London Sees in the New Year and Celebrates European Friendships with Spectacular Firework Display

London saw in the New Year with a world-class spectacular firework display over the River Thames and the Coca-Cola London Eye. The display this year celebrated London’s special relationship with Europe as part of the Mayor’s #LondonIsOpen campaign, sending a message of openness and support to the more than one million European citizens living in London. 

Jack Morton Worldwide, the global brand experience agency, created the experience – an event which it has conceived and produced for fifteen consecutive years.

The display, a unique global showcase for the city, was seen by millions of people on BBC One and live by over 100,000 people in viewing areas on the banks of the River Thames.

A key aspect of the event is its soundtrack, which this year paid tribute to the music of some of Europe’s most creative and inspirational artists, providing a unique backbone rhythm for the firework show and reflected in the pyrotechnics and lighting of the show. 

Synchronised and triggered by GPS to Big Ben’s Chimes, the 11-minute show is the largest annual firework display in Europe. This year it lit up the River Thames with over eight tonnes of fireworks connected to 5,000 firing circuits across 348 firing locations on barges, pontoons and the Coca-Cola London Eye. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Every year our capital puts on the greatest fireworks show in the world with the spectacular images of our skyline shared all around the globe. I’m proud that this year the millions watching around the world saw us send a message of support to more than one million EU citizens who call London their home. By paying tribute to our close relationship with Europe as we welcomed in the New Year, we once again showed the world that London will always be open.”

Jim Donald, director of production, Jack Morton Worldwide said: “We’re so proud to be part of creating this iconic, global event for London and its people. It’s a unique showcase that puts London firmly on the map as the year opens.”  

As well as with the Greater London Authority, Jack Morton Worldwide worked in conjunction with multiple organisations across the capital to deliver the event. These included: the Metropolitan Police, Westminster City Council, The City of London Corporation, Lambeth and Southwark Borough Councils, Transport for London, The Port of London Authority and London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade and many more.