A sky full of surprises: Star symphony drone shows opens for the British Firework Championship 2026
Plymouth has long been the home of the British Firework Championship, with the spectacular competition taking place at Plymouth Hoe since 1997. Our sister company also has a long-standing relationship with the competition, having won the championship in 2010 before following it up with a victory in the 2013 Champion of Champions competition.
So, when the opportunity came for Star Symphonies to take to the skies at the 2026 event, we were delighted to bring something completely different to the spectacle.
Before the fireworks began, Star Symphonies opened the event with a spectacular drone show, surprising the hundreds of thousands of people gathered along Plymouth Hoe.
A new twist on the British Firework Championship
On Wednesday 12 August 2026, the opening drone show began with the Visit Plymouth logo appearing high above the city. As the design illuminated the Plymouth skyline, it was met with an enormous chorus of “woooooaaaah!” from the crowd below. The reaction was made even more spectacular by the fact that the audience had been expecting the fireworks, but never imagined a drone show.
For many, it was their first experience of seeing hundreds of drones transform the night sky into a moving spectacle, making the surprise reveal even more memorable.
The sky became a canvas for some of the city's most recognisable icons, including the famous Smeaton's Tower lighthouse and Plymouth Gin, alongside colourful references to the area's marine life. A seahorse and sea lion were among the creatures brought to life above the Hoe, before the display finished with a giant love heart featuring the word Plymouth at its centre.
And, of course, we couldn't resist adding a few extra wow moments. Our pyro drones helped add an extra sense of spectacle to the closing sequence, combining the movement and creativity of a drone display with the excitement of pyrotechnics.
A new night, with a brand new show.
The second night saw even more people filling Plymouth Hoe — but those returning for a second evening weren't simply watching the same drone show again.
In fact, not a single design from the opening night was repeated.
We created a completely new drone show for the second evening, giving anyone attending the British Firework Championship on both nights an entirely different experience before the fireworks began. It was another opportunity to showcase just how much can be achieved with a fleet of drones, with a fresh set of designs, animations and surprises taking over the Plymouth skyline.
Marine life was once again a major theme, but this time the skies were filled with huge sharks, starfish and one of the audience favourites — a giant jellyfish complete with individually moving tentacles. The level of movement and detail really showcased what is possible when hundreds of drones work together to create a living picture in the night sky.
Another crowd favourite was the giant diving board, complete with a man diving from it, which provided one of the show's most playful moments.
There were also nods to Plymouth's football heritage, which were met with plenty of cheers, while a giant pastry brought plenty of laughs from the audience.
Taking Plymouth’s social media by storm
It wasn’t just those in Plymouth hoe who experienced our spectacular display, either.
Videos from the event quickly spread across social media, with our Facebook videos alone receiving more than 250,000 following the event. Plus countless videos filmed by members of the audience who shared content across their own social media profiles.
Everyone commenting on their favourite design and sharing videos with their family and friends highlights the joy our drone shows can bring, and just how they elevate any event. If the reaction from the crowds and social media is anything to go by, Plymouth certainly won't be forgetting this sky full of surprises anytime soon.