Category: Drone light show

In May 2023, more than 1,350 drones flew over Geneva harbour for “Feu ô lac”, a show that received an award the following autumn. In Crans-Montana, a show of around a hundred drones was scheduled in place of the fireworks, and in Bern, a drone ballet in place of the usual fireworks on the Gurten. In summer 2026, Vaud, Valais and Geneva also restricted outdoor fires because of drought.

We produce drone light shows and fireworks, on their own or combined. Here are the points we review with a Swiss municipality or organiser before proposing one, the other or both.

The bans of summer 2026 and the place of drones

In the canton of Vaud, the ban on outdoor fires came into force on 28 July 2026, with an exception for professional firing from a lake. Valais banned the sale of fireworks, and Geneva restricted firing to platforms on the lake, with the canton’s authorisation.

Our drone lights carry no pyrotechnic articles: these orders, which target fires and fireworks, do not apply to them. The flight still depends on the wind and on authorisation from the Federal Office of Civil Aviation.

Replacing the fireworks with drones, or combining the two

On 13 June 2026, in Marly-le-Roi, we flew 250 drones in dialogue with fireworks fired from around the Grand Miroir. In this format, the fireworks bring the detonation and the finale; the drones draw what the audience needs to read, such as a date, a municipal emblem or a logo.

With a Swiss municipality, we start from one of these three set-ups:

• Drones only: no falling debris and no firing noise, for a drought period, a site close to woodland or an animal park.
• Fireworks and drones: the fireworks fired from a barge or an authorised shore, the drones above the lake.
• Fireworks with a drone fallback: both are priced in the same quote, and the choice is made at the decision time agreed with you.

The budget for a drone show in Switzerland

The City of Lausanne decided against switching to drones for its 1 August celebration, estimating the Geneva drone show, which uses more than 1,300 drones, at around CHF 1 million a year.

Our drone light shows start at €10,000, about CHF 9,400 at summer 2026 exchange rates, from 200 drones. The number of drones has the greatest effect on the price, followed by the flight duration; the distance to the venue matters less.

FOCA authorisation for a drone show

A flight above or close to the public falls outside the open category. It comes under the specific category (in French) and requires an operational authorisation from the Federal Office of Civil Aviation, with an operations manual and an emergency response plan.

Our flights are authorised in France by the DGAC. For an operation already authorised in another member state of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and carried out partly in Switzerland, the FOCA provides for a cross-border authorisation application: we submit it as soon as the date and site are fixed.

On the day of the flight, we agree a wind threshold and a back-up slot with the organiser: above the threshold, the drones stay on the ground.

The stages of a drone show in Switzerland

Stage	What we do	When
First meeting	Choice of site, set-up (drones only or with fireworks) and number of drones	Three to six months ahead
Flight authorisation	Application to the FOCA, with operations manual and emergency plan	As soon as the date and site are fixed
Fireworks alongside	Application to the cantonal police and the municipality with our local partner	At least 15 days ahead in Vaud
Show day	Set-up, flight, wind threshold and back-up slot	On the day

Our drone and fireworks shows in Switzerland

We work in Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, Neuchâtel, Fribourg, Sion and Basel on a drone light show in Switzerland, with a local partner holding the firing permits for the pyrotechnic part. The procedures specific to fireworks are set out in our guide to fireworks permits and authorisations in Switzerland.

Drone light shows are making their way into town festivals, corporate events and major heritage celebrations. This article explains how it works, its benefits and the place the teams at Celesta give it in their creations, both in France and abroad.

How a drone light show works

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, regroups, and then lands. Whereas a fireworks display paints the sky with successive bursts, the swarm of drones sculpts stable, clearly defined shapes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

How to put together a drone show, step by step

The Celesta teams prepare a drone show over 2 to 6 months of creative work, following an 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

Between drones and fireworks, our experience in the field favours combining the two disciplines.

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 make up our multimedia shows.

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. Our drone light shows in Switzerland fly with the authorisation of the Federal Office of Civil Aviation. Our dual expertise, technical and creative, is equally suited to a national celebration, a brand event or a high-end wedding.

Drone show regulations in France

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. Our teams prepare this file, which requires 45 days minimum before the show.

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. Our teams combine the two at various events, both in France and abroad. This article explains how this combination works, what it requires in terms of safety and how we stage it.

Pyrotechnic shows and light drones: the effects of each discipline

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.

For the client, pyrotechnics impress with their power and visual impact, whereas 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.

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

On a combined display, we time every effect to go 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.

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.

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. Our teams coordinate the whole project for the client, from the initial concept right through to the dismantling of the installation.

Fire, drones or both: our report from the field

Between fireworks displays and a drone show, we choose according to the venue and the narrative we wish to convey. 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, we favour a fireworks display. We propose combining the two when a client wants both impact and a message: a coat of arms taking shape, a countdown traced across the sky, followed by the final explosion.