Italy Joins Japan and Vietnam as Portugal Outshines China to Win the 2026 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival and Ignite a Major Travel Surge

Image generated with Ai

Italy, Japan, and Vietnam are drawing fresh global attention to Da Nang as the spectacular 2026 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival ends with Portugal defeating China to claim the championship. The festival brought together world-class fireworks teams, dazzling performances, and millions of viewers, turning the Vietnamese coastal city into one of Asia’s biggest tourism hotspots. Portugal’s winning display, alongside the participation of Italy, Japan, and Vietnam, has strengthened Da Nang’s reputation as a premier international festival destination, helping ignite a major travel surge by attracting visitors eager to experience the city’s vibrant culture, entertainment, beaches, and world-famous annual fireworks celebration.

The 2026 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) ended on a spectacular note as Portugal secured the overall championship, capping off one of the most successful editions in the festival’s history. The annual international event not only showcased breathtaking fireworks displays from leading global teams but also delivered a major boost to Da Nang’s tourism industry, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and driving record overnight stays across the Vietnamese coastal city. With strong participation from China, Italy, Japan and host nation Vietnam, the festival once again proved its growing importance as one of Asia’s leading cultural and tourism attractions.

The grand finale, held on July 11, brought weeks of competition to a close after participating teams impressed audiences with creative pyrotechnic performances, synchronized music and artistic storytelling. The championship highlighted both the international appeal of the festival and its role in strengthening Da Nang’s reputation as a premier travel destination.

Portugal Captures the Top Honour at DIFF 2026

After delivering an outstanding final performance, Portugal was crowned the overall champion of the 2026 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival. The winning team received the festival’s US$20,000 grand prize, recognising its exceptional creativity, technical excellence and overall presentation.

The victory placed Portugal at the top of a highly competitive international field and marked a memorable conclusion to one of the festival’s biggest editions.

China Finishes as Runner-Up with Strong Performance

China earned the runner-up position after impressing judges and spectators throughout the competition. The Chinese team received the US$10,000 second prize for its high-quality fireworks display, adding another remarkable achievement to this year’s international contest.

The close competition between Portugal and China demonstrated the high standard of performances presented during the festival.

Special Awards Celebrate Creativity, Precision and Public Support

Beyond the championship title, the organisers recognised several teams for their outstanding achievements in different categories.

Italy received the Creativity Award after presenting a distinctive and highly acclaimed performance during the qualifying round. The award recognised the team’s originality, artistic vision and innovative approach to fireworks choreography.

Japan was honoured with the Promising Team Award, reflecting its remarkable technical precision, flawless execution and impressive attention to detail throughout the competition.

Meanwhile, the Da Nang–Vietnam team captured the hearts of spectators and won the Audience Favourite Award, receiving a US$5,000 prize after earning overwhelming public support during the festival.

Festival Delivers One of the Biggest Tourism Success Stories

The 2026 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival became much more than an international fireworks competition. It also generated significant tourism growth for the city, creating one of the strongest visitor seasons in recent years.

Throughout the festival period, hundreds of thousands of domestic and international visitors travelled to Da Nang to experience the spectacular evening performances, lively atmosphere and cultural celebrations taking place across the city.

Hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues and tourism businesses benefited from the steady influx of visitors, highlighting the festival’s growing economic value.

Visitor Numbers Reach Record Levels Before the Grand Finale

Tourism data released before the championship night illustrated the remarkable success of the event.

During the five qualifying competition nights, Da Nang recorded more than 557,000 overnight tourist stays, representing a remarkable 34% increase compared with the corresponding period last year.

The figures reflected the growing international popularity of the festival and demonstrated how major cultural events continue to strengthen Vietnam’s tourism industry.

Every Fireworks Night Attracts Massive Crowds

Each competition evening generated enormous public interest.

Every fireworks night welcomed more than 100,000 visitors staying across Da Nang, creating vibrant scenes throughout the city as tourists gathered to watch the performances.

The busiest evening of the season came during the fifth qualifying night on June 27, when approximately 117,400 overnight visitors were recorded. This became the highest attendance achieved during the entire 2026 festival, underlining the growing appeal of the event among both domestic and international travellers.

The consistently high visitor numbers reflected the festival’s ability to attract repeat audiences while encouraging longer stays in the destination.

Countries That Played Key Roles in DIFF 2026

The success of the 2026 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival was shaped by outstanding performances from several participating nations:

• Portugal – Overall Champion and winner of the US$20,000 Grand Prize.
• China – Runner-up, receiving the US$10,000 Second Prize.
• Italy – Winner of the Creativity Award for its innovative qualifying-round performance.
• Japan – Recipient of the Promising Team Award for outstanding technical precision.
• Vietnam – Host nation, with the Da Nang–Vietnam team winning the Audience Favourite Award and receiving US$5,000.

Portugal’s victory over China, alongside strong displays from Italy, Japan, and Vietnam, has lifted the 2026 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival into the global spotlight and fuelled a major travel surge to the Vietnamese coastal city.

Da Nang Strengthens Its Position as an International Tourism Destination

The outstanding success of the 2026 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival highlighted how international cultural events can drive tourism, increase visitor stays and enhance a destination’s global profile. With Portugal claiming the championship, China finishing second, and Italy, Japan and Vietnam earning prestigious special awards, the festival combined world-class entertainment with impressive tourism growth. The record 557,000 overnight stays, 34% annual increase, and attendance exceeding 100,000 visitors on every competition night confirmed that Da Nang continues to strengthen its reputation as one of Vietnam’s leading destinations for international events and unforgettable travel experiences.