New Years Eve, Sydney, Asutrallia

Sydney Harbour is one of the best places on the planet to see in the new year. The atmosphere is always second to none, with more than 1.5 million visitors arriving early in the morning of the 31st., so you’ll need to get there early to bag one of the best spots – ideally looking across to the Harbour Bridge. Celebrations kick off at 6pm with music and fly pasts, then the harbour’s ships light up before the massive firework extravaganza at midnight.

 

 

Independence Day, New York, USA

Fourth of July is a big deal in New York City – thoroughly patriotic and dazzling fireworks illuminate the skyline with flashes of red, white and blue erupting above the Statue of Liberty and Coney Island. It is recommended to enjoy the sights from one of New York’s awesome rooftop terraces with a cold beverage!

 

 

Celebration of Light, Vancouver, Canada

If you love loud music, ear splitting bangs and a beautiful display of light and colour, then Vancouver’s Celebration of Light will tick all the boxes. Attracting 1.4 million firework fanatics to the waterfront every year, it’s one of the city’s biggest events and comprises of three 25-minute displays on three different days in July.

 

 

Diwali, India

This Hindu ‘Festival of Lights’ unsurprisingly features lamps, candles and fireworks rather heavily. Most Indian cities will be celebrating, but for something extra-special try to visit Varanasi or Chennai. The fireworks here are like no other!

 

 

Katakai fireworks festival, Niigata, Japan

Like your fireworks historic? Well swing by Niigata in September and you’ll be in the right place. Running for over 400 years, Katakai is the oldest of the festivals on this list and even holds the Guinness World Record for launching the world’s biggest (and maybe most expensive at US$1,500!) firework: the yonshakudama. A gargantuan rocket, it was over 1.2 metres wide and shot 2,700 feet into the air, exploding with a diameter of nearly 800 metres.