- Tickets for the New Year's Eve fireworks go live this Friday 2 October at 12 noon
- New partnership with Unicef, the world's leading children's organisation, aims to bring people together in a moment for good that will help children in danger around the world
- Corporate sponsors invited to support award-winning event
Ahead of tickets being released to the public for the London New Year's Eve fireworks display, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson today announced a new partnership with Unicef that will bring a new dimension to the acclaimed event.
100,000 revellers are expected to gather in the viewing areas for the hugely popular pyrotechnic and lighting display, which is focused around the Coca-Cola London Eye. Tickets are being released to the public this Friday 2 October at midday.
Through the partnership with Unicef, ticketholders are being invited to come together for the first ever New Year's 'Big Resolution'. In addition to the exclusive programme music, countdown to midnight and the spectacular display itself, The Big Resolution will be a unifying moment aimed at raising awareness and bringing lasting change to the lives of vulnerable children around the world.
During this season of goodwill and as people make resolutions and look ahead to a happy New Year, Unicef is hoping to raise vital funds to help children caught in wars and disasters around the world, like the one in Syria.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: 'Our stunning fireworks display is seen by millions of people across the globe, celebrating the successes of the last year and looking ahead with optimism and positivity to the new one. I am thrilled that we are linking up with a global organisation like Unicef to mark the start of 2016 by bringing people together for a shared moment of goodwill to raise awareness and benefit children around the world.'
Unicef UK's Deputy Executive Director, Catherine Cottrell, said: 'Unicef is delighted to join with The Mayor of London New Year's Eve fireworks. Together, we hope to unite people across the UK in The Big Resolution to help change the lives of vulnerable children around the world. We are living in unprecedented times. There are now more than 30 million children displaced from their homes, more than at any time since World War Two. Children need our help now more than ever. This promises to be a very special and memorable New Year's Eve celebration.'
More details about plans for the London New Year's Eve fireworks, including Unicef's involvement will be announced in due course.
Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available to businesses wanting to support the award-winning event, which is seen by 100,000 ticketed guests and attracted 16.1 million UK broadcast viewers, as well as an international audience in excess of one billion, in 2014. Corporate sponsorship offers businesses the ability to reach out to millions of people in the UK and abroad to promote this important campaign to help children around the world.
People wanting to guarantee a view and entry for this year's celebrations will be able to book up to four tickets from midday on Friday 2 October by visiting www.london.gov.uk/nye. Each ticket is £10, with every penny being used to pay for the costs associated with the ticketing scheme.
Ticketing was brought in for the first time last year to help manage ever increasing crowds heading into central London for the display. The aim was to reduce numbers attempting to view the fireworks, but unable to do so, to help ensure its long term sustainability as a safe and enjoyable event. As well as being enjoyed by revellers in the viewing areas, the internationally acclaimed display is watched by millions on television and helps promote London around the world.
Anyone without a ticket will not be able to get into this year's event, but they will still be able to take advantage of the hundreds of other celebrations taking place in pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants all over London, many close to home.
For updates and information about how to book tickets go to www.london.gov.uk/nye.
#londonNYE @LDN_gov
Notes to editors
1. About Unicef
Unicef works for more children in more countries than any other organisation. Unicef ensures more of the world's children are fed, vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation. We have done more to influence laws, policies and customs to help protect children than anyone else in history. We get things done. And we're not going to stop until the world is a safe place for all our children.
Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow's children. As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK. For more information please visit www.unicef.org.uk.
2. Information about corporate sponsorship is available from Amelia Richards [email protected], or 020 7983 4081
3. Since first being staged at the Coca Cola London Eye on the South Bank in 2003, the numbers of people heading into central London for the acclaimed pyrotechnic and lighting display had mushroomed from an estimated 100,000 people in its first year to an estimated 500,000 in 2013. A large proportion of them were unable to see the display at all, leaving them disappointed and with nowhere to go at midnight. The sheer numbers threatened the emergency services ability to respond to a major incident effectively, and left many thousands of people cold, tired and unable to get anywhere near the event.
After extensive consultation with the Metropolitan Police, other emergency services, Transport for London, local authorities and other key partners it was decided that ticketing the event was the best way to ensure the safety of those attending and to help secure the long term future of what has become an iconic London event.
Following the introduction of ticketing, on 31 December 2014 crowds in central London were estimated to have been reduced significantly from 500,000 in 2013 to less than 350,000 – making the event more enjoyable for people and reducing the pressure placed on the emergency services.
4. Each ticket carries a £10 fee, which covers the costs of running the ticketing scheme. No profit is being made and every penny of the fee is being used to cover the costs associated with the scheme, including printing, distribution, on the ground ticket checks and extra infrastructure including additional fencing, stewards and toilets.
5. Aside from the fireworks London is one of the most exciting cities to be in on New Year's Eve with hundreds of events taking place in clubs, pubs and restaurants across the capital. There is a huge number of ways to ring in your New Year. To find out more go to: www.visitlondon.com/newyear.