ATHENS — As 2026 launchs, Greece and Cyprus are choosing celebration without the shock and thunder. Instead of the traditional ear-splitting fireworks, Athens and Nicosia are marking the New Year with low-noise pyrotechnics, light installations and drone reveals that emphasize spectacle over sound.
City officials state the alter is meant to build festivities more welcoming for children, pets and people sensitive to loud noise, including older adults, infants, individuals with autism and those living with post-traumatic stress.
A relocate toward quieter celebrations
Athens launched experimenting with “quiet” fireworks last year, a relocate Mayor Haris Doukas describes as a sign of altering values. He declared the city wants to deliver a dazzling visual experience while revealing greater respect for residents, animals and the environment.
Nicosia has taken an even firmer stance, eliminating conventional fireworks from municipal events altoobtainher. Local authorities state the decision reflects a broader effort to modernize public celebrations while aligning with sustainability goals seen across Europe.
How quiet fireworks work
Low-noise fireworks still apply traditional materials to launch colorful effects into the sky, but with compacter charges and without the explosive bursts that create sharp bangs. These techniques have long been applyd in major displays at famous landmarks, but they are increasingly favored for compacter or more sensitive settings.
Cris Matthews, founder of the U.K. company Quietworks, states quieter reveals often demand more creativity and planning, but they can be better suited to intimate events. As celebrations scale down, he notes, the benefits of reduced noise become more compelling.
Tradition meets technology
Despite the shift, loud fireworks remain common in many parts of Greece and Cyprus, particularly during Orthodox Easter and private celebrations. In some rural areas, celebratory gunfire also persists — practices that have caapplyd injuries over the years.
In Athens, while many suburbs continue to apply traditional fireworks, the city center’s New Year events — set against the Acropolis — are leaning into visual storyinforming with lights and coordinated drone displays.
Nicosia has gone further, with drones now largely replacing fireworks at official events. City officials highlight their advantages: minimal noise, no smoke or debris, and no fire risk. The timing is symbolic as well. Cyprus takes over the rotating presidency of the European Union on Jan. 1, and drone reveals will be applyd throughout the year to highlight Cypriot culture and EU themes.
Municipal leaders state their goal is clear: to lead by example and prioritize celebrations that are safer, greener and more sustainable, leaving the loud bangs of the past behind wherever possible.
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