London rings in 2024 with Mayor’s biggest ever fireworks, lights and drone show over the River Thames

• More than 100,000 ticket holders gathered together while many millions watched across the world as London welcomed 2024 with a spectacular fireworks, lights and drone show presented by the Mayor of London
• For the first time ever, ticketholders lining the River Thames were able to enjoy fireworks and drones alongside each other, with a light show too, in a display delivering a message of unity to the world and showing that London is for everyone
• London’s sky was lit up in celebration as the capital also marked key moments from 2023, including the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, 75 years of the NHS, 75 years since the arrival of Empire Windrush and 10 years since same-sex marriage became legalised
• The soundtrack included a wide range of music from across the world, as well as voice recordings from famous names Dame Helen Mirren, Bella Ramsey, Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley, George the Poet and Baroness Floella Benjamin

London’s famous skyline has been lit up to ring in 2024 with the capital’s world-renowned fireworks, lights and drone show sending a spectacular message of celebration and unity to the world.

The show, which is organised by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was the capital’s biggest ever as for the first time ever ticketholders could enjoy fireworks, lights and drones alongside each other in one location around the lastminute.com London Eye.

More than 12,000 fireworks, 600 drones, 430 lights and a varied soundtrack of songs and voice-over clips welcomed in the New Year, with a huge party televised to millions on BBC One and BBC iPlayer and around the world, confirming London’s position as a global capital of tourism and culture.

This year’s illuminations delivered a message of unity to the world and showed that London is for everyone. The display was designed to unite Londoners and bring communities together to celebrate the capital’s diversity and promote mutual respect, as well as celebrate key milestones from 2023.

London’s biggest night of the year paid homage to the Coronation of our new monarch and featured a recorded message from His Majesty King Charles III celebrating our society’s diversity. It also marked 75 years of the NHS, 75 years since the arrival of Empire Windrush and 10 years since same-sex marriage became legalised.

For the first time, a dazzling drone display interacted directly with the fireworks. The drones formed a countdown ahead of Big Ben chiming midnight, a dandelion’s petals blowing away to illustrate the need to protect our natural world, and a child blowing bubbles to send a message of hope and joy. The bubbles then appeared to be popped by fireworks, in a visual first for a display in the UK.

The soundtrack included a wide range of recent hits and classics from all across the world, featuring bhangra, k-pop, reggaeton, alongside global and British pop classics including the Spice Girls, Calvin Harris featuring Tom Grennan, Rema & Selena Gomez, Lulu, Beyoncé, Louis Armstrong, Fifty Fifty, Jasmine Sandlas, Dua Lipa, The Kinks, and Gala.

Further messages throughout the show were delivered by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Dame Helen Mirren, Bella Ramsey, Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley, George the Poet and Baroness Floella Benjamin, who read a poem by the late Benjamin Zephaniah.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am delighted to welcome in 2024 with our best and biggest ever celebration. Our unique combination of fireworks, drones, lighting and music have put on a fabulous show for the millions watching around the globe, sending a message of unity and showing why London is the greatest city in the world. 2023 was filled with so many special moments and as we move into 2024 I feel more inspired than ever to continue our work towards building a better, greener and more prosperous city for everyone.”

Imran Tauqir, General Manager of The lastminute.com London Eye, said: “Here at the lastminute.com London Eye, we are delighted and honoured to have once again hosted The Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks seeing in 2024. For all those who joined us here onsite and the millions who watched on TV at home with their friends and family both in the UK and globally, we wish you all a very Happy New Year."

Hannah Clark, Identity’s Project Director, said: “We are delighted to once again support the Mayor of London, with the delivery of 2023's London's New Year's Eve celebrations. In close collaboration with the GLA, leading names across music production, entertainment lighting and pyrotechnic display, Identity developed a dazzling spectacle, celebrating the truth that ‘London is a place for everyone’, whether they chose to visit or make the city their home. Identity would like to thank their team, the many stakeholders and industry partners involved in supporting us in welcoming 2024 with a bang! It felt like the perfect way to finish off an amazing year.”