Welcome to the Fifth Annual Finale 3D PyroJam Design Competition!
Calling all fireworks designers worldwide! This is your chance to showcase your creativity and compete on a global stage.
This year, PyroJam is going to China!
The deadline to submit a show for this year’s competition is April 1, 2026. Following the design submission period, the top four shows will be produced at Sky Theatre in Liuyang, China, the fireworks capital of the world. The event will take place on Saturday, August 8th and Sunday, August 9th, 2026.
All you need to do is design an incredible show. No equipment or crew is required, and while attendance isn’t necessary, we’d love to see you there!
Countdown to 2026 Show Submission Deadline
Click the button below to go to PyroJam registration. If you are not already logged in to finale3d.com, you will need to login using the email address and password for your Finale 3D account.
Within 24 hours of registering, an email will be sent to you with:
Enable the PyroJam China catalog (English or Chinese depending on your language preference) in your account and create your show using the design template. Before you begin, be sure to fully review the competition rules below on this page.
Any time before the submission deadline, submit your show using the Submission Form.
Use this checklist to help make sure your show meets the competition requirements.
My show:
✔ Includes a title and theme
✔ Uses the official design template
✔ Has a duration between 9 and 10 minutes
✔ Has a music soundtrack
✔ Uses only products from the PyroJam China catalog
✔ Does not exceed the $70,000 budget
Design a pyromusical display that evokes emotion and awe through the seamless harmony of fireworks and music. A winning display will captivate the audience and judges with its emotional impact, while showcasing creativity, precise timing, synchronization, and technical artistry to enhance the overall experience. The display should present a compelling theme, taking the audience on a journey with emotional peaks and valleys, delivering an experience that leaves them breathless.
🕒 February 16, 2026 — Registration opens and competition begins
🕒 April 1, 2026 — Show submission deadline
🕒 April 2026 — Judging of competition entries
🕒 May 2026 — Announcement of the four finalists
🕒 August 8th and 9th, 2026 — Live production and judging of the four finalist shows
Each of the four finalists will receive a cash prize based on their final ranking, as determined by the competition judges following the production of the live shows.
The prize pool is funded by competitor registration fees, with 100% of all registration fees distributed as prize money among the four award recipients.
Table — Prize Pool Distribution
| Rank | Prize (% of Total Registration Fees) |
|---|---|
| First Place | 40% |
| Second Place | 30% |
| Third Place | 20% |
| Fourth Place | 10% |
The PyroJam competition is judged in two rounds, using the same scoring criteria for both rounds.
Round 1: Online design competition
All submitted show designs are judged based on their Finale 3D simulations. Submissions are reviewed anonymously, with judges evaluating each show without knowing the identity of the competitor. The four shows receiving the highest overall scores are selected as finalists and advance to the live event.
Round 2: Live event
The four finalist shows are produced and fired live at PyroJam. Final rankings—1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place—are determined based on judging of the live performances.
In both rounds, each show is scored on a 100-point scale, with points allocated based on the categories as listed in the table below.
Table — Judging Criteria & Scoring Breakdown
| Category | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Impact | Emotion, engagement, and audience impact Evaluates the overall emotional effect of the show, including its ability to engage the audience, build excitement, and deliver a memorable, compelling experience throughout the show. | 30 |
| Pyromusical Design | Harmony between fireworks and music Assesses how effectively the fireworks are designed to complement the music, including alignment with musical structure, dynamics, transitions, and key moments within the soundtrack. | 25 |
| Synchronization | Timing precision and artistic rhythm Focuses on the precision of timing between visual effects and music, as well as the pacing achieved throughout the show. | 15 |
| Technical Design | Creativity, innovation, and use of the firing positions Considers creative use of effects, angles, and spatial design, including how effectively firing positions are utilized to enhance visual interest and impact. | 15 |
| Soundtrack | Overall quality, editing, conveyance of theme Evaluates the overall quality and preparation of the soundtrack, including editing, transitions, and how effectively the music supports and conveys the show’s theme. | 15 |
| Total | 100 |
The following rules define the specific design and submission requirements that all competitors must follow.
