Publish at June 18 2026 Updated June 18 2026
The sky remains an incredible canvas. On sunny days, its azure hue reveals white and gray clouds of various shapes. Storms can cast a distinctive darkness over it, streaked with lightning. Finally, night reveals the moon, the planets, and the stars. At least, in places not bathed in artificial light, like cities.
In addition to this natural spectacle, humans have decided to add their own… flamboyant touch. Fireworks are an invention dating back to the pre-Christian era in ancient China. While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact creator, given their ancient origins, historians know that their earliest uses were far from festive, unlike ours today.
In fact, a monk began using them to drive away evil spirits, the kouei, which took the form of terrifying shadows capable of traumatizing the living and the dying. These spirits were supposedly terrified by loud noises. Thus, firecrackers and fireworks were initially used for this purpose. Centuries later, with the improvement of explosives, humans developed displays for celebration and, in other cases, for war.
Today, while they are still associated with national holidays, sporting events like the Olympics, and New Year’s Eve celebrations, it seems that fireworks’ reputation is beginning to fade. This is because today, people are increasingly aware of the impact of pyrotechnic displays on nature and on humans.
Anyone who has attended a display will recall that even several minutes after the final explosions, the fumes from oxidized metals linger in the air. In fact, microparticles of strontium, copper, barium, iron, and other substances used in pyrotechnics float in the air and seep into the soil and waterways, where they threaten the food chain. Furthermore, for people suffering from health issues such as asthma, bronchitis, or cardiovascular disease, these fine particles exacerbate their condition.
And that’s not to mention the environmental impact. In addition to micropollutants, a 15-minute fireworks display emits roughly 200 kilograms of carbon dioxide—equivalent to a Paris-to-Marseille flight. We also know that fireworks are loud and that, generally, a display ends with an impressive grand finale whose sound sometimes exceeds 150 decibels. The equivalent of a cannon blast at point-blank range for birds that abandon their nests in panic, disrupting the nighttime routine of many animals and generally terrifying pets.
This is without even considering the fire risks during a drought. In 2023, California was engulfed in flames once again, and firefighters attributed the cause of the devastation to amateur fireworks during the Fourth of July celebrations in the region.
Admittedly, there are “greener” fireworks that release fewer heavy metals, but their manufacturing costs are much higher than those of ordinary fireworks. And above all, this does not solve the problem of noise and fire hazards. That is why more and more cities around the world are considering switching to light drone technology to illuminate the sky.
More and more cities, large and small, in France and elsewhere, are offering drone shows to celebrate, among other occasions, the national holiday on July 14. Even Paris has opted for a hybrid approach combining fireworks and drones. The market for light shows is booming.
Some estimate that by 2035 , it will exceed $4 billion worldwide. With dozens, or even a few hundred drones, it is possible to create an infinite number of images in the illuminated sky. Letters, animals, characters— nothing is too difficult for companies that have ventured into this type of show. It’s enough to revolutionize nighttime entertainment.
Before and After the Show
To design such a show, the creative team plans the various scenes using 3D software that allows them to transition from 2D storyboards to flight programming for the drones to create the desired formation. The app allows each drone to be given coordinates to follow during the performance. Managers can monitor each drone in flight, and all are calibrated and tested before the big day to ensure everything goes as planned.
Because, yes, unforeseen events can occur, just as they do with fireworks displays. For example, a drone has fallen during a show. Fortunately, no one was injured, but that is part of the risk.
Because while drones are safer than fireworks in many ways, the fact remains that they are far from perfect. The environmental footprint is much smaller during a show, but manufacturing these devices comes at a cost. Their batteries, for example, are filled with nickel and cobalt mined under appalling conditions that have negative environmental impacts.
Admittedly, drones can be reused many times over, unlike single-use fireworks. They also have the advantage of being able to be used indoors without causing damage. Nevertheless, studies are still inconclusive regarding the environmental effects of light shows. Light pollution remains a problem, even if temporary, and can affect animal species.
