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Category: Drone light show

Drone light show: the new way to light up the sky at your events

The night sky is now illuminated by points of light controlled with millimetre precision. Drone light shows are making their way into town festivals, corporate events and major heritage celebrations. Here’s how this aerial art form works, what it offers, and why the teams at Celesta place it at the heart of their creations, both in France and abroad.

What is a drone light show?

A drone light show is an aerial display in which dozens or hundreds of light drones fitted with LEDs form shapes, logos and animated scenes in the sky. Each drone acts like a flying pixel. Its position, colour and brightness are programmed frame by frame, then synchronised to a soundtrack using timecode.

The swarm takes off from a designated area on the ground. It ascends in formation, maintains its patterns, regroup, and then lands. Whereas a fireworks display paints the sky with successive bursts, the swarm of drones sculpts stable, clearly defined shapes – a precise display that the audience can follow effortlessly.

In 2024, more than 1,500 shows of this kind took place around the world, with set-ups comprising up to 500 devices, according to sector analyses published by WiseGuy Reports. The medium is still in its infancy. Its visual language is becoming more refined with each passing season.

Why drone light shows are proving popular with event organisers

The rise in the use of light drones is primarily due to their small footprint. A European study published in 2024 measured an average 40 per cent increase in PM2.5 fine particulate matter around launch sites in the half-hour following a fireworks display. A 15-minute municipal fireworks display emits around 200 kg of CO₂, whilst a drone show featuring 500 drones consumes nearly 2 kWh, equivalent to less than 1 kg of CO₂, according to measurements cited by GoodPlanet. For a local authority subject to a climate action plan, this difference carries significant weight in the decision-making process.

Narrative writing also takes on a new dimension. A brand logo, a town’s coat of arms, a character coming to life: the swarm tells a figurative story that pyrotechnics alone cannot convey. This visual composition of the show speaks directly to communications departments and heritage sites keen to convey their identity.

Relative silence is just as important. Fireworks displays often exceed 150 decibels, a level that stresses wildlife and disturbs sensitive members of the public. A swarm of light drones operates at a lower noise level. For a Natura 2000 site or a busy town centre, this is a valid argument.

How to put together a drone show, step by step

A drone show is put together long before take-off. The Celesta teams follow a tried-and-tested approach, drawn from the world of pyrotechnics.

It all begins with the conceptualisation: artistic vision, message, site constraints, audience capacity. Next comes the scriptwriting, where the visual narrative is broken down into sequences. The 3D animators model each figure, frame by frame, before simulating the whole sequence on a computer. Production control synchronises the flight with the music and sound. Rehearsals confirm the flight paths. On the day, a lead pilot supervises the launch from the controlled ground area.

Celesta owes this rigour to its original line of business. The company operates a licensed storage facility, managed by certified pyrotechnicians, ensuring logistical autonomy on every project. Whether in front of more than 700,000 spectators gathered on the Champs-Élysées for a New Year’s Eve celebration, or 700 guests at the Carrousel du Louvre for a product launch, the same safety and coordination protocols apply to the drones.

Drones, fireworks display or special effects: our recommendation

Should we opt for drones for firefighting? Our experience in the field suggests a combination of the two approaches.

The two forms of expression do not convey the same thing. The fireworks display offers power, warmth and that sensation that courses through one’s chest. The drone light show brings figurative precision and understated elegance. Combined and blended with video mapping, stage flames, cold sparks or performers, they create a multimedia spectacle whose richness surpasses that of any single discipline taken in isolation.

This fusion is what the teams at Celesta specialise in, whether in Aigremont in the Yvelines or on the international stage. The company has staged productions in Dubai, Guangzhou, Mulhouse and at the Château de Chantilly, both in France and abroad. A dual expertise – technical and creative – is equally suited to a national celebration, a brand event or a high-end wedding.

What do the regulations in France say?

The legal framework is based on Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 of 24 May 2019, which has been in force since 31 December 2020. It classifies operations into three categories: open, specific and certified. A drone swarm display falls under the ‘specific’ category, which is the most strictly regulated of the common uses.

In France, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) oversees the implementation of these regulations, whilst the Directorate of Civil Aviation Security (DSAC) carries out monitoring. The operator submits an application for authorisation, defines a controlled ground area and a safety perimeter, and then obtains the necessary prefectural approvals. An exemption exists for carrying certain equipment on drone swarms. Given the complexity of these procedures, it is advisable to entrust them to an experienced service provider.

