Cannes Fireworks Festival Guide
A guide to the Cannes Fireworks Festival — the summer pyrotechnic competition over the bay, and the easy way to enjoy the show.
On a handful of summer nights, the Bay of Cannes becomes a stage for one of the world's great pyrotechnic contests. The Festival d'Art Pyrotechnique pits international teams against each other in dazzling displays choreographed to music, watched by huge crowds along the Croisette. Here is a guide to the Cannes Fireworks Festival.
Fireworks over the bay
Across several evenings in July and August, teams from different countries stage competing firework displays over the Bay of Cannes, each choreographed to a soundtrack. Launched from barges offshore, the shows fill the sky above the water for around half an hour apiece.
It is among the most prestigious fireworks competitions anywhere, and a highlight of the Cannes summer.
- The Festival d'Art Pyrotechnique
- International teams compete over several nights
- Displays choreographed to music
- Held in July and August over the bay
Watching the show
The Croisette and the beaches pack out for each display, while some of the best views are from a boat or yacht in the bay, or a restaurant terrace along the front. Wherever you watch, arriving early to settle in is wise.
The reflections on the water double the spectacle from the seafront.
- The Croisette and beaches fill early
- Fine views from a boat or yacht in the bay
- Restaurant terraces along the front
- Arrive early to find a spot
Planning your evening
Displays begin late, after dark, on set summer dates. An early dinner along the Croisette or in Le Suquet sets up the evening, before the crowds gather for the show.
Checking the dates ahead lets you plan a night around the biggest displays.
Getting there and back
Firework nights bring enormous crowds and road closures around the Croisette, and getting away afterward on foot or by taxi is slow. A private chauffeur drops you near the front and is waiting at an agreed point when the crowds disperse.
It turns a logistically tricky evening into an easy one.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Cannes Fireworks Festival?
The Festival d'Art Pyrotechnique runs across several evenings in July and August, with displays launched over the Bay of Cannes after dark.
Where can you watch the Cannes fireworks?
From the Croisette and beaches, from a boat or yacht in the bay, or from a restaurant terrace along the seafront.
What is the Festival d'Art Pyrotechnique?
An international fireworks competition over the Bay of Cannes, in which teams stage displays choreographed to music across several summer nights.
How do I get to and from the fireworks?
A private chauffeur drops you near the Croisette and waits at an agreed point afterward, avoiding the slow crowds and closures.
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