The British Firework Championships return to Plymouth Hoe on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 August 2026, with the event site open from 2pm each day and fireworks scheduled for 9.30pm, 9.50pm and 10.10pm.
The two-night festival is free to attend and is aimed at residents, visitors and families. Plymouth City Council says six leading UK pyrotechnic companies will compete across the event, with three 10-minute displays lighting up Plymouth Sound each evening.
Two evenings of displays over Plymouth Sound
The Championships will be staged from Plymouth Hoe, with the fireworks launched from Mount Batten Breakwater across Plymouth Sound. The source says some of the best viewing will be from Plymouth Hoe and along Hoe Road.
The competition format is simple for spectators: three companies perform each night, each putting on a 10-minute display. Displays are due at 9.30pm, 9.50pm and 10.10pm on both Wednesday and Thursday.
First launched in 1997, the British Firework Championships have become one of Plymouth’s flagship summer events. The council says the event attracts more than 100,000 spectators to Britain’s Ocean City each summer.
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Event | British Firework Championships |
| Dates | Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 August 2026 |
| Venue | Plymouth Hoe |
| Event site opens | 2pm each day |
| Firework display times | 9.30pm, 9.50pm and 10.10pm |
| Cost | Free to attend |
| Best viewing stated by source | Plymouth Hoe and Hoe Road |
What starts before the fireworks
The event site on Plymouth Hoe is due to come alive from 2pm on both days, with fairground rides, family attractions and a wide range of food and drink available on site.
Live music and entertainment on the main stage will begin from 5pm, giving visitors several hours of activity before the first firework display. The council is encouraging visitors to arrive early to secure a good viewing spot and make the most of the entertainment before darkness falls.
The Young People’s Choice Award is also returning for a fourth year. Supported by Foster for Plymouth, the award gives care-experienced young people the chance to judge the displays and choose their favourite alongside professional and community judging panels.
Sponsors confirmed for this year’s event
Associated British Ports is continuing its support for a third year and is joined by Zero USV as joint sponsor of the 2026 Championships.
Ashley Curnow, Divisional Port Manager for Wales and the Southwest at Associated British Ports, said the company was proud to continue supporting an event that brings communities together and showcases Plymouth.
Matthew Ratsey, Managing Director at ZeroUSV, said the firm was proud to support the Championships in Plymouth on Wednesday 12 August, adding that the date would also see the naming of its new Oceanus17 USV from its base at Turnchapel Wharf.
Councillor Matt Smith, Cabinet Member for Events at Plymouth City Council, said the Championships are a highlight of the city’s events calendar and provide a boost to the visitor economy.
Practical details for planning a visit
The event is free, and no booking requirement is stated in the source information. The confirmed public viewing areas named by the council are Plymouth Hoe and Hoe Road.
Visitors should plan around the 2pm event-site opening, 5pm main-stage entertainment and the three evening display slots. The council says travel and accessibility information will be provided through event updates.
Source: Plymouth City Council
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This preview is based on the official Plymouth City Council event release and keeps practical details to confirmed information.
- Confirmed the event dates as 12 and 13 August 2026.
- Checked the stated venue as Plymouth Hoe.
- Matched the display times to the council schedule of 9.30pm, 9.50pm and 10.10pm.
- Kept cost and entry wording to the source-backed statement that the event is free to atten...
- Source
- Plymouth City Council
- Scope
- Plymouth
- Updated
- 2026-06-30 11:09
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