement the music. That combination of light, colour and sound creates a completely different experience from a traditional fireworks display. It is also a genuine competition, with six companies taking part across two nights in 2026."
2. With the recent weather conditions across the UK and Europe, if the dry conditions keep happening, how will it impact on your abilities to put on displays?
"At present, the dry conditions are not expected to affect our ability to stage the event. As with any major outdoor event, conditions are continually monitored and safety remains our priority. We work closely with the professional display companies and relevant partners to ensure the event can be delivered safely."
3. The traditional electrical firing system is Fire One, but with lots of new firing systems being introduced to the industry, has AI started to help with the planning and/or firing off the displays?
"There are a number of different professional firing systems used within the industry, including FireOne, FireByWire and Cobra. The choice of technology and how it is used to design and deliver an individual display is a matter for each competing pyrotechnic company, so they would be best placed to comment on whether or how AI is being incorporated into their work."
4. If you had to pick, what fireworks would you say are the most used within your displays and why?
"As event organisers, we don't design the individual displays or select the fireworks used. Each competing company creates its own show, so this would be a question best put directly to the competitors."
5. When planning a display, how long does it take to get your show together?
"The design and preparation of each display is managed by the individual competing companies, and the time involved will vary depending on the complexity of their show. The competitors themselves would be best placed to give an insight into that process. From our perspective as organisers, planning for an event of this scale takes place well in advance and involves extensive coordination to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors."
6. How do you pick the music and have you ever had music specifically made for your display, now AI is becoming more commonly used?
"The soundtrack and creative concept for each display are chosen by the individual competing companies, so they would be best placed to explain how they select their music and whether they use technologies such as AI as part of their creative process. From our point of view, that's part of what makes the competition so interesting: each company brings its own creative approach to combining music and pyrotechnics."
7. If you had to judge the displays, what would you put as your most important rule, other than safety?
"For the audience, I think one of the most exciting elements is how successfully the fireworks and music work together. The event is all about that relationship between sound and spectacle, so a display that creates a real sense of excitement and connection with the audience is always memorable."
8. Do you have any interesting behind-the-scenes stories you can share that show just how much effort you put in to put the shows on?
"What visitors see is 2 evenings of spectacular entertainment, but there's a huge amount of work behind the scenes to make an event like this happen. It involves months of planning and coordination between our events team, the competing firework companies and the many partners involved in delivering a large outdoor event. Once the gates open, our focus is on making sure thousands of visitors can enjoy a fantastic evening in Victoria Park. This year that includes not only the competition itself, but live music, family activities, food and drink and a dedicated sensory quiet zone."
For tickets to Sunday and to findout all the amazing events we still have to go in Southport this year, plus more information about next year's events, please visit:- VisitSouthport.Com.
1. What makes Southport's British Musical Fireworks Championship so different from all the other Fireworks Championships?
"What makes the British Musical Fireworks Championship special is the combination of fireworks and music. It is a pyro-musical competition, so each display is carefully choreographed to a soundtrack, with the fireworks timed to complement the music. That combination of light, colour and sound creates a completely different experience from a traditional fireworks display. It is also a genuine competition, with six companies taking part across two nights in 2026."
2. With the recent weather conditions across the UK and Europe, if the dry conditions keep happening, how will it impact on your abilities to put on displays?
"At present, the dry conditions are not expected to affect our ability to stage the event. As with any major outdoor event, conditions are continually monitored and safety remains our priority. We work closely with the professional display companies and relevant partners to ensure the event can be delivered safely."
3. The traditional electrical firing system is Fire One, but with lots of new firing systems being introduced to the industry, has AI started to help with the planning and/or firing off the displays?
"There are a number of different professional firing systems used within the industry, including FireOne, FireByWire and Cobra. The choice of technology and how it is used to design and deliver an individual display is a matter for each competing pyrotechnic company, so they would be best placed to comment on whether or how AI is being incorporated into their work."
4. If you had to pick, what fireworks would you say are the most used within your displays and why?
"As event organisers, we don't design the individual displays or select the fireworks used. Each competing company creates its own show, so this would be a question best put directly to the competitors."
5. When planning a display, how long does it take to get your show together?
"The design and preparation of each display is managed by the individual competing companies, and the time involved will vary depending on the complexity of their show. The competitors themselves would be best placed to give an insight into that process. From our perspective as organisers, planning for an event of this scale takes place well in advance and involves extensive coordination to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors."
6. How do you pick the music and have you ever had music specifically made for your display, now AI is becoming more commonly used?
"The soundtrack and creative concept for each display are chosen by the individual competing companies, so they would be best placed to explain how they select their music and whether they use technologies such as AI as part of their creative process. From our point of view, that's part of what makes the competition so interesting: each company brings its own creative approach to combining music and pyrotechnics."
7. If you had to judge the displays, what would you put as your most important rule, other than safety?
"For the audience, I think one of the most exciting elements is how successfully the fireworks and music work together. The event is all about that relationship between sound and spectacle, so a display that creates a real sense of excitement and connection with the audience is always memorable."
8. Do you have any interesting behind-the-scenes stories you can share that show just how much effort you put in to put the shows on?
"What visitors see is 2 evenings of spectacular entertainment, but there's a huge amount of work behind the scenes to make an event like this happen. It involves months of planning and coordination between our events team, the competing firework companies and the many partners involved in delivering a large outdoor event. Once the gates open, our focus is on making sure thousands of visitors can enjoy a fantastic evening in Victoria Park. This year that includes not only the competition itself, but live music, family activities, food and drink and a dedicated sensory quiet zone."
For tickets to Sunday and to findout all the amazing events we still have to go in Southport this year, plus more information about next year's events, please visit:- VisitSouthport.Com.
British Musical Fireworks Championship
Saturday, 26 September & Sunday, 27 September 2026
| Saturday | 17:30 - 21:30 |
| Sunday | 17:30 - 21:30 |
2026 Competitors:-
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Skyburst (Saturday)
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Monumental Fireworks (Saturday)
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Sonic Fireworks (Saturday)
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Celestial Displays (Sunday)
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Flashpoint Fireworks (Sunday)
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Fire Monkey Pyro (Sunday)
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