As part of the Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE) 2024 fireworks displays, for the 1st time ever in Australia, 4 pyrotechnic drones (“aerial pyrotechnic platforms”) will be used.
Replacing 3 pontoons to the east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the drones will launch around 600 pyrotechnic effects.
The drones will feature in both Calling Country & the Midnight Fireworks.
Pyrotechnic drones have been used around the world since 2021. Mostly seen in the Middle East so far, the 1st prominent display of firework drones was utilised at the 2021 Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix:
Golden waterfalls have been used on these aerial pyrotechnic platforms already but the most creative use of these drones so far was held in Paris earlier this year & surprisingly not at The Games Of The 33rd Olympiad! On Bastille Day, the annual fireworks display off the Eiffel Tower & around the Trocadero Gardens, which, since 2019, Sydney Spectaculars has deemed as the best annual pyrotechnic display on earth, was jaw dropping with their use of drones, even if it got repetitive after a while. Themed to the values of the City of Lights, Olympism & Paralympism, the full 20-minute display can be watched below as a preview to the potential these pyrotechnic drones provide to Sydney NYE:
The above Paris display used 1000 drones, not all pyrotechnic drones, while Sydney will use just 4 pyro drones in their Australian debut so don’t expect Paris-sized pyro drone spectacles yet in Sydney.
Anyway, back to the Harbour City. Despite the removal of 3 pontoons on the eastern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for these 4 aerial pyrotechnic platforms, 1 pontoon will remain there.
Photograph: Chris Southwood for the City Of Sydney
A special waterfall creating the name, ‘Sydney’, will also feature during the fireworks displays. This is highly likely not the traditional ‘streaming candle’ waterfall effect but rather the ‘Roman candle’ waterfall effect that used to feature frequently during the 9pm fireworks. However, it is more likely this ‘Sydney’ waterfall will feature during the Midnight Fireworks.
One of the fish-shaped fireworks will form the shape of sharks. Looking out for the sharks will be fireworks in the shape of fishhooks while accompanying fireworks of emu’s feet are fireworks in the shape of tracks of emus.
The official pyrotechnics provider, Foti International Fireworks, has worked 4500 hours in preparation for the iconic displays, including unpacking 120 tonnes of equipment from 18 shipping containers to link 80 kilometres of wires & cables to 16 computers & 32 firing panels since the 20th of December. On NYE, when 70 staff from the pyrotechnic company will work for the event, 1000 fireworks will be fired off the Sydney Opera House’s western sails while the Sydney Harbour Bridge will feature 30,000 pyrotechnic effects fired from 7500 cues.
The Calling Country Fireworks soundtrack was also revealed to be called Our Greats.
It’s no wonder our New Year’s Eve display is regarded as one of the largest & most technologically advanced fireworks shows on earth.
Every year, the Foti family works its magic to produce an event that continues to be bigger, brighter & more innovative and entertaining.
Clover Moore, City Of Sydney Lord Mayor
We spend weeks meticulously planning the displays to ensure they are perfectly synchronised with each show’s specially created soundtrack.
We work through every segment of the soundtracks – the lyrics, the highs & lows of the music, the breaks & the crescendo – to ensure the display visually matches the mood & energy as perfectly as possible.
We’re always looking at how we can evolve our show & believe this will be one of the most innovative New Year’s Eve displays in the world.
Not only do we have more fireworks than ever before, we’re extremely excited to introduce the aerial platforms concept – the 1st time this has been done in Australian fireworks history.
The introduction of 80 new positions on the Bridge & an additional firing location on the western side has enabled us to extend the footprint of the display & offer people a better view of the fireworks. No matter where you are around the harbour, you’re in for a great show!
Fortunato Foti, Foti International Fireworks Director
Sydney Spectaculars 
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