In 2026, four qualifying rounds are held in September, with the final on 31 October deciding the champion. Each round starts at 20:00 and runs about 20 minutes.

Can I drive to the venue?

It is about 15 minutes from the Chuo Expressway's Suwa IC, but traffic controls operate around the venue on the day. The free parking at the lakeside event plaza opens from 15:00 and fills early, so arrive with time to spare.

Can I eat at the venue?

No food stalls are listed, so plan to eat around Kami-Suwa Station — the venue is an 8-minute walk from the station.

Is the event suitable for children?

Lake Suwa sits right at the venue, so keep children back from the water's edge. Each piece carries a title and message written for elementary-school children to understand, so kids can enjoy asking what each firework means.

Can I photograph the fireworks?

Phone and camera photos are welcome; be considerate with tripods in crowded areas. Catching the reflections on the lake conveys the colour-focused character of the competing pieces.

Scheduled

National New Fireworks Challenge Cup 2026

Name: National New Fireworks Challenge Cup 2026
Start: 2026-09-05T20:00+09:00
End: 2026-10-31T20:20+09:00
Location: Lake Suwa, in front of Lakeside Park, Suwa City, Nagano

Nagano 9/5/2026 (Sat)400 shells × 5 times (total of competition fireworks and star mine fireworks)

National New Fireworks Challenge Cup 2026 — enthusiastic pyrotechnicians from across the country compete on the stage of Lake Suwa

諏訪観光協会

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National New Fireworks Challenge Cup 2026 — enthusiastic pyrotechnicians from across the country compete on the stage of Lake Suwa

Fireworks count400 shells × 5 times (total of competition fireworks and star mine fireworks)

Expected crowdApprox. 4,000 people per day (2025 attendance)

Time20:00～20:20

AdmissionFree viewing

Firing Dates

The confirmed fireworks launch dates for this festival are listed below.

9/5 (Sat)
9/12 (Sat)
9/19 (Sat)
9/26 (Sat)
10/31 (Sat)

Summary

Shot over Lake Suwa in Nagano Prefecture, this is a national competition where selected pyrotechnic artists premiere brand-new fireworks - not a one-night display but a series of five evenings. Relaunched in 2025 under a new name after a six-year pause, the contest now runs as a distributed tournament: four qualifying rounds in September and a final on October 31, each session sending about 400 shells up over roughly 20 minutes from 8 p.m. Entries compete on the theme of excellence in color and brilliance, each carrying a title and a message simple enough for schoolchildren. The venue is an eight-minute walk from JR Kami-Suwa Station, and daily crowds of around 4,000 keep the viewing comfortable.

Overview

What sets this event apart is that every firework is an original new work. Twenty pyrotechnicians chosen from across Japan express their own concepts in shells, competing under the theme of superior color and splendor; each entry arrives with a title and a message that even elementary-school children can follow. The four September qualifiers each send one winner forward, and the strongest of the second-place finishers joins them - five finalists who decide the 2026 champion on October 31. For spectators the pleasure lies in comparing each artist's style rather than watching a single choreographed program, and star-mine fireworks add to the competitive shells each evening. Sessions are short - 20 minutes from 8:00 p.m. - so plan dinner or a lakeside stroll in the park beforehand and take your spot with time to spare. The venue sits over Lake Suwa in front of the lakeside park, eight minutes on foot from JR Kami-Suwa Station; by car allow about 15 minutes from Suwa IC, noting that traffic controls apply around the site on event days. The Suwa Lake Event Plaza free parking opens from 3 p.m., so arrive early if you drive. No food stalls are listed for the venue, so eat around Kami-Suwa Station beforehand. Confirm current details on the official website before visiting.

Details

Date9/5 (Sat)

End date10/31 (Sat)

Time20:00～20:20

VenueLake Suwa, in front of Lakeside Park, Suwa City, Nagano

Address長野県諏訪市諏訪

Crowd levelMedium ★★☆☆☆

Paid seatsNo

Food stallsNo

ParkingYes（Available: Suwako Event Plaza free parking open (from 15:00)）

Organizer0266-52-2111 New Fireworks Competition Committee (Secretariat: Suwa Tourism Association)

Last verified10/2/2026 (Fri)

FAQ

Access

🚃 By Train

8 min walk from JR Kami-Suwa Station

🚗 By Car

Approx. 15 min (approx. 7 km) from Chuo Expressway Suwa IC or approx. 10 min (approx. 5 km) from Suwako Smart IC. *Access times are estimates for normal conditions; traffic restrictions will be in effect around the venue on the day.

Info for International Visitors

Best arrival time

Arriving 30–45 minutes before the 20:00 start is enough to pick a spot — you can eat around the lakefront park first and still settle in comfortably. If driving, note that the free parking at the lakeside event plaza opens only from 15:00 and fills early.

Best viewing spots

Viewing spreads along the lakefront in front of the lakeside park. Spots facing the water capture both the bursts overhead and their reflections.

With kids

With Lake Suwa right at the venue, keep children back from the water's edge. Each piece carries a title and message written so elementary-school children can follow, so kids can enjoy asking what each firework means.

Photography tips

Phone and camera photos are welcome; be considerate with tripods in crowded areas. Pairing the bursts over the lake with their reflections conveys the colour-focused character of this contest.

Payment

Viewing is free with no paid seating. No food stalls are listed around the venue, so plan to eat around Kami-Suwa Station — and keep some cash on you.

Venue Location

36.0453, 138.12

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Check the official website for detailed venue info

Official Website →