The Montreal Fireworks Festival () is the largest fireworks competition in the world. It has been held yearly in La Ronde over the Dolphin Lake since 1985 and is named after its main sponsor, Loto-Québec. It hosts an estimated 3 million spectators each year, with approximately 6,000 fireworks set off during each show. Each summer, eight or nine pyrotechnical companies from different countries present a 30-minute-long pyromusical show, competing for the Gold, Silver and Bronze Jupiters or trophies.
For the 20th anniversary in 2004, eight of the previous top competitors (all of whom had won the Gold Jupiter) were invited to compete for the Platinum Jupiter in June and July 2004, which was won by the German company WECO.
The competition takes the form of a series of biweekly fireworks shows usually beginning in late June and ending in late July. The fireworks are synchronized to music which is also broadcast over a provincial radio station (RockDétente in 2005, Rythme FM from 2006 onward). While spectators can buy tickets for seats, thousands of people watch the fireworks for free from nearby locations.
Jupiter winners Year Gold Jupiter Silver Jupiter Bronze Jupiter 1985 France ** & Japan *** Italy ** & United States *** Spain 1986 Spain ** & China *** France ** & United States *** * 1987 United States Germany Spain 1988 Spain Germany United States 1989 Germany United States Spain & Canada 1990 France Spain Switzerland 1991 United States Netherlands Switzerland 1992 China United States Spain 1993 Spain China France 1994 United States Australia Japan 1995 Netherlands France Italy 1996 United States Spain Germany 1997 Italy Germany Austria 1998 United States Italy Spain 1999 United States Canada Spain 2000 Germany Spain Australia 2001 Spain Australia Chinese Taipei 2002 France Portugal Canada 2003 Canada Australia Hong Kong 2004 Germany * * 2005 Argentina United States Canada 2006 United States France Australia 2007 England Germany United States 2008 United States Australia China 2009 Hong Kong, China United States 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Hong Kong, China 2016 Switzerland 2017 Portugal 2018 United States 2019 2020 not held 2021 not held 2022 2023 2024 Japan2025 Switzerland
* Not awarded.
** 1985 & 1986 Pyromusical Category Winners
*** 1985 & 1986 Traditional Category Winners
Gold Jupiter winning teams 2024: (Arteventia) 2023: Finland (Joho Pyro) 2022: England (Pyrotex Fireworx) 2021: The event did not take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, throughout the summer of 2021, the event returned in a miniature, competition-free format where pop-up fireworks shows of five minutes in length took place at parks in different boroughs and suburbs of Montreal. The communities that hosted the mini fireworks shows were as follows:
Date Borough/Community July 24 Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles July 31 Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve August 7 Verdun (Île-des-Sœurs) August 14 Ahuntsic-Cartierville and Saint-Léonard August 21 Dollard-des-Ormeaux and Pointe-Claire August 28 Lachine
2020: Did not take place due to Covid-19 pandemic 2019: Portugal ( Groupo Luso Pirotecnica.) 2018: Philippines (Dragon Fireworks Inc.) 2017: England (Jubilee Fireworks Ltd.) 2016: Spain (Ricasa) 2015: England (Jubilee Fireworks Ltd.) 2014: Canada (Fireworks Spectaculars and Royal Pyrotechnie Colab ) 2013: Italy (PyroEmotions & PyrodigiT Team) 2012: United States (Atlas Pyrovision Productions) 2011: Italy (Pirotecnica Morsani SRL) 2010: Canada (Fireworks Spectaculars) 2009: Canada (Royal Pyrotechnie) 2008: United States (Pyrotecnico) 2007: England (Pains Fireworks) 2006: United States (Melrose Pyrotechnics) 2005: Argentina (Fuegos Artificiales Júpiter) 2004: Germany - Platinum Jupiter (WECO) 2003: Canada (Royal Pyrotechnie) 2002: France (Société Lacroix-Ruggieri) 2001: Spain (Pirotècnia Igual) 2000: Germany (Weco Pyrotechnische Fabrik) 1999: United States (Performance Pyrotechnic Associates) 1998: United States (Performance Pyrotechnic Associates) 1997: Italy (Ipon s.r.l.) 1996: United States (Performance Pyrotechnic Associates) 1995: Netherlands (JNS Pyrotechniek) 1994: United States (Performance Pyrotechnic Associates) 1993: Spain (Pirotecnia Caballer) 1992: China (Sunny International) 1991: United States (Pyrotechnology Inc.) 1990: France (Société Étienne Lacroix) 1989: Germany (Lünig Feuerwerk Stuttgart) 1988: Spain (Pirotècnia Igual) 1987: United States (Austin Fireworks, Inc.) 1986: Spain (Pirotecnia Caballer)** & China (Dongguan Fireworks)*** 1985: France (Société Étienne Lacroix)** & Japan (Marutamaya Ogatsu)***
** Winners of the 1985 & 1986 Pyromusical Category
*** Winners of the 1985 & 1986 Traditional Category
Viewing locations Although the fireworks are fired from La Ronde on Saint Helen's Island, they can easily be seen from many points in the Montreal area: elsewhere on Saint Helen's Island; in Longueuil; on the Jacques Cartier Bridge, which is closed to traffic from around 8 p.m. until the end of the show; the Old Port of Montreal; or locations along the shore or on a boat on the Saint Lawrence River.
See also Fireworks competitions
References
External links Official website