27 July 2026
Pyrotechnic show and drone light show: a fusion of fire and technology
For centuries, fireworks displays have symbolised celebration and collective memory. Drone light shows, on the other hand, project sharp, almost cinematic images into the sky. Combining the two opens up a new way of ‘writing’ the night sky at various events. Here’s how this combination works, what it requires in terms of safety, and how the teams at Celesta stage it both in France and abroad.

pyrotechnic shows: two ways of writing in the sky

Pyrotechnics and drones convey different things. Fireworks displays play on the physical elements: heat, the blast, the smell of gunpowder, and falling sparks. They evoke a physical emotion that is felt as much as it is observed. A drone light show, on the other hand, creates images. Each drone becomes a point of light in the sky, capable of forming a logo, a face or a wave gliding slowly over a castle.

This fundamental difference is a game-changer for the client. Whilst pyrotechnics impress with their power and visual impact, a swarm of drones conveys a figurative narrative that is clear and reproducible from one evening to the next. The first drone shows appeared in the 2010s, becoming very popular in East Asia before spreading to Europe. In September 2024, the city of Shenzhen flew 10,197 drones simultaneously, setting two Guinness World Records in the process. This figure illustrates the scale the discipline has reached in less than fifteen years.

How is a show that combines fire and drones put together?

A combined display is based on a principle that is simple to explain but demanding to execute: every effect goes off at the precise moment planned. Celesta’s pyrotechnicians fine-tune the ignition to the nearest hundredth of a second, synchronised with the soundtrack. The drones follow a pre-programmed choreography, with each flight path calculated to avoid collisions and remain within the authorised flight envelope.
Three layers of writing then overlap.
- Pyrotechnics provide the power.
- The swarm of drones creates the design.
- Sound and light bring it all together.
A finale might open with a formation of drones spelling out a town’s coat of arms, then cut to a barrage of bombs synchronised with the chorus. Production control pulls the strings, frame by frame.
The planning begins well before the big day. Artistic writing, site reconnaissance, calculating safety perimeters, administrative formalities, rehearsals: every stage contributes to the final precision. It is this coordination that distinguishes a technical demonstration from a performance that truly moves the audience.

Safety and regulation: two systems that must be managed in tandem

Ensuring that fire and drones can coexist requires a thorough understanding of two distinct legal frameworks. As regards pyrotechnics, Decree No. 2010-455 of 4 May 2010 governs the acquisition, possession and use of recreational fireworks, classified in categories F1 to F4. Professional fireworks displays fall under category F4 and are restricted to holders of the Level 2 C4-F4-T2 qualification certificate. The Celesta teams hold these qualifications and have a licensed storage facility, ensuring logistical autonomy.

As regards drones, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 of 24 May 2019 lays down the European rules, which have been in force since 31 December 2020. A drone swarm display falls within the so-called ‘specific’ category, which is subject to notification or authorisation from the DSAC, the supervisory authority attached to the DGAC. An exemption exists for carrying certain equipment on drones within a swarm. Combining the two disciplines at the same site therefore requires a thorough review of the operational areas, flight parameters and flight slots. This must be validated with a safety officer for each location.

The contribution of Celesta’s teams, in France and internationally

Celesta designs and produces bespoke shows from its base in Aigremont, in the Yvelines, with a presence in Normandy and projects carried out internationally. The company has staged the New Year’s Eve celebrations on the Champs-Élysées for over 700,000 spectators, as well as a product launch party for 700 guests at the Carrousel du Louvre. Its productions have travelled as far afield as Dubai and Guangzhou, via Rouen, Mulhouse, the Château de Chantilly and the Vieilles Charrues festival.

This variety of scales underpins a single approach: write first, then produce. Celesta’s pyrotechnicians select their effects from the finest European and Asian productions, then integrate them with drones, video mapping, performers and stage special effects such as cold sparks or thick fog. For a client, the appeal lies in this singular vision that orchestrates the whole project, from the initial concept right through to the dismantling of the installation.

Fire, drones or both: our report from the field

Do we have to choose between fireworks displays and a drone show? Our answer depends on the venue and the narrative we wish to convey, never on what is currently in fashion. At a heritage site at risk of fire or subject to noise restrictions, a swarm of drones offers a cleaner solution: less smoke, less fallout and a reduced noise footprint. Measurements taken after certain fireworks displays have revealed unusual levels of sulphates, chlorine and metals in the air and water – a key consideration for a local authority mindful of its environment.

For a national celebration eagerly anticipated by tens of thousands of people, fireworks retain a power that nothing else can match. The combination of the two is essential when a sponsor wants both impact and a message: a coat of arms taking shape, a countdown traced across the sky, followed by the final explosion. What we’ve found in our productions is that the audience remembers the emotion, not the technology behind it.
27 July 2026
Pyrotechnics and traditions: what Diwali, New Year and national holidays reveal
Diwali, Chinese New Year, 14 July in France: three occasions when the sky lights up with a thousand colours to convey a message. Behind the spectacle lie stories, beliefs and technical skills handed down over several centuries. Here’s what these traditions of fire tell us, and what they demand today of a special effects designer like Celesta, both in France and abroad.

