Bahrain welcomed 2026 in spectacular style last night with dazzling fireworks lighting up the kingdom’s skies, visible from eight landmark locations.
The grand display marked the finale of the latest season of Celebrate Bahrain, the annual cultural festival organised by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA).
This year’s event was themed ‘Live Every Moment’ and showcased the kingdom’s vibrant cultural heritage, world-class entertainment and other diverse experiences.
As the countdown to midnight began, residents and citizens excitedly turned to the skies to watch the fireworks, which have become an annual tradition in the kingdom and around the world.
The sky glittered with dazzling fireworks at the stroke of midnight near The Avenues Bahrain, Bahrain World Trade Centre, Bahrain Harbour, Seef District, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, Manama between Shaikh Hamad Causeway and Shaikh Isa bin Salman Causeway, Bahrain Bay beach and Marassi Al Bahrain.
A drone show at Bahrain Bay also amped up the excitement for the scores of spectators who attended the much-awaited event.
“New Year’s Eve celebrations are an annual event within Bahrain’s festive season calendar, and are being developed gradually to align with the tourism sector’s objectives and visitors’ expectations,” BTEA chief executive Sarah Buhiji noted.
She added that increasing the number of show venues this year and launching the largest drone show were part of the BTEA’s strategy to further enhance the tourism impact of major events and leverage Bahrain’s advanced infrastructure. This supports the sustainability of tourism events and solidifies the kingdom’s position as a top regional destination for tourism and entertainment.
For this year’s festivities, two new venues were added to experience the glittering display – Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay and Bahrain World Trade Centre.
According to Ms Buhiji, there was also a significant expansion in the Avenues Mall area, where the number of show points increased from three in previous years to nine this year, reflecting the growing ambition to provide a world-class festive experience.
This year’s drone show was also the largest in the kingdom’s history, featuring 2,500 drones, including 1,100 firework drones soaring up to 400 metres. Fireworks reached heights of 250 to 300 metres, creating a spectacular display that illuminated the skies in a breathtaking 10-minute aerial show.
Similar to previous years, the event also included state-of-the-art 3D light projections on the facade of the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, adding an innovative dimension to the festive experience.
This year’s season offered a diverse range of cultural, entertainment and artistic events over the past couple of months. It attracted visitors from all walks of life, reflecting the kingdom’s success in organising and hosting high-quality events for local and regional audiences.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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