Identity, the creative agency behind the Mayor of London’s
New Year’s Eve celebrations, has delivered this year's largest annual firework display in Europe.
With around 100,000 attendees on-site and millions watching
across the globe, the display combined fireworks, lighting, music,
and holographic technology.
The creative elements of the event included more than 12,000
fireworks, 420 choreographed lights, and Hologauze animations to bring British
moments and symbols to life.
This year’s display celebrated significant events from 2024,
including the success of Team GB at the Paris Olympics, the 80th anniversary of
D-Day, and a special collaboration with Paddington Bear, sharing a message of
hope and unity for the year ahead.
Identity project director Hannah Clark said: “Identity is so
proud to once again be working in close collaboration with the GLA, and leading
names across music production, lighting, and pyrotechnic design, to create this
dazzling spectacle for London. The Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve firework
celebrations have become an iconic and globally recognised event, reflecting
our unique and wonderfully vibrant city. It’s a unique showcase that puts
London firmly on the map for the year ahead.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, added: “It’s fantastic to
welcome 2025 with our biggest and best-ever New Year’s Eve celebrations. Around
100,000 Londoners and visitors joined together on the banks of the Thames for
an unforgettable night of fireworks, lighting and music, while millions at home
were able to see our world-first use of hologram animations to celebrate the
new year. From honouring the heroes of the D-Day Eastbourne landings to
Paddington Bear celebrating our capital’s diversity, I’m proud that we sent a
message of hope and love to the world, as we build a better London for
everyone.”
Highlights included:
- Using
Hologauze technology, the display featured animations of the Union Flag,
Olympic medals, and Paddington Bear, creating visual projections that
complemented the fireworks and lighting.
- The
12-minute show featured more than 12,000 fireworks and 420 lights, with a crew
of 32 firework, sound, and lighting specialists working from 27th December to
ensure a seamless production. The fireworks were delivered by Titanium to
Identity’s creative brief.
-
Meticulous creative process: Planning for the event began in July, starting
with soundtrack curation, followed by pyrotechnic design, and concluding with
lighting programming. Final preparations on 31st December included rigging
lighting and fireworks on the London Eye just hours before the midnight moment.
- A soundtrack that told a
story: Featuring a diverse mix of artists and voiceovers, including Sabrina
Carpenter, Sir Elton John, Dame Vera Lynn, and D-Day veterans, the audio
complemented the visual narrative of hope, unity, and celebration.
