Seafire 2025: International firework competition dazzles at three Gold Coast locations

Rain and a last minute venue change didn’t stop the Seafire 2025 competition from lighting up the sky and finishing with a bang. Read about the firework shows here.

Crowds gathered to watch a spectacular display in the sky for the 2025 SeaFire competition. Picture: Celeste Humphrey

A downpour of rain and a choppy Seaway didn’t stop international teams lighting up the Gold Coast sky as part of the Seafire international fireworks competition on Saturday.

Large crowds gathered at Broadbeach, the Broadwater Parklands and HOTA Parklands to watch the spectacular shows taking place after a planned fourth venue at Surfers Paradise fell victim to the weather.

Events organiser Nick Kozij said conditions were too dangerous at the Gold Coast Seaway to allow barges with fireworks get through for the Surfers show.

Dangerous conditions meant Seafire 2025 could not go ahead at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Celeste Humphrey

He said the barges could not handle the wave heights and winds.

“The competition itself went really well,” Mr Kozij said. “Obviously mother nature threw quite a big curveball at us but we had some great back up plans in place and were able to pivot.”

A last-minute change meant the competition had three different locations for the firework shows. Picture: Celeste Humphrey

Late afternoon showers warded away attendees until the last minute, however all three locations where the show went ahead were packed by 6pm.

Rain warded crowds away until the last minute with all three locations packed by 6pm. Picture: Celeste Humphrey

“There was a lot of happy people,” Mr Kozij said.

HC Pyrotechnics from Belgium started the event off with a bang with Team Australia’s Skylighter Fireworks finishing with a fireworks finale.

But it was Team USA that snagged the coveted Seafire surfboard award in the end.

Team USA nabbed the win at the 2025 SeaFire competition. Team USA member Neil Egor pictured. Picture: Celeste Humphrey

The American team included Neil Egor, a fireworks and special effects designer at Walt Disney World, bringing a show that sparked everyone’s imagination.

Mr Kozij said the key to a winning firework display was being able to tell a story.

“If you can tell a story that takes people on a journey … you’ve done a great job,” he said.

Originally published as Seafire 2025: International firework competition dazzles at three Gold Coast locations