For anyone planning a public celebration, the aim is to give people a night worth coming out for. The choice of spectacle also needs to suit the location and the people who live around it.
Drone shows offer another way to bring an audience together, and they have featured in parliamentary discussions about fireworks, noise and the future of public events. Public polling also gives organisers good reason to consider them.
The Public Is Open to Alternatives
Research published by the Social Market Foundation in 2024 found that 91% of respondents were open to at least some use of alternatives to traditional fireworks. The report, funded by the RSPCA and using Focaldata polling, explored options including quieter fireworks, drones and other light displays.
That openness covered different approaches, from occasionally using alternatives alongside traditional fireworks to replacing them altogether. It gives organisers scope to consider a mix of experiences that suits their event.
A separate YouGov survey of 5,510 adults in Great Britain, conducted on 6 January 2025, asked which they would rather watch at events such as New Year. A drone light show was chosen by 39%, compared with 36% who chose fireworks. A further 26% were unsure. Percentages are rounded.
The result shows substantial interest in drone displays, alongside a continuing audience for fireworks. For event organisers, that is encouragement to explore what each can bring to a programme.
MPs Are Discussing the Possibilities
That interest is reflected in the parliamentary record. In a December 2024 debate, Cat Eccles MP encouraged local authorities to showcase drone displays, light shows and quieter fireworks, helping audiences discover the alternatives.
During the Fireworks Bill debate in January 2025, Sarah Owen MP said: “There is a hunger among the public and consumers for quieter fireworks and increased use of technology such as drones.”
In the January 2026 debate on the sale of fireworks, Sarah Dyke MP described drones and light shows as “fantastic alternatives to fireworks”. Responding for the Government, minister Kate Dearden also recognised the potential of drones and other light technologies at large events.
These contributions put drone shows firmly into the discussion about how communities celebrate. They also give councils and producers a practical reason to look at the options available when developing their next event.
The Spectacle Still Matters
An alternative has to earn its place in the programme. People want an enjoyable evening and a display that feels worthy of the occasion.
One contribution to the January 2026 debate captured that particularly well. Alison Hume, MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said:
“I recently attended a spectacular drone display at Scarborough castle to celebrate 400 years since the spa waters were discovered, and I am certain that not a single person watching will have felt short-changed.”
She was referring to a FlightShows display, which you can see in our Scarborough Lights case study.
For us, the value of that observation goes beyond one event. A different approach can be a celebration people enjoy on its own merits, giving them something memorable to watch and talk about afterwards.
Giving an Event Its Own Identity
Drone shows create pictures through light and movement. A landmark can take shape in the sky, a character can move through a scene, or a message can appear at a carefully chosen moment in the soundtrack.
That opens up a wide range of creative possibilities. A community celebration can explore local history. A festival can develop its theme through an aerial story. A sporting event can bring the identity of a club or team into its finale.
At FlightShows, we start with what the audience should feel and remember. The imagery, music and pace of the show can then work together to create a performance that belongs to the occasion.
Choosing a Display That Fits the Event
Noise and the surrounding environment are part of that choice. A drone display creates its aerial imagery without explosive bangs, although drone noise and any accompanying music still need to be considered.
In written evidence to Parliament, Hackney Council also pointed to drone displays as a way to retain the spectacle while avoiding the same local air pollution associated with fireworks.
Every event needs its own assessment of the venue, airspace, viewing positions and weather conditions, alongside the creative brief and budget. Those details help determine how a drone show could work within the wider programme.
The polling and parliamentary contributions make a useful starting point for that conversation. There is public interest in the possibilities, and plenty of room for organisers to create something distinctive.
Tell Your Story in the Stars
If you are planning a public celebration, we can help you explore what a drone show could bring to your event.
Explore our bespoke drone light shows, see examples of our work or get in touch with the FlightShows team.
