Silent fireworks: a reduced-noise display for Swiss celebrations

On 29 November 2026, Swiss voters will decide on the popular initiative “Pour une limitation des feux d’artifice” (for a limitation of fireworks). If it is accepted, fireworks that make noise could no longer be sold or set off, except with cantonal authorisation for an event of supra-regional importance. For a municipality, a 1 August committee or a tourist site, the question is which displays will still be possible.

So-called silent fireworks, in reality reduced-noise displays, are one of them. Here we describe their effects, their sound level, their limits and how we set them up in Switzerland with our local partner.

The initiative put to the vote on 29 November 2026

The initiative would add to the Federal Constitution an Article 74a with three paragraphs:

• the sale and use of fireworks that make noise are prohibited;
• for events of supra-regional importance, the competent cantonal authority may grant exceptional authorisations;
• implementation is the responsibility of the cantons.

The text does not list the fireworks concerned. According to the Federal Office for the Environment, this will be set out in the implementing legislation, which must come into force no later than two years after a yes vote. The initiators cite Bengal lights and fountains among the items that would remain allowed. The Federal Council and Parliament recommend rejecting the text, and the counter-proposal was dropped on 19 June 2026.

A display without explosive effects meets the aim of the text, which is to reduce noise. Only the implementing legislation will say whether it can be fired without an exceptional authorisation. The Federal Council also points out that cantons and municipalities can already restrict the use of fireworks.

Are silent fireworks really silent?

So-called silent fireworks can still be heard: the lift of an item, its burn and the hiss of a spray remain audible. What disappears is the bang at altitude: the crack of report shells, aerial salutes and dense crackling.

During a trial in Brussels, the Belgian association GAIA measured around 70 decibels for a reduced-noise display, against 150 decibels or more for a conventional one. British low-noise display companies quote 70 to 90 decibels depending on the products. Neighbours hear the lift of the items and the hiss of the sprays, with no crack at altitude.

Dogs, horses, wildlife: what reduced noise changes for animals

For the Swiss Animal Protection association (STS), which is behind the initiative, sudden noise triggers fear, panic and disorientation in animals. A reduced-noise display removes the bang at altitude, the sound that carries furthest. It is not enough for an animal kept close to the firing site: with an animal park, a riding school or stables nearby, we move the firing site further away and lower the height of the effects, or we suggest drones instead.

Fountains, comets, soft-break shells: the effects of a reduced-noise display

Taking the shells out of a conventional programme would leave gaps in the rhythm. We therefore rebuild the display from effects chosen for what they show without a bang:

• fountains and waterfalls, on the ground or on structures, for lines and curtains of light;
• comets and Roman candles in versions without report or crackle;
• mines with a coloured spray and no sound charge;
• soft-break shells of small calibre, which open without a crack.

We leave out salutes, report shells, crackling effects and large calibres, whose burst carries a long way.

Conventional fireworks, reduced-noise fireworks or drones: the comparison

Point of comparison	Conventional fireworks	Reduced-noise fireworks	Drone light show
Bang at altitude	Yes	No	No firing
Noise when items are fired	Yes	Yes, lower	No firing
Fallout and smoke	Yes	Yes	No
Height of the effects	Up to large calibres	Lower, small calibres	Depends on the flight authorisation
Drawing a readable shape	No	No	Yes: a date, a coat of arms, a logo
Authorisation in Switzerland	Canton and municipality, licensed pyrotechnician	Canton and municipality, licensed pyrotechnician	Federal Office of Civil Aviation

Pacing a display without bangs: density, height and soundtrack

In a conventional display, the shells mark the high points of the soundtrack. Instead, we work with the density of firing, the height, the width of the front and the sequence of colours, synchronised with the music played on site. We produce this kind of programme like our other fireworks shows, from design to firing.

Placing the firing site away from houses and stables

With the same products, what neighbours hear varies with the distance and orientation of the firing site. For each site, we determine:

• firing heights and calibres;
• the orientation of the firing positions in relation to homes, stables and natural areas;
• safety distances;
• the time and length of the display, agreed with the municipality.

In Switzerland, firing from a barge on a lake moves the source away from houses. During the drought of summer 2026, Vaud only kept professional displays fired from the lake, and Geneva limited fireworks to platforms on the lake.

Combining low-noise pyrotechnics with drones

When noise has to be kept to a minimum, we suggest combining the two disciplines. A drone light show draws shapes, a coat of arms or a date in the sky, without bangs or fallout. Drones produce no sparks or sprays: we add a few low-level pyrotechnic effects, fountains or waterfalls, as the figure takes shape. We explain this combination in our article on how we combine pyrotechnics and drone light shows.

For 1 August or a lake festival, we have also described when it makes more sense to replace or complement fireworks with a drone show.

Preparing a display in Switzerland with our licensed partner

In Switzerland, firing is carried out by our local partner, who holds the firing licences required by the Confederation. The application goes to the cantonal authority, on the advice of the municipality in the canton of Vaud. For drones, it goes to the Federal Office of Civil Aviation. Procedures and lead times by canton are set out in our article on permits, cantonal authorisations and deadlines in Switzerland. We work in Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, Neuchâtel, Fribourg, Sion and Basel as a fireworks and drone show provider in Switzerland.