Unfortunately, it seems that humanity’s urge to light up the sky comes with environmental consequences. The question is which option is the least harmful. Drones at least have the advantage of not releasing particles into the air, as far as we know; their noise is nothing like the explosions of fireworks; and they offer incredible narrative flexibility.
Moreover, the country that invented fireworks is now getting into this and has even created the largest drone show ever staged to date in June 2025, with nearly 12,000 drones performing in Chongqing.
If even the nation of black powder is getting into it, it won’t be surprising to see more and more countries follow suit. Nevertheless, some will still prefer traditional fireworks displays and opt for hybrid solutions. In fact, there are light-emitting drones that can also launch rockets into the air.
Image: Screenshot from " Incredible Drone Display is World's Biggest Ever"
References:
"Community Events: Drone Shows Take Your Region to New Heights." STELLAIR. Last updated: June 10, 2025. https://stellair-show.com/blog/animation-collectivite/.
"How Are Drones Revolutionizing Artistic Performances?" Animation Drone. Last updated: March 31, 2025. https://animation-drone.com/comment-les-drones-revolutionnent-ils-les-spectacles-artistiques/.
De Smet, Luna. "This 11,787-drone show sets a new world record in China." Creapills. Last updated: July 24, 2025. https://creapills.com/chine-spectacle-11787-drones-record-mondial-20250724.
"Drones: Impressive Shows, but Unexpected Issues to Anticipate in Case of Failure." Franceinfo. Last updated: November 3, 2025. https://www.franceinfo.fr/internet/drones/drones-des-spectacles-impressionnants-mais-des-imprevus-a-prevoir-face-a-leur-defaillance_7592429.html.
Duhamel, Christophe. "Fireworks: The environmental impact driving cities toward drone shows." AirZen Radio. Last updated: July 14, 2025. https://www.airzen.fr/feux-d-artifice-impact-ecologique-drones/.
Enault, Marianne. "Fireworks: Are Drone Shows Really More Eco-Friendly?" TF1 INFO. Last updated: July 14, 2025. https://www.tf1info.fr/environnement-ecologie/video-feux-d-artifice-les-spectacles-de-drones-sont-ils-vraiment-plus-ecolos-2382840.html.
Ferrari, Edouard. "How does a performance drone work?" Allumee. Last updated: September 4, 2025. https://www.allumee.com/comment-fonctionne-un-drone/.
Gosselin, Victor. "A Brief History… of Fireworks: Smoke Flowers and Colorful Sparks." Luxus Magazine. Last updated: July 14, 2023. https://magazine.luxus-plus.com/petite-histoire-luxe-feux-artifices/.
Laganier, Vincent. "Light drone show: technology on the global stage." Light ZOOM Lumière. Last updated: October 28, 2025. https://www.lightzoomlumiere.fr/article/spectacle-drones-lumineux-technologie-international-drone-light-show/.
Montoriol, Madeleine. "Faced with pollution from summer fireworks, are drones the solution?" GoodPlanet Mag'. Last updated: August 12, 2025. https://www.goodplanet.info/2025/08/12/face-a-la-pollution-des-feux-dartifice-estivaux-les-drones-sont-ils-la-solution/.
"Why drone shows are becoming increasingly popular at events in France." Saint Rémy De Provence. Last updated: April 14, 2026. https://www.saint-remy-de-provence.com/pourquoi-les-spectacles-de-drones-seduisent-de-plus-en-plus-les-evenements-en-france/.
"When drones fly indoors: the magic of indoor shows." Flock Drone Art Studio. Last updated: August 13, 2025. https://www.flockdroneart.com/fr/spectacle-interieur-flock-studio/.
"Size, Share, Growth, and Analysis of the Drone Light Show Market by Type (Indoor Drone Light Show, Outdoor Drone Light Show), by Application (Government, Corporate, Personal), Regional Outlook, and Forecast from 2026 to 2035." Business Research Insights. Last updated: May 25, 2026. https://www.businessresearchinsights.com/fr/market-reports/drone-light-show-market-109836.
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