The city’s annual fireworks night is set to take place Thursday 5 November on Midsummer Common. The display will begin at 7pm with an extravaganza of fireworks to enjoy.
The evening, organised by Cambridge City Council, will begin from 6pm with a live DJ and theatrical walkabout acts to entertain the crowds running up to the evening’s fireworks.
Industry experts Pains Fireworks return to produce the 2026 display. Their company history dates back over 400 years to 1593 and began life as a supplier of gunpowder, and it seems likely that Pains were the supplier of gunpowder used in the 1605 Gunpowder plot.
Tom Cranmer, Sales and Design Manager of Pains Fireworks, said: “This year’s display at Midsummer Common will be the biggest and best ever as we fill the sky with colour, noise and light! The show will be filled with a variety of new effects as the audience are wowed by the combination of colours and noises that fill the sky.
“As a certified carbon neutral business, we’re looking forward to entertaining the amazing people of Cambridge whilst ensuring there’s no negative impact on the surrounding environment.”
Pains Fireworks displays are 100% carbon neutral with the company officially measuring and offsetting their carbon footprint for the year. Working with Carbon Neutral Britian to calculate and report their greenhouse emissions, they’ve then offset these emissions through certified global environmental project including Methane Capture in the Netherlands, Solar lighting in Zambia and a wind farm in Mongolia.
Food vendors will be available throughout the site from 6pm onwards for anyone looking for a bite to eat. The evening’s special walkabout acts include Ghost Caribou by Thingumajig Theatre; the act sees two giant caribou puppets parade through Midsummer Common culminating in static piece which includes a folk dance and a shadow puppet play. The Vortexes bring Sashimi to Midsummer Common – a walkabout act of two stilt walking jelly fish, it’s a fantastic display of whimsy and grace as they elevate themselves above the ground, giving them an otherworldly appearance as if they seemingly glide through the air.
Cllr Mike Todd Jones, Cabinet Member for Communities at Cambridge City Council, said: “Fireworks Night is one of Cambridge’s most popular annual events, bringing thousands of people together for an evening of entertainment and celebration.
“It is a pleasure to once again welcome residents and visitors to Midsummer Common for what promises to be a spectacular display. The council is grateful to our sponsors for their valued support in helping deliver this free community event.”
Cambridge City Council would like to thank our principal and community sponsors for their valued support of this year’s Fireworks Night. Their generosity plays an important part in helping us create a safe, enjoyable and memorable event for residents and visitors to the city.
Principal sponsors for 2026 are RBC Brewin Dolphin, Jesus College and Cambridge BID and community sponsors for 2026 are Redgate and Peasgood and Skeates.
Thousands of people are expected to head to Midsummer Common to enjoy the evening, so we encourage you to use public transport, cycle or walk if possible. Stagecoach will be providing additional busses on the evening. There will be road closures in place around Midsummer Common: to find more information, visit www.camcityevents.co.uk
Anyone attending the fireworks display is encouraged to donate a few pounds into the buckets at the end of the evening. All money raised will go towards the 2027 City Events budget.
Fireworks Night 2026 is organised by the Cultural Services team at Cambridge City Council. Cultural Services are responsible for organising city wide events such as Music in the Parks, Out of the Ordinary Festival, the 75th anniversary celebrations of Cambridge gaining city status and Fireworks Night.
