British Fireworks Championships

The British Firework Championships were started in 1997 and, after considering a number of venues around the UK, Plymouth was chosen to host the Championships as it provides a natural amphitheatre for the large scale pyrotechnics and can be viewed from a variety of points around the harbour and Sound by tens of thousands of people each year.

Each year six professional display companies are selected by draw to participate and then three of them fire on each evening (they have 10 minutes each to fire their display). Judges view from the Citadel which dominates the Hoe and Sound and gives them uninterrupted views of the displays. Every sixth year there is a Champions event when winners from the previous five years plus the previous Champion-of-Champions winner return to battle it out for the overall title Champion-of-Champions.

The Hoe is the focal point for families and a large proportion of people watching the Championships and entertainment is provided here throughout both evenings - including live music and funfair.