The first release of tickets for London’s spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks will go on sale at midday on Friday 27 September.
A global television audience will be watching as more than 100,000 ticket-holders gather opposite the Coca-Cola London Eye to welcome in the new decade and show the world that London Is Open.
The pyrotechnic and lighting display features more than 12,000 fireworks, 2,000 lighting cues and 30 tonnes of equipment, choreographed to music. It will again start with the sounds of Big Ben’s chimes, despite them being silent this year due to renovation works.
It’s essential to buy a ticket in advance to attend the fireworks, and, for the fifth year running, ticket prices will remain at £10. Those who want to be at the event are encouraged to sign up now for reminder emails just before the tickets go on sale.
The event attracts visitors from around the world and is likely to sell out quickly, so it is important to book early.
Those without a ticket are encouraged to visit the capital’s diverse range of bars, restaurants, pubs and clubs, or watch the display live on BBC One alongside more than 12m TV viewers.
To ensure that the event is safe and enjoyable for all, the Mayor’s team works closely with a range of partner agencies including the Met Police, TfL, local authorities and the emergency services.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “There is no better way to welcome in the New Year than by watching our extraordinary firework display on the banks of the River Thames.
“The eyes of the world will be watching as our skyline is again illuminated by a spectacular celebration of fireworks that shows everyone how London is open to all.
“It’s vital to buy your ticket in advance, so I urge anyone wanting to join us to book their ticket as early as possible so they can come and enjoy another wonderful show.”
To sign up for ticket updates and more information go to www.london.gov.uk/nye
ENDS
Notes to editors
About the fireworks:
Approximately 103,000 tickets will be made available for the event this year. This is the same as last year, but slightly fewer than 2016 (when approximately 110,000 were available) partly due to Thames Tideway Tunnel works taking place on Embankment
Each ticket is priced at £10 – the same price as 2014, when ticketing was first introduced – and every penny is used to pay for the costs associated with the ticketing scheme. There is a maximum of four tickets per transaction.
The New Year’s Eve fireworks has been a ticketed event since 2014. From 2003-2013, before ticketing was introduced, the event was hugely oversubscribed, with up to 500,000 people heading into central London to try and catch the display. This put enormous strain on transport, infrastructure and the ability of emergency services to move around. 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. Ticketing the event has helped to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fireworks as a safe, enjoyable event. Since ticketing was introduced in 2014, the numbers who attempted to see the fireworks but were unable to do so have reduced.
More than 3,000 people, from pyrotechnicians to stewards, work together to ensure that the capital’s celebrations run smoothly.
To find out more of the many exciting ways to welcome the New Year in London, go to: www.visitlondon.com/newyear