More than 20,000 people attended the British Musical Fireworks Championship in Southport last weekend, with bumper crowds leading to a record-breaking Saturday!

13,000 people packed into Victoria Park on the opening evening, the highest Saturday attendance since the Championship began in 1999.

Six of the country’s leading pyro-musical teams competed across two spectacular evenings to be crowned 2026 British Musical Fireworks Champion.

Skyburst, Monumental Fireworks and Sonic Fireworks took to the skies on Saturday, followed by Celestial Displays, Flashpoint Fireworks and Fire Monkey Pyro on Sunday.

Winners

The British Musical Fireworks Championship is no ordinary fireworks display. Each team carefully choreographs its fireworks to music, combining sound, colour and pyrotechnics to create a unique performance in the Southport skies.

After much deliberation by the professional judging panel, Monumental Fireworks were crowned 2026 British Musical Fireworks Champions, praised for their emotive display and spectacular finale. Fire Monkey Pyro took second place, with judges praising their well-executed smiley face and crown sequence, while Sonic Fireworks secured third place for a sensory experience that brought the heat to the competition with the use of flames.

There was a festival atmosphere throughout Victoria Park, with live music from Southport’s Clay Highway and Batala Mersey, alongside family activities including trampolines, craft workshops, glitter tattoos and caricature artists. Visitors could also enjoy a wide selection of food and drink from established local vendors.

New features

New for 2026 was a dedicated sensory quiet zone, providing a calm space for visitors who needed time away from the busier areas of the event.

Visitors were also encouraged to make use of a special Merseyrail travel offer, with return journeys available for £2 for adults and £1 for children.

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills, said: “We love to see record breaking crowds just as much as we love to see those incredible displays and it shows just how much families from across the region value this amazing weekend.

“The British Musical Fireworks Championships continue to be one of the highlights of our events calendar and it really is nothing short of spectacular. The atmosphere throughout Victoria Park across both evenings was incredible.

“If you have never been before I wholly encourage you to make sure you’re first in the queue for 2027.

“Events like this play a vital role in supporting Southport’s visitor economy, generating greater footfall for local businesses and showcasing everything our Borough has to offer.

“I would like to congratulate all of the competing teams, particularly champions Monumental Fireworks, as well as a special thanks once again to everyone involved behind the scenes in organising and delivering another outstanding weekend for Sefton.”

The British Musical Fireworks Championship is one of a packed programme of major events taking place in Southport during 2026, helping to attract visitors and drive footfall into the town throughout the year.

Sefton Council’s annual events programme has already seen thousands of visitors enjoy the Southport Food & Drink Festival in May, Southport Air Show in August, and Salt & Tar’s 5 night music weekender in Bootle in August.

The town has also welcomed major events and new experiences throughout 2026. The 154th Open brought the world’s leading golfers to Royal Birkdale, while the Elegantly Eccentric programme has brought a series of spectacular installations and performances to Southport, including Lightport in February, Cristal Palace in April and Big Top in May.

There is still plenty to look forward to before the end of the year. The free family festival Books Alive! will bring stories to life across Southport town centre during October half term, followed by Christmas markets and festive events in December.