Fire: a universal language with local nuances

All over the world, fireworks displays mark major occasions: a new year, a victory, the birth of a nation. Their power lies in their ambivalence. They attract and unsettle, they bring people together and they awe. Every culture has adapted them in its own way, with its own conventions, colours and timings. Understanding these variations remains the foremost skill of a pyrotechnic show designer working across several continents. Three of the most vibrant traditions help to illustrate this, before we go on to outline the technical requirements.

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, where fire tells the story of a victory

Diwali, or Deepavali, is the great Hindu festival of lights. Its name comes from the rows of clay oil lamps, known as diyas, which are lit in front of houses. As the Hindu calendar is lunisolar, the date varies each year, falling between mid-October and mid-November. The symbolism is clear: light triumphs over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.

Firecrackers and fireworks displays have long played an important role here. Traditionally, the noise and the flashes were believed to drive away evil spirits. These displays also celebrate Rama’s return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and his victory over the demon Ravana. Hence the profusion of rockets and fountains of light seen in northern India.

In the south of the country, the approach is more introspective. There, fountains and sparklers are often preferred, as they foster contemplation rather than noise. This regional diversity conveys a useful lesson for any show creator: the same festival does not call for the same pyrotechnic show everywhere.

Chinese New Year: from firecrackers to illuminated skies

The Spring Festival marks the beginning of the Chinese lunar calendar year. On 4 December 2024, UNESCO inscribed it on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (UNESCO, 2024). This recognition confirms the cultural significance of these celebrations, which are observed by hundreds of millions of people around the world.

The origin of firecrackers is told through a legend. A monster called Nian used to terrorise the villages at the turn of the year. The villagers noticed that he was afraid of loud noises and the colour red. They therefore burnt dry bamboo stalks, which burst with a loud bang. These early firecrackers, known as baozhu – literally ‘explosive bamboo’ – were followed by chain firecrackers, or bianpao, and then by modern fireworks displays.

The red of the lanterns and the crackling of firecrackers serve the same purpose: to ward off bad luck and bring prosperity. For a local authority or a brand organising an event to mark the Chinese New Year, understanding this ‘language of fire’ makes all the difference. Fire functions here as a language that conveys meaning.

National holidays: when pyrotechnics become a collective ritual

In France, 14 July holds a special place. The date was established as a national holiday by the Act of 6 July 1880. Ever since, the fireworks display has been a feature of every summer in thousands of towns and villages, from major cities to the smallest hamlets. Public dances, parades, skies lit up with colour: this tradition has been passed down for nearly a century and a half.

Customs vary from region to region. In Alsace and Lorraine, tradition often dictates that the fireworks are set off on the evening of 13 July, the day before. This discrepancy, seemingly trivial, forces organisers to contend with tight schedules and venues that are sometimes in close proximity.

Outside France, every nation has its own founding moment, celebrated with pyrotechnics. What they all have in common is their purpose: to bring a population together around a shared emotion, and to etch a collective memory into the night sky.

From ritual to the stage: the profession of special effects designer

Celesta brings these traditions to life through its shows. Based in Aigremont, in the Yvelines, with a presence in Normandy, the company designs and produces bespoke shows combining fireworks displays, drone light shows, special effects and video mapping. Its pyrotechnicians are certified, and its ICPE-licensed storage facility gives it a rare degree of logistical autonomy on sensitive projects.

Technology provides a framework for emotion. Decree No. 2010-455 of 4 May 2010 classifies fireworks for entertainment purposes into four categories, from F1 to F4, according to their level of danger. Professional fireworks displays fall into the most powerful categories, which are reserved for pyrotechnicians holding a Level 2 qualification. As for drones, European Regulation 2019/947, which came into force on 1 January 2021, requires a risk assessment and specific authorisations for swarm flights.

This regulatory requirement is accompanied by meticulous precision. Celesta’s teams synchronise their fireworks displays to the music to the nearest hundredth of a second, whether at heritage sites, in densely populated urban areas or at private parties. Internationally, where fireworks carry different symbolic meanings, the ability to understand a culture before designing a show is just as important as technical expertise. A Diwali fireworks display is not the same as one for 14 July, and a show for Chinese New Year cannot be improvised.

In brief
- Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness; the fires are part of a centuries-old tradition linked to Rama’s return to Ayodhya.
- The Chinese New Year, inscribed on the UNESCO list on 4 December 2024, owes its firecrackers to the legend of the Nian monster.
- 14 July, which has been France’s national holiday since 1880, has made a fireworks display a collective tradition shared by thousands of local authorities.
- In France, Decree 2010-455 and European Regulation 2019/947 govern fires and drones respectively.
- Celesta adapts its pyrotechnic displays to each culture, both in France and abroad.
18 May 2026