Fireworks 2025: the ultimate guide to experiencing Donostia’s Semana Grande like never before

San Sebastián’s Semana Grande is measured in raw emotion, in waves that crash against the Paseo Nuevo and—above all—in explosions of light that sketch the outline of the most photographed bay in the Cantabrian. From 9 to 16 August, seven of the world’s finest outfits will battle for the coveted Concha de Oro at the 60th International fireworks 2025 Competition. This year everything aligns to deliver an unrepeatable edition: only previously decorated companies have been invited, a massive live pyromusical will mark the anniversary, and the city has cooked up a parallel agenda that turns each day into a 360-degree adventure.

If you’re hunting for rock-solid information, insider tricks and a narrative that makes you feel the tremor of gunpowder even before the first fuse burns, keep reading. This is the most complete—almost novelistic—guide to fireworks 2025, so your getaway to Donostia will leave a lifelong imprint.

1. A contest steeped in history: 60 years of gunpowder and prestige

Back in 1964, when television still broadcast in black and white, San Sebastián staged the first edition of a pyrotechnic contest destined for greatness. Shots were fired from Santa Clara Island and, despite modest means, the spectacle echoed through national newspapers. Six decades later, Donostia’s International Fireworks Competition ranks—alongside Montreal and Macao—among the planet’s top three.
What makes it so special? A mix of factors: the amphitheatre provided by the Bay of La Concha, the rigour of a professional jury who score creative design, colour palette, rhythm and soundtrack, and unwavering public enthusiasm. Each night thousands occupy the sand, the modernist railing and Old Town balconies, applauding with the same passion Anoeta erupts with when La Real scores.

2. Official schedule and participants: winners only in the running

The fireworks 2025 launch from Alderdi Eder Gardens, right in front of City Hall, at 10:45 p.m. sharp. Here’s the running order and honours list so you grasp the calibre of this line-up:

*Prizes earned specifically in Donostia.

What sets 2025 apart

1. 100 percent laureate line-up. Every company boasts at least one Gold, Silver or Bronze here—unheard of until now.
2. Anniversary pyromusical. Saturday 16 August: “60 Urtez, Sua izan gara” (“For 60 years, we have been fire”)—25 minutes of lasers, aquatic effects and the voices of Izaro, Janus Lester and the Joselontxo txaranga.
3. Eco-innovation. Several firms debut low-smoke powders and reusable mortars, shrinking their footprint without dimming brilliance.
4. Collector’s poster. Local illustrator Maite Rosende signs the official artwork—spot its cobalt blue and brushed-gold palette in shop windows city-wide.

3. The best vantage points: where to breathe the gunpowder

3.1 Classic sure-bets

• La Concha Beach (clock zone). Head-on view; family vibe. Claim your patch by 9:30 p.m. with a blanket.
• Paseo Nuevo. Side-on shot, surf smashing rock; full-body immersion.
• Náutico ramp. Infinite reflections on water with Urgull silhouetted behind—ideal for vertical Insta stories.

3.2 Elevated perches

• Mount Urgull (Battery of the Dames). 15-minute hike; dial in a timelapse on bulb mode.
• Mount Igueldo. Vintage funicular, 180-metre balcony; Peñarroja’s palms feel like blooming flowers over a navy chessboard.
• Aiete Tower. For those who prefer distance and a city-wide sweep.

3.3 Premium experiences

• Catamaran cruise. Cast off at 10 p.m.; sip txakoli as a guide narrates each choreography.
• Hotel rooftops. Book a sea-view pass; some bars shake a “Concha de Oro Cocktail” of white Port, lime and coconut foam.
• Starlit dinner. Panoramic restaurants match tasting menus to the pyromusical soundtrack.

4. Planning your Semana Grande without missing a beat

4.1 Before you arrive

• Book early. Room rates soar by up to 40 percent. Scout Egia or Antiguo if the Old Town is sold out.
• Official app. Download the Aste Nagusia app: live line-ups, offline maps, push alerts.
• Combo tickets. Euskotren’s Semana Grande Pack bundles travel, Aquarium entry and discounted tapas.

