Among New Year’s Eve fireworks extravaganzas, the show over Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour delivers one of the world’s biggest bangs.

This year, the multi-sensory show has been amped, incorporating new effects designed to dazzle. The event begins before midnight when shooting stars are fired from high rises lining the harbor, timed at 15-minute intervals beginning at 11 p.m.

The breadth and scope of the pyrotechnical feat is one of the city’s largest draws over the holidays.

Hong Kong’s New Multi-Hued Fireworks

“Multi-hued fireworks will add new texture in this year’s edition of the ‘New Year Count Down,’ said Wilson Mao, CEO of Pyromagic Multimedia Productions in an email. “We will incorporate a vibrant array of color smoke willows in shades of red, green, yellow, blue, purple, and orange. While these color smoke willows won’t ignite, we’ll simultaneously launch a multitude of strobing stars to illuminate the smoke, resulting in a breathtaking facade of colored smoke layers that will light up Victoria Harbour.”

Smoke willows consist of trails cascading down from a central point. They’re often used as a fireworks finale in the form of sparkling light. After nearly 12 minutes of over-the-top “wow” fireworks that launches at midnight, what Mao describes should be a stunner.

This year’s theme is “The Symphony of Happiness,” which is divided into five movements representing fire, earth, wood, water and metal.

The Frenetic Grand Finale

The grand finale, termed “Light of Future,” will be a frenetic explosion of bright multi-hued fireworks with iridescent clouds expanding out, lighting up Victoria Harbour. Mao hinted at other surprises for the night, perhaps during the finale.

You can watch a livestream of the show on the Discover Hong Kong YouTube channel.

Setting up and launching the show involves an intricate system that must be perfectly timed. The fireworks are set off from five barges and 16 pontoons positioned outside Victoria Harbour. The Pyromagic Multimedia Productions team includes marine experts and pyrotechnics professionals skilled at handling variables, the most vexing of which can be windy winter weather.

Launch mortars for display shells are buried in 20-foot sand troughs placed on flat-top barges. Other systems are mounted on the barges and pontoons.

Pyromagic has orchestrated most of Hong Kong’s large multi-media events, including the Tsing Ma Bridge Opening in April 1997 and the annual Chinese New Year fireworks display. Also: the annual China National Day fireworks display.

Where To View The Hong Kong Fireworks

There are numerous prime vantage points along Victoria Harbour to view the fireworks, many with audio systems that will play a soundtrack that coordinates with the rocket blasts. The viewing spots are located on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon: West Kowloon Cultural District, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, among others.

Canada’s pop duo Crash Adams is this year’s guest performer: Rafaele (Crash) Massarelli and Vince (Adams) Sasso, from Toronto, Ontario. As a Juno Award nominee for Breakthrough Group of the Year in 2024, the pair has written, sung, mixed and mastered all of their songs since the group formed in 2019.

Other Hong Kong holiday events include “Christmas Town,” a blinged-out festive display in the West Kowloon Cultural District. It’s part of Hong Kong Winterfest held from November 22 to January 1, 2025.

Hong Kong also hosts the free Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival from November 13 to January 12, 2025.