At 8 p.m. on the second day of the 2026 Chinese New Year, the first shells of Hong Kong’s CNY fireworks burst over Victoria Harbour—the first major pyrotechnic display of 2026 since the cancellation of the New Year’s Eve fireworks after the deadly Tai Po fire killed 168 in November 2025. Hundreds of thousands of spectators packed the streets and MTR exits leading up to the waterfronts of Central and Tsim Sha Tsui and air monitors ticked up at Central/Western district as a total of 31,888 fireworks erupted during the massive 23-minute CNY show over the harbour.
On February 18, the Year of the Horse was welcomed with a grandiose fireworks show themed “Prosperity Gallops Across Hong Kong” under a HK$19 million sponsorship from the Hong Kong Jockey Club. This year’s CNY fireworks show reportedly used an addition of 8,000 more pyrotechnic shells than previous years to depict symbols of prosperity such as the figure “8”, Chinese gold ingots, and horse shoes.
In recent years, Hong Kong is actively positioning itself as a spectacle-driven events hub through government-backed initiatives like monthly harbour displays and flagship festivals, framed by Victoria Harbour’s iconic skyline to draw tourists and stimulate the night-time economy. The February 18 CNY fireworks illustrate this push amid lingering post-Tai Po sensitivities.
Are Fireworks Fumes Toxic?
Fireworks fumes are generally known to be toxic, containing high concentrations of hazardous pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), heavy metals (lead), and carbon monoxide. “When the fireworks went off, the sky changed its colour and smoke was clearly visible even from a distance,” said Chakhan Karakat, who attended the fireworks on Wednesday.
However, despite the grand scale of the fireworks display, official air‑quality indicators never strayed beyond the good to moderate range that evening, according to hourly particulate matter (PM) readings compiled by the AQI for Hong Kong Island, including the Central and Western district near Victoria Harbour. The average PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ concentrations remained comfortably below “unhealthy” thresholds over the 24‑hour period, reflecting how the pollution from fireworks tends to arrive as very short, sharp bursts that are quickly diluted in an open, coastal city and then averaged out in hourly and daily indices.
On the other hand, previous analyses of Hong Kong’s 2023 and 2024 New Year and Lunar New Year shows have recorded transient spikes in PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ of up to nearly four times pre‑event levels at downwind stations, before falling back to baseline within about three hours. Similar studies in mainland cities during the Spring Festival have found that PM₂.₅ concentrations during peak fireworks periods can be several times higher than on non‑festival days, with researchers warning that even short‑lived surges in fine particulate pollution can irritate airways, aggravate asthma and other respiratory diseases, and add to the long‑term burden on public health, some even leading to serious lung cancer.
Cultural Significance of CNY Fireworks
Fireworks designer Wilson Mao Wai-shing, head of Pyromagic Multi-media Productions in charge of the February 18 fireworks production, defended the use of traditional fireworks during a press conference reported by SCMP, stating that the sound, smell and visual impact of traditional fireworks cannot be replaced by aircraft formations or drones.
Hong Kong authorities cancelled the New Year’s Eve fireworks on December 17 in light of the deadly Tai Po fire yet proceeded with the CNY fireworks. While Mao added that adjustments were much considered, he chose to prioritise bringing joy to the city. “Lunar New Year is a festival that all Chinese people celebrate, and we must do something that makes Hongkongers happy,” Mao told SCMP.
Fireworks are deeply embedded in Chinese festive practices as a way to usher in luck, ward away bad spirits, and mark new beginnings. Often used in weddings, business openings and Chinese New Year celebrations, the fireworks’ thunderous cracks and dazzling bursts of colour are believed to enhance the flow of energy and symbolise positive qi. “I can’t imagine Chinese New Year without fireworks,” said Chloe Wong, a Hong Kong resident. “Drones just don’t give you that same boom that sends shivers down your spine. The sound, the visuals, the whole feeling of a new beginning”.
This cultural resonance with traditional fireworks in Chinese culture carries equal economic weight making it nearly irreplaceable. Hong Kong government positions the CNY and National Day fireworks as a non-negotiable core tourism asset as they transform Victoria Harbour into a global stage framed by the city’s iconic skyline drawing in thousands of tourists. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law argued that large-scale events like fireworks are essential for tourism recovery, noting that the fireworks reveal “a different kind of beauty” in the harbour. For many residents and officials alike, cancelling the fireworks would dim Hong Kong’s festive identity and position as Asia’s events capital at a time when tourism revival demands every spark.