The Celebration of Light (branded as the Honda Celebration of Light for sponsorship reasons) was an annual musical fireworks competition in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Originally named the Symphony of Fire under previous sponsorship, the first competition under the current name was held from July 25 to August 5, 1990. The celebration was one of Vancouver's largest and most well-known festivals, and was recognized as the longest-running offshore fireworks competition in the world. The multi-day event had an estimated annual attendance of 1.4 million people.
On November 25, 2025, it was announced that the event had been suspended indefinitely due to funding issues, including increased production costs and a loss of support from governments and sponsors. People around Vancouver expressed their sadness in a public outcry, and the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society expressed their wish for the event to return with new sponsors, but shared in a statement that this was unlikely.
2025 program The 2025 competition took place on July 19, 23, and 26. For the first time, the event included an all-Canadian lineup, featuring teams from Yukon, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. The winner of the competition was Team Nova Scotia.
Saturday, July 19 Country: Team: Midnight Sun Fireworks Theme: 20 000 Leagues Under English Bay Wednesday, July 23 Country: Team: Royal Pyrotechnie Theme: Champions Saturday, July 26 Country: Team: Fireworks FX Theme: Voices of Fire
2024 program The 2024 competition took place on July 20, 24, and 27. The participating countries were Portugal, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. The winner of the 2024 competition was United Kingdom.
Saturday, July 20 Country: Team: Macedos Pirotecnia Theme: Tune In Wednesday, July 24 Country: Team: Pyro Tact Theme: Majestik in the Dark Saturday, July 27 Country: Team: Pyrotex Fireworx Theme: Lights, Camera, Action - Saturday Night at the Movies
2023 program
The 2023 competition took place on July 22, 26, and 29. The participating countries were Australia, Mexico, and the Philippines. The winner of the 2023 competition was Philippines.
Saturday, July 22 Country: Team: Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics Theme: Good Night Out Wednesday, July 26 Country: Team: Grupo AVACON Theme: The Time Machine Saturday, July 29 Country: Team: Blue Peacock Fireworks Theme: Independence Day (Liberation)
2022 program The 2022 competition took place on July 23, 27, and 30. The participating countries are Japan, Canada, and Spain. The winner of the 2022 competition was Canada.
Saturday, July 23 Country: Team: Akariya Fireworks Theme: None Wednesday, July 27 Country: Team: Midnight Sun Fireworks Theme: Pirates of the Caribbean Saturday, July 30 Country: Team: Pirotecnia Zaragozana Theme: Heroes
2021 program (cancelled) The event was postponed until July 23, 27, and 30 in 2022 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia.
2020 program (cancelled)
In 2020, the competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia.
2019 program
The 2019 Honda Celebration of Light took place on July 27, July 31, and August 3, 2019. The participating countries were India, Canada, and Croatia. It was the first year where India and Croatia have participated in the competition. The winner of the 2019 competition was Canada.
Saturday, July 27 Country: Team: Amir Morani Fireworks Theme: Love Website: Amir Morani Fireworks Wednesday, July 31 Country: Team: Firemaster Productions Inc. Theme: "Feel Good Hits of the Summer" Website: Firemaster Productions Saturday, August 3 Country: Team: Mirnovec Fireworks Theme: "Journey Through Cinema"
2018 program
The 2018 Honda Celebration of Light took place on July 28, August 1, and August 4. The participating countries were South Africa, represented by Fireworks for Africa; Sweden, represented by Unique Pyrotechnic; and South Korea, by Daehan Fireworks Co. For the first time, all three competitors were required to incorporate the same theme into their fireworks display and musical accompaniment. The theme, which was voted by the public, was love. The winner was South Korea.
Saturday, July 28 Country: Team: Fireworks for Africa Website: Fireworks for Africa Wednesday, August 1 Country: Team: Unique Pyrotechnic Website: Unique Pyrotechnic Saturday, August 4 Country: Team: Daehan Fireworks Co.
2017 program The 2017 Honda Celebration of Light took place on July 29, August 2, and August 5, featuring competitors from Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The competitor for Japan, Akariya, previously won the 2014 Honda Celebration of Light. Widely regarded as the premiere pyrotechnic company in the UK, the multi-award-winning Jubilee Fireworks Ltd became the holders of the first "Champions of Champions" title after winning both national competitions: The British Fireworks Championships and The British Musical Fireworks Championships. Royal Pyrotechnie, recognized as the most decorated fireworks firm in Canada, is the only group to win three Gold Jupiter awards during the annual L'International des Feux Loto-Québec competition.
To celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary, each of the competitors were required to include one iconic Canadian song into their display, extending the traditional length of the shows (25 minutes) for an additional 3 minutes (for a total of 28 minutes). The songs were voted by the public on Honda's Celebration of Light Facebook page; the three chosen were "Ahead by a Century" by The Tragically Hip, "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, and "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams. The winner of the competition was Japan.
Saturday, July 29 Country: Team: Akariya Fireworks Theme: Land of the Rising Sun Canada 150 song selection: "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen Wednesday, August 2 Country: Team: Jubilee Fireworks Theme: Kiss The Sky Canada 150 song selection: "Ahead by a Century" by The Tragically Hip Website: Jubilee Fireworks Saturday, August 5 Country: Team: Royal Pyrotechnie Theme: Legends of Fire Canada 150 song selection: "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams Website: Royal Pyrotechnie
2016 program The 2016 Honda Celebration of Light took place on July 23, July 27, and July 30. The event featured the Netherlands, Australia, and the United States in competition. Notably, 2016 was the first time that the Netherlands has competed in the event. The Walt Disney Company, the world's largest consumer of fireworks, was the competitor for the United States, while Australia was represented by Howard & Sons, whose displays have included the opening and closing ceremonies for 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and opening and closing ceremonies for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Team USA won the competition. Vancouver Police had to shut down English Bay Beach for the Team USA show, due to capacity concerns.
