London's fireworks prepared ahead of New Year display

Crews in London finalize preparations for the city’s largest New Year’s Eve fireworks show, set to light up the Thames and the London Eye at midnight.

Reuters

31 December 2025 at 09:36:24

Jewish celebrate the lighting of the world's largest Hanukkah menorah on the first night of Hanukkah, outside the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., December 14, 2025. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

Eduardo Munoz

An intricate network of fireworks was prepared on Monday (December 29) ahead of the UK’s biggest New Year’s Eve display.

London’s New Year’s fireworks are set to launch at midnight on Thursday (January 1) from three barges floating on the river Thames and the London Eye.

Titanium Fireworks has worked on the music-synchronised display for the 16th year in a row and expects to launch around 12,000 fireworks during the 12-minute show.

10,000 fireworks will be placed across the barges, while 2,000 will ignite from the London Eye, the world’s largest cantilever observation wheel which is 135m tall, according to their website.

The Eye cannot be fitted with fireworks until after 6 p.m. on the 31st, leaving crews in a race against time to get everything ready for the midnight countdown.

Production: Will Russell, Marissa Davison/Reuters