FOI - New Year's fireworks 2023 [Jan 2023]

Your request

I would like to know the cost of the 2023 London fireworks display as well as the carbon footprint.

Our response

The London New Year’s Eve Firework display brings in huge numbers of domestic and international tourists into London every year.

The fireworks provide a great opportunity to show our capital at its best on the global stage, profiling our tourist attractions and celebrating what makes London the greatest city in the world.

This year it was also especially important that London paid tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 

The budget for the London New Year’s Eve Fireworks event was £3m, with a further £1.3m spent that is recouped through ticket sales. This covers the costs of the display as well as security, stewarding infrastructure and other operational delivery. The final cost is not yet held as it is still being reconciled.  

The last available market research for the New Year’s Eve event showed a direct and immediate economic impact of approximately £16m on the night for London’s businesses and hospitality industries – a return on investment of more than £5 for every £1 spent on the event.

The Mayor is committed to tackling the climate emergency and improving London’s air quality, and is taking action by carefully managing the environmental impacts of GLA events.  

Environment and sustainability are embedded in the procurement and contracting process for London’s New Year’s Eve event, with an environmental plan to manage key environmental impacts which the event management company consider throughout the planning and delivery process. These practices have meant that this year’s emissions were reduced by 23% since 2016.  

In terms of emissions from the fireworks, these are relatively low relative to overall annual emissions, and the CO2 emissions of 287kg are offset through a UK based tree planting programme.

If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact us, quoting reference MGLA030123-6521.