On the evening of July 11, the final night of DIFF 2026, themed "Connecting Horizons," brought this year's festival to a close with a dazzling competition between Portugal and China. In the end, Portugal claimed the championship title.

The two performances took tens of thousands of spectators on an emotional journey through a masterful combination of light, music and world-class pyrotechnics.

Portugal earned the edge from the judging panel thanks to its emotionally rich presentation, showcasing its strength in storytelling through synchronized fireworks and music. Cascading waterfalls of light, comet effects, aerial shells, Roman candles and fountain fireworks were deployed in succession, creating a series of dramatic climaxes above the Han River.

China also impressed with a performance choreographed to 10 songs, including three Vietnamese pieces. Fireworks recreated the iconic bridges of Da Nang while layered pyrotechnic effects produced a distinctive visual identity for the display.

Both performances were met with continuous applause and cheers from the audience.

The results were determined using a judging system based on originality, design concept and relevance to the festival theme; diversity of fireworks effects and colors; synchronization between music and fireworks; the finale and overall impression of each performance; and the judges' emotional and artistic evaluation.

DIFF 2026 took place from May 30 to July 11 with the participation of 10 international fireworks teams. Before the grand finale, the five qualifying nights attracted more than 557,000 overnight visitors to Da Nang, an increase of 34% compared with the same period last year.

Each fireworks night welcomed more than 100,000 overnight visitors, while the fifth competition night on June 27 recorded around 117,400 overnight guests - the highest figure of the season.

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

Highlights from the grand finale

fireworks da nang.jpg
The DIFF 2026 grand finale, themed "Connecting Horizons," treated spectators to more than 40 minutes of breathtaking fireworks and music.
fireworks da nang1.jpg
Opening the final night, Portugal once again demonstrated why it is regarded as one of Europe's leading fireworks teams.
fireworks da nang2.jpg
Building on the story introduced during the qualifying round, Portugal portrayed Da Nang as a city where nature, culture and innovation come together.
fireworks da nang3.jpg
Portugal's storytelling approach unfolded through a series of emotionally charged sequences, seamlessly blending music and fireworks to take spectators from quiet, reflective moments to a spectacular finale.
fireworks da nang4.jpg

Portugal captivated the audience with an array of distinctive fireworks effects, including cascading waterfalls of light, comets, aerial shells, Roman candles, fountains and a succession of signature pyrotechnic displays that painted an emotional picture across the night sky.

fireworks da nang5.jpg
China's performance, set to 10 well-known songs including three Vietnamese tracks, guided spectators on a journey through a vibrant and youthful Da Nang using the language of light and music.
fireworks da nang6.jpg
fireworks da nang7.jpg
fireworks da nang8.jpg
Continuous scene-changing fireworks, multi-layered launch techniques and pyrotechnic recreations of Da Nang's iconic bridges created a memorable display that fully conveyed the spirit of connection behind the grand finale.
fireworks da nang9.jpg
fireworks da nang10.jpg
fireworks da nang11.jpg
After the judges completed their scoring, the organizers announced Portugal as the DIFF 2026 champion, awarding the team a prize of US$20,000. China finished runner-up and received US$10,000.

Ho Giap