Portugal wins DIFF 2026 title after defeating defending champion China

The final night, held on July 11, drew tens of thousands of local residents and domestic and international visitors.

Opening the final, Macedos Pirotecnia presented a performance entitled “United Horizon – Symphony of Unity,” portraying Da Nang as a place where nature, culture and innovation come together in harmony.

Renowned for its storytelling through fireworks and music, the Portuguese team employed a wide range of pyrotechnic effects, including comets, aerial shells, Roman candles, fountains and waterfall displays, synchronised with a carefully curated soundtrack to create a series of emotional climaxes.

Beyond its technical sophistication, the performance conveyed a message of cultural connectivity, peace and sustainable development.

Meanwhile, China's Jiangxi Yangfeng Art Display Co., Ltd, competing in the DIFF final for the third consecutive year, also impressed the audience with an emotionally charged performance set to ten musical pieces, including three Vietnamese songs.

The team showcased layered firing techniques, seamless scene transitions and a striking fireworks recreation of one of Da Nang’s iconic bridges, reinforcing the festival’s theme of connection.

Both performances received prolonged applause and enthusiastic cheers from the audience, leaving the judging panel with a difficult decision.

According to the organising committee, entries were evaluated on criteria including creativity, originality, thematic relevance, technical execution, visual effects, synchronisation with music, finale quality and overall artistic impression.

Macedos Pirotecnia ultimately secured the DIFF 2026 championship, receiving the championship trophy and a US$20,000 cash prize.

Jiangxi Yangfeng Art Display Co., Ltd finished as runner-up and received US$10,000.

Special awards were also presented to Martarello Group S.R.L of Italy for Creativity, Tamaya Kitahara Fireworks of Japan for Most Promising Team, and the Da Nang–Vietnam team for the Audience Choice Award. Each award carried a prize of US$5,000.

After the victory, team captain Fernando Manuel Machado Da Silva Macedo said the team was honoured to become the DIFF 2026 champion. He attributed the victory to the harmonious integration of music and fireworks, which allowed audiences to become fully immersed in the story the performance sought to tell.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, vice chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee and head of the DIFF 2026 Organising Committee, said this year's theme, “Da Nang – United Horizons,” highlighted how each competition night served not only as a showcase of pyrotechnic artistry and technical excellence but also as a platform for cultural exchange, promoting messages of peace, creativity, cooperation and shared aspirations for development.

She noted that over the years DIFF has established itself as one of Vietnam's signature cultural and tourism events, helping position Da Nang as Asia's leading festival and event destination.

Echoing that view, Nadia Shakira Wong, an advisor to the DIFF 2026 judging panel, said the festival's success stemmed not only from its fireworks displays but also from Da Nang's broader event ecosystem, which effectively integrates art, technology, culture and tourism.

She expressed hope that future editions of DIFF could pursue Guinness World Records recognition and expand to around 20 participating teams.

DIFF 2026 took place from May 30 to July 11, featuring 10 international fireworks teams.

According to the organising committee, the five qualifying nights attracted more than 557,000 overnight visitors to Da Nang, a 34% increase compared with the same period last year.

Each competition night welcomed more than 100,000 overnight visitors, with the June 27 event recording approximately 117,400, the highest attendance of the season.

This year’s festival also earned international recognition after being named by Travel + Leisure among the nine must-experience festivals in the world, further reinforcing Da Nang's growing reputation as a leading global tourism and event destination.

China and Portugal advance to DIFF 2026 final

VOV.VN - Jiangxi Yangfeng Art Display Co., Ltd. from China and Macedos Pirotecnia from Portugal will qualify for the championship showdown of the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2026, slated for July 11.