A truly exceptional and unprecedented event took place on the night of December 31, 2025.
Shortly before midnight, 1,000 drones took flight over the legendary Prato della Valle to celebrate the New Year.
A First in Padova
More than 22,000 people attended the show celebrating the grandeur of the city of Padua, representing an increase of more than 10% in attendance compared to previous years.
A show paying tribute to Padua’s heritage
With this show, the Allumee creative team sought to highlight the richness of Padua’s history and heritage. The result: a show that is both contemplative and festive, designed to celebrate the transition to the new year in style.
A 360-degree show designed to be seen by everyone.
Among the elements depicted in the sky: the coat of arms of the city of Padua, the Palazzo della Ragione, the Basilica of Saint Anthony, the city skyline, the Scrovegni Chapel, a depiction of Saint Anthony of Padua holding the Baby Jesus, and references to astronomy: Halley’s Comet and a telescope.
To wrap up the show and celebrate the arrival of the year 2026, a giant countdown was displayed, followed by “Buon Anno.”
It was an emotional experience! Indeed, as each scene unfolded, the crowd’s cheers grew louder. This excitement was amplified by the musical score that accompanied the show: deep, epic, and full of hope.
The Success of the Drone Show in Padua
1,000 drones—a spectacle worthy of a major capital city.
This was the first time the city had decided to celebrate the New Year with a drone light and sound show.
In addition to its success in the city, the excitement continued on social media, with more than 500,000 views of the show on the City of Padova’s official account and more than 14,000 likes.
On YouTube, the videos were shared widely and garnered nearly 40,000 views.
Footage from the show was also broadcast on Italian television channels: TG1, TGR, TG5…
A respectful and inclusive celebration
Beyond the sense of wonder, there is a very tangible benefit: a celebration without fireworks that reduces the impact on pets and urban wildlife, and makes the experience more peaceful for people sensitive to sudden noises, without taking anything away from the spectacular effect of looking up at the sky during the countdown.
The event was organized by the City of Padua in collaboration with L’Arte di Abitare and Industrie Edili, with organizational support and media partnership from Radio Company, as part of “Natale a Padova: Sotto un ciolo di meraviglie”
The drone show was produced by Allumee, an international company specializing in aerial shows for major events.
“We are very proud to return to Padua with a project of this magnitude,” said Luigi Onesti, director of Allumee Italia. “Prato della Valle is an iconic location, and transforming it into a canvas of light means bringing to life a contemporary, sustainable, and shared celebration—one that captures the city’s identity and helps it ring in the new year with an eye toward the future.”