4.2 Every morning

Wake to the cannon shot at 7:30 a.m. Then:

1. Giants & Big Heads parade (11:30 a.m.)—family favourite.
2. Rowing regattas on the Urumea.
3. Early pintxo-pote on Fermín Calbetón to dodge crowds later.

4.3 Cultural afternoons

• San Telmo Museum. Dive into Basque history—ideal if showers drift in.
• Peine del Viento. Chillida’s sculptures: reach them pre-sunset and hear the sea roar through grilles.

4.4 Night-time climax

From 9 p.m. the centre turns pedestrian-only. Free gigs at Sagüés—OBK, Vicco, Morodo for 2025—fuel terrace chatter. At 10:45 the countdown booms and the sky becomes a living canvas.

5. Behind the scenes: the science and art of pyrotechnics

Each aerial shell is chemistry incarnate. Italians love elongated “cylinders” crammed with coloured stars; Spaniards prefer “spheres” for rounder palm bursts. Black powder mingles with metal salts: strontium glows red, barium green, copper a sea-blue mirroring the Cantabrian dusk.
Show designers spend months plotting sequences in 3D software, micro-timing ignition to the score; a glitch and the visual symphony slips. When spectators gasp at a golden kamuro dissolving into silver rain, they’re applauding far more than sparks—they salute months of engineering passion.

6. Day-by-day: what not to miss

Saturday 9 – Italian overture

Fireworks Lieto salutes Fellini cinema: red-white fans set to Nino Rota. View head-on for the heartbeat launch.

Sunday 10 – German precision

IP Innovative weaves laser-like X crosses. Feel granite rumble underfoot on the Paseo Nuevo.

Monday 11 – Founding nostalgia

Zaragozana returns 60 years after its maiden Gold. 300 mm shells shake Old Town walls; thrill guaranteed.

Tuesday 12 – Italian colour gradients

Parente paints pastel transitions. Benches opposite the La Concha clock are the sweet spot—TikTok in 4K awaits.

Wednesday 13 – Endless honours

Peñarroja promises tri-colour palm crescendo. Book a nautical dinner, clink txakoli as the finale blooms.

Thursday 14 – Krypton green

Caballer FX masters electric green; watch reflections double the show from La Perla’s balustrade.

Friday 15 – Valencian hat-trick?

Pirotecnia Valenciana chases a third straight Gold. Stake out Paseo de los Curas (Urgull) for a hush-hush vantage.

Saturday 16 – 60th-anniversary pyromusical

Basque rock, a nod to Mikel Laboa, Izaro’s ethereal voice and lasers writing “Eskerrik asko, Donostia” across the bay. A night carved in memory.

7. Frequently asked questions

Is access free?
Yes, except for boats and private rooftops.

What if it rains?
Up to 30-minute delay or the show shifts to next day 7:30 p.m.

Can the public vote?
Absolutely—online form until 11:59 p.m. nightly.

Safety measures?
Civil Protection deploys first-aid posts, family meeting points, bilingual PA. Bring earplugs for toddlers.

8. Final tips for a flawless trip

• Pack light. Blanket, lightweight hoodie, refillable bottle.
• Transport. Last night buses around 2:30 a.m.; extra “Búho” lines in force.
• Leave no trace. Take rubbish with you; the beach must wake pristine.
• Tradition meets modernity. Don’t skip the children’s tamborrada, rural-sport demos and festive txosnas.

9. Call to action: book and share the magic

Fireworks 2025 promises the most spectacular edition of the decade. Want to know why French press dubbed it “the Cantabrian light opera”? Don’t hesitate: map your escape, lock in room and table before they’re gone, and share this guide with your travel crew.
With a dash of planning and the tips you’ve just absorbed, you’ll live a super-sized Semana Grande, thrum with every blast and add your applause to the roar echoing between Urgull and Igueldo. See you on the sand… and may the light be with you!

Author: Descubre Donostia