Throughout Cannes, Antibes, Monaco and other surrounding towns there are amazing firework displays that light up the sky during the summer months of July and August. The fabulous tradition has become extremely popular within the local and tourist communities attracting over 200,000 spectators each year, gathering on the beaches and watching the breath taking displays.
Under the stars on the French Riviera the firework displays are particularly enjoyable as Cannes and Monaco hold a competition with prizes awarded to whoever has the best display with lights, music and choreography. The displays are fantastic as countries from all over the world take part competing for the best performance.
The Monaco International Firework Contest
The Monaco International firework contest is an International pyro-musical event - another delightful highlight of the summer season not to be missed! Gracing the sky on four separate evenings and being in one of the best high class and magnificent places in the world, where better to watch a beautiful display than this. A very powerful sound system is installed around the port enabling spectators to enjoy these outstanding shows. The festival was created in 1966 as one of many celebrations recognising the neighbourhood of Monte-Carlo. It was the first veritable firework contest with a prize to be created on the French Riviera. It takes place on Monaco Harbour, on the backdrop of the Baie d'Hercule - which seems to have been designed especially for this type of show!
The Cannes Fireworks Festival
Cannes, from as early as 1967, has had a more than fantastic fireworks display. They have a huge pyro-musical contest with fireworks, music and lights show. Cannes absolutely hit it off on this one, by bringing in the greatest specialist design team of, melody, music, lighting and pyro-technical specialists who match the music with the colours creating an almost musical show, striking audiences all over the Riviera and inviting them to join in on the great displays to be seen on these fabulous nights. Each year a silver trophy is awarded to the best show in the contest which is organised by teams of each country and ran over the 6 nights in the summer months of July and August. Resulting from these yearly competitions an elite Golden medal is awarded every 5 years. This is a fantastic display and also competition to be seen, enjoyed and certainly should not be missed!
The Cagnes-sur-mer 'Promenade en Fete'
On the promenade and sea front in Cagnes-sur-mer pedestrians take over the place to take part in the wonderful atmosphere and great fireworks lighting up the dark sky. Surrounded by hundreds of people ooh-ing and ahh-ing, it really is a delight to watch and be around people enjoying the same thing. They also have a live band, street performers and a DJ on select dates over the summer months, so keep up to date with our firework schedule below!
The Antibes-Juan Les Pins Fireworks Festival
Lastly but certainly not least we have the fantastic Antibes-Juan Les Pins fireworks festival. This festival goes on throughout the whole month of August and bringing the summer to a close with its last festival on the night of the 24th. Juan Les Pins beach is a gorgeous place with a long beach from start to finish so you can sit yourself down with some friends and stare up at the stars and fantastic fireworks shooting up and exploding a shower of sparkles and bright lights! They have firework experts who put on a magical show for the crowds gathered!
The Fireworks Festival in Cannes is from the 4th of July until the 24th of August. The Monaco International Firework contest is from the 6th of July until the 21st of August. Also The Promenade en Fete in Cagnes-sur-mer is from the 13th of July until the 21st of August. Then last but not least we have The Antibes-Juan Les Pins Firework Festival from the 1st until the 21st of August.
Confirmed dates are as follows, not to be missed!
Here are the dates for this year's fireworks displays on the Riviera and also the countries participating in the festival. Each display starts at 10pm.
Saturday 29 |
Marines de Cogolin (7ème Festival de la mer) |
Thursday 4 |
Cannes (Azerbaidjan) |
Friday 5 |
Cagnes-sur-Mer (Hippodrome), le Lavandou |
Saturday 6 |
Monaco (Canada) |
Friday 12 |
Cagnes-sur-Mer (Hippodrome), Port Fréjus |
Saturday 13 |
Agay, Antibes (Ponteil Beach), Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Bormes-les-Mimosas, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Cavalaire, Golfe-Juan, la Figueirette, Roquebrune Cap Martin, Saint Laurent du Var, Villefranche-sur-Mer |
Sunday 14 |
Bandol, Cannes (Greece), Juan-les-Pins, le Lavandou, Menton, Nice, Port Grimaud, Sainte Maxime, Saint Raphael, Saint Tropez, Théoule |
Friday 19 |
Port Fréjus, le Lavandou |
Saturday 20 |
Cagnes-sur-Mer (Hippodrome) |
Sunday 21 |
Cannes (Italy), le Lavandou |
Friday 26 |
Cagnes-sur-Mer (Hippo), Port Fréjus, le Lavandou, Monaco (Spain), Mandelieu |
Monday 29 |
Cannes (France) |
Wednesday 31 |
le Lavandou |
Thursday 1 |
Juan-les-Pins |
Friday 2 |
Port Fréjus |
Saturday 3 |
St Jean Cap Ferrat |
Sunday 4 |
Le Lavandou |
Monday 5 |
Bandol |
Wednesday 7 |
Cannes (Hongkong) |
Thursday 8 |
Juan-les-Pins, Cogolin, Villefranche Bay (Passable) |
Friday 9 |
Port Fréjus, Mandelieu, Lavandou, Monaco (Italy) |
Wednesday 14 |
Agay, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Roquebrune Cap Martin, Saint Raphael, San Remo |
Thursday 15 |
Cannes (Portugal), Cavalaire, Juan-les-Pins, le Lavandou, Menton, Nice, Port Grimaud, Sainte Maxime, Saint Tropez, Théoule |
Friday 16 |
Cagnes-sur-Mer (Hippodrome), Dramont, Eze-bord-de-Mer |
Saturday 17 |
Bormes-les-Mimosas |
Wednesday 21 |
Bandol, Monaco (China) |
Friday 23 |
Cagnes-sur-Mer (Hippodrome), Lavandou , Mandelieu |
Saturday 24 |
Antibes (Brague Beach), Cannes (France) |
Friday 30 |
Le Lavandou |