Monaco fireworks festival is an international fireworks competition that takes place in Port Hercules over four nights in July and August every year. Created in 1966, the festival has become one of the most popular of its kind worldwide. If you love the combination of iridescent colours and spellbinding music, you should certainly experience this event at least once in your lifetime.
Port Hercules
Monaco’s Port Hercules is famous for its breathtaking views, and is one of the most desirable yachting destinations in the world. It is located in the central La Condamine district of Monaco, and plays host to numerous high-profile events including the Monaco Grand Prix.
Residents with a Port Hercules apartment rental have front-row seats to all the activity in the harbour and a permanent view of the majestic superyachts anchored in the harbour, their brilliant white hulls contrasting sharply with the deep turquoise of the Mediterranean sea. It is simply a beautiful place to be at any time of the year. But during the Monaco Fireworks Festival, the scenery around Port Hercules becomes even more dazzling, as it is illuminated by magnificent pyrotechnic displays.
How Monaco Fireworks Began
The city-state authorities created the Monaco Fireworks Festival 53 years ago. In 2018, the name of the event was changed to Monaco Art en Ciel. The festival attracts applications from numerous teams of international pyrotechnicians every year, which are then shortlisted by the Town Council to just four entrants. Each team is tasked with creating an imaginative and compelling display of around 20 minutes. In 2019, the teams are scheduled to present their displays on 20th and 27th July at 22:00 and on 3rd and 10th August at 21:00.
From 1996, Monaco Art en Ciel incorporated music into the light shows, creating a truly synergistic, multi-sensory experience. To accommodate the acoustic elements of the display, a state-of-the-art sound system was installed across the whole of Port Hercules. So wherever you choose to view the performances from, you’ll be able to immerse yourself fully in the display.
Competition Rules and Previous Winners
In 2018, the Portuguese team Macedos Pirotecnia won the Monaco Fireworks Festival with a display designed to evoke the wonderment of their country’s navigators as they crossed oceans and discovered previously unknown worlds. Each year, the performances are judged by a jury that consists of local council members, art aficionados and high-profile members of society. But your vote counts too! A prize is also awarded to the team that earns the most online votes from the event spectators.
So why not add some snap and sparkle to your summer by attending the Monaco Fireworks Festival? During the day, you can experience the delights of the Principality and all of the luxury and glamour the location offers, and then, at night, a carnival of light and sound awaits you.
