Ah, fireworks. Who doesn’t love them? The exciting sights and sounds seem to fulfil some primal urge we have to be shocked, startled and amazed. And, of course, it’s always fun to see big explosions and pretty lights. 

While we’ve all most likely seen some displays here and there, we’re unlikely to have experienced the best fireworks in the world. From Fourth of July celebrations in New York City to festivals in Spain and Italy, this article will run through a list of where to see the most spectacular displays. 

Some nights are perfect for big displays - New Year’s Eve, for instance, is accompanied by flashes of colour and light all around the world. Others, like the Fourth of July in America, the 5th of November in the UK and so on, are more local celebrations. Here, we’ll show you how to catch some of the best firework shows in the world from unique locations around the globe.

FIREWORKS IN DUBAI

Dubai is famous for its opulence and beautiful scenery, but the New Year’s Eve celebration is special even for this city. Many displays are available in the area, including ones at iconic sites like the Burj Khalifa. Perhaps the best, though, can be found at the Palm Jumeirah. If you’ve seen aerial images of Dubai, you’ve probably seen this set of artificial islands that seem to bloom out of the water. 

Come along on New Year’s Eve to see rockets, spinners and even lasers. For the best results, book a table at the Club Vista Mare, or head to the new Palm Boardwalk early to grab the best standing spot. 

If you’re interested in visiting this unique city, we have a variety of great holidays to Dubai on offer here.

THE BEST PLACE TO WATCH 4TH JULY FIREWORKS: NYC

Americans love all things BIG. Their cars, their country and their celebrations all fit the bill. They’re also, stereotypically at least, quite fond of explosions. Add in some good old fashioned national pride and you have all the ingredients for out-of-this-world Fourth of July celebrations. 

And where better to see them than in the country’s most iconic city? The Macy’s Fireworks Spectacular has over 40,000 different types of fireworks, and the show can be seen from far and wide. 

NYC Hotels 

In case you needed more reasons to book a New York holiday, NYC is also home to some truly world-class hotels. Famous names like the Roosevelt and the Paramount let you stay in the lap of luxury, while Times Square’s Manhattan Hotel puts you right at the heart of the city.

Two other fantastic options are the Hotel Pennsylvania, which is ideally located near some of the city’s best attractions, and the Days Inn Hotel Broadway, which is the perfect base for anyone with a love for art and culture.

PRETTY DISPLAYS IN PARIS

Bastille Day commemorates an event that took place during the French Revolution: a group of Frenchmen stormed a prison, stole weapons and freed prisoners.

While France tends to avoid mentioning the later periods of the Revolution when things got a little too focused on beheading, this is still a major national holiday - and it’s celebrated in style. If you’ve ever wanted to see the Eiffel Tower lit up in bright, brilliant colours, make sure you’re in the country on the 14th of July during one of your future holidays to Paris.

FESTA DEL REDENTORE FIREWORKS IN VENICE

Not many great parties begin with the deaths of 50,000 people - but that’s exactly how Venice’s Festa del Redentore started. A plague swept through the city in 1576 but when it ended, the Venetians responded in typical Italian style: they threw a massive feast. 

Today, it’s a weekend-long event and features an hour of astonishing fireworks launched over St Martin’s Basin. If you’ve never relaxed in a floating gondola while the sky lights up around you, a holiday to Venice could be just what you need.

Venice Hotels 

Venice is a popular tourist destination - which means it has a great variety of hotels, from the prestigious Antony Palace and the Hotel Marconi Venice to the more modest Park Hotel Junior and the Smart Hotel Holiday.

VIVACIOUS DISPLAYS IN VALENCIA

From 15-19 March, Valencia erupts in a huge celebration in tribute to St Joseph. The event, called Las Fallas, features displays across all four days, including beautiful fireworks every day at 2pm.

The big blowout, though, comes on the final night, when the giant paper mache ninot figures built and paraded around the event are stuffed with explosives and set alight. The result is an awesome, impressive display that easily ranks among the best fireworks in the world. 

Top Tip: Ninots are often designed to look like famous figures, so keep an eye out for any familiar faces before they go up in flames! 

DIWALI DISPLAYS IN GOA

Diwali is a festival themed entirely around light, so it makes sense that it’d be a great place to see some fireworks. The five-day autumn celebration is the biggest event on the Hindu calendar, and sees good symbolically vanquish evil as light vanquishes the dark. 

And if that sounds intense, you haven’t heard how Goa celebrates. Here, events focus on the god Krishna’s defeat of the demon Narakasura - which explains the large, demonic figures you can see parading through town. In the finale, similarly to the Spanish practices many thousands of miles away, some of these figures are filled with fireworks and blown up. 

On top of all this, a holiday to Goa during Diwali will enable you to see Indian art on display throughout the city, with private houses and public spaces alike decked out in beautiful, intricate patterns. It’s truly a must-see experience.

DISNEY WORLD FIREWORKS IN ORLANDO

The final item on our list isn’t another city. Instead, it’s an area designed solely to be a place of wonder and fantasy: Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. A range of displays are featured here, and each lives up to the magic of the resort. 

Seasonal celebrations include Christmas, Halloween and, of course, the Fourth of July, with displays themed around each of these holidays. Throughout the year, other special attractions grace each park: The Animal Kingdom bursts into life in the Tree of Life Awakenings, while Hollywood Studios’ Star Wars-themed show is sure to delight fans of a galaxy far, far away. 

Perhaps the best, though, is the classic Happily Ever After show, which sees lights erupt over the Magic Kingdom’s iconic Cinderella Castle. The huge display climaxes with Tinkerbell flying over the park and up to the highest tower. It’s cheesy, perhaps, but it really does capture the magic Disney has always sold so well. 

Best of all, each of these shows runs regularly, with some on every single night. Look up in advance to avoid disappointment, but know that whenever you come to Disney World, fireworks are guaranteed. 

Disney World Hotels 

As a world-famous resort, Disney World also boasts some truly world-class hotels. Big names like The Hilton and the Holiday Inn each have sites nearby, while lesser known resorts like The Avanti, the Ramada Plaza and the Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista are sure to impress as well.

After this, you’re probably itching to catch at least one of the best fireworks displays in the world. If you are, why not look into some of the accommodation listed above and start planning your next trip now? You don’t want to miss out on the light display of a lifetime!