Saturday, July 23 Country: Team: Royal Fireworks Theme: Journey in Time Website: Royal Fireworks Wednesday, July 27 Country: Team: Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics Theme: Live and Loud Website: Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics Saturday, July 30 Country: Team: Walt Disney Company Theme: Disney Music Extravaganza Website: Walt Disney Company
2015 program The 2015 Honda Celebration of Light was scheduled for July 25, July 29, and August 1. For the 25th anniversary of the event, three returning competitors from China, Brazil, and Canada participated. The 2015 competition winner was Canada.
Saturday, July 25 Country: Company: Jiangxi Province Lidu Fireworks Corporation Ltd. Team: Team Lidu Website: www.lidufireworks.com Wednesday, July 29 Country: Team: Group Vision Show Saturday, August 1 Country: Team: Archangel Fireworks Website: www.archangelfireworks.com
2014 program The 2014 Honda Celebration of Light was scheduled for July 26, July 30, and August 2, featuring performances by the United States, France, and Japan respectively. The competitors were newcomers to Vancouver, though their respective countries have previously participated before. The 2014 competition winner was Japan.
Saturday, July 26 Country: Team: Pyrotecnico Website: www.pyrotecnico.com Wednesday, July 30 Country: Team: F.C. Pyro Saturday, August 2 Country: Team: Akariya Fireworks Theme: "The Art of Survival"
2013 program The 2013 Honda Celebration of Light was scheduled for July 27, July 31, and August 3, with performances by the United Kingdom, Canada, and Thailand respectively. 2013 was the first year that Thailand participated in the event as part of the organizers' ongoing efforts to introduce a new nation to the program each year. The 2013 competition winner was Canada.
Saturday, July 27 Country: Team: Pyro 2000 Theme: "Licence to Thrill" (James Bond) Website: www.pyro2000.co.uk Wednesday, July 31 Country: Team: Calgary-Based Fireworks Spectaculars Theme: "A Wonderful World/Into a Raging River" Website: www.fireworksspectaculars.com Saturday, August 3 Country: Team: Thailand Fireworks Theme: Classical Thai music Website: thailandfirework.net
2012 program
The 2012 Honda Celebration of Light saw teams from Vietnam and Brazil as newcomers, while the Italian team of Pirotecnica Soldi was more established. Canada did not participate for the first time in six years as producers of the event had been looking for new countries to compete from each continent for the next three years. The 2012 competition winner was Italy.
Saturday, July 28 Country: Team: Team Danang Fireworks Wednesday, August 1 Country: Team: Group Vision Show Saturday, August 4 Country: Team: Pirotecnica Soldi Website: www.pirotecnicasoldi.it
2011 program The 2011 HSBC Celebration of Light presented a "Battle of Champions" by featuring three previous competition winners: China (represented by 2009 winner Red Eagle Industrial and Trade Co. Ltd), Spain (represented by 2010 winner Pirotecnia Igual), and Canada (represented by 2007 and 2008 winner Archangel Fireworks Inc). The winner for the 2011 competition was China.
Saturday, July 30 Country: Team: Red Eagle Manufacturing Industrial and Trade Co. Ltd Theme: China Storm Wednesday, August 3 Country: Team: Pirotecnia Igual Theme: Odyssey Website: www.pirotecniaigual.com Saturday, August 6 Country: Team: Archangel Fireworks Theme: Then and Now Website: www.archangelfireworks.com
2010 program
The 2010 HSBC Celebration of Light winner was Spain (Pirotecnia Igual).
Wednesday, July 21 Country: Company: Rozzi Inc. Theme: In the Mood Saturday, July 24 Country: Team: Pirotecnia Igual Theme: Heaven and Hell Website: www.pirotecniaigual.com Wednesday, July 28 Country: Team: Lux Pirotecnia Theme: Journey Website: www.luxpirotecnia.com Saturday, July 31 Country: , Team: Groupe Fiatlux-Ampleman Theme: Tribute to China/The Butterfly Lovers
2009 program The 2009 HSBC Celebration of Light winner was China (Red Eagle Industrial and Trade Co. Ltd.).
Wednesday, July 22 Country: Company: Archangel Fireworks Inc. Theme: No Place Like Home Website: www.archangelfireworks.com Saturday, July 25 Country: Team: Fireworks for Africa Theme: Tapestry of Colour Wednesday, July 29 Country: Team: PYRO2000 Theme: Parasols Over the Pacific Saturday, August 1 Country: Team: Red Eagle Industrial and Trade Co. Ltd. Theme: Through the Looking Glass
2008 program The 2008 HSBC Celebration of Light winner was Canada, making back-to-back wins for Archangel Fireworks Inc.
Wednesday, July 23 Country: Company: Archangel Fireworks Inc. Theme: Attack Designer: Kelly Guille & Sean Procter Website: www.archangelfireworks.com Saturday, July 26 Country: Company: Western Enterprises, Incorporated Theme: Love Will Change the World Designer: Gary P. Caimano Website: www.fireworksbywestern.com Wednesday, July 30 Country: Company: Pyromagic Productions Ltd. Theme: Power of the Dream Designer: Wilson Mao Website: www.pyromagic.com.hk Saturday, August 2 Grand Finale
2007 program The 2007 HSBC Celebration of Light winner was Canada.