Each show must have a theme, along with a show title and a brief description provided at the time of submission. The theme may be any concept of the competitor’s choosing. There is no required length for the description; it should simply be long enough to introduce the show to the judges and the audience.
All competition entries must be designed using the official PyroJam 2026 Finale 3D show design template. After registration, the template will be sent by email. Please use the template as provided and do not modify it.
Each show must have a duration of between 9 and 10 minutes. Show duration is calculated as the time from the first cue marker to the last cue marker on the timeline. In the Script window, these values are shown in the Effect Time column.
For example, a show with a first cue at 00:04.740 and a last cue at 09:01.640 has a total duration of 08:56.900.
Shows with a duration shorter than 9 minutes or longer than 10 minutes will receive a 5-point deduction (see Judging Criteria below).
Each show must include a music soundtrack. Any songs or music may be used, and there is no pre-selected list of required tracks. Music selections should be appropriate for an international public audience and respectful of the host location and cultural setting. Silence at the beginning and/or end of the soundtrack is permitted but not required.
Shows must be designed exclusively using effects contained in the PyroJam China catalog. All effects in the catalog represent real-world products that will be used to produce the live shows.
Products must be used exactly as presented in the catalog. Individual shells must be used individually and must not be combined into chains. Cakes must also be used as provided and must not be broken apart.
To enable the PyroJam China catalog, visit the Supplier Catalog Settings page in your account. Choose either the English or Chinese version of the PyroJam China catalog, depending on your language preference.
Each show may use up to $70,000 USD of product from the PyroJam China catalog. Finale 3D automatically calculates the total product cost in real time as effects are added to the show. The current total is displayed in the lower-right corner of the design window, as shown in the example below.
Shows that exceed the budget limit may be disqualified.
In previous PyroJam competitions, product quantities in the competition catalog were limited based on pre-allocated inventory. For PyroJam China, product quantities are not limited, and the Available column in the catalog will be blank.
This reflects the fact that fireworks products for the live shows will be manufactured as needed to match the final show designs. Competitors are not required to manage or track product availability quantities for this competition.
The show design template contains two rows of firing positions: “F” (Front) positions and “S” (Shell) positions. Any number of firing positions may be used; however, the firing position layout must not be modified.
PyroJam China firing position layout
The two rows of firing positions accommodate different kinds of effects.
Firing angle limitations also exist, which are based on the safety requirements of the real-world show site. The table below defines which effect subtypes may be used at each firing position, along with the permitted firing angles for those effects.
Table — Rows of firing positions, matching effects, permitted angles
| Position Names | Effect “Subtype” | Permitted Angles |
|---|---|---|
| F-01…F-25 | Cake, Cake-Slice, Gerb, Ground Flare, Ground Flash, Ground Strobe, SS Comet, SS Comet w/Mine, SS Mine, SS Shell | Cakes and Cakes-Slices: Straight-up (0°) only but may be rotated 180° SS (Single Shot) and Gerb items: Any angle from -60° to 60° Other Ground items: Straight-up (0°) only |
| S-01 | 3″, 4″, 5″, and 6″ Shells (8″ and 10″ shells are NOT permitted in this position) | Straight-up (0°) only |
| S-02 | 3″, 4″, 5″, 6″, and 8″ Shells 10″ Shells | 3″–8″ Shells: -30° to 30° in 5° increments (-30°, -25°, -20°, etc.) 10″ shells: Straight-up (0°) only |
| S-03 | 3″, 4″, 5″, 6″, and 8″ Shells (10″ shells are NOT permitted in this position) | 3″–8″ Shells: -30° to 30° in 5° increments (-30°, -25°, -20°, etc.) |
| S-04 | 3″, 4″, 5″, 6″, and 8″ Shells 10″ Shells | 3″–8″ Shells: -30° to 30° in 5° increments (-30°, -25°, -20°, etc.) 10″ shells: Straight-up (0°) only |
| S-05 | 3″, 4″, 5″, and 6″ Shells (8″ and 10″ shells are NOT permitted in this position) | Straight-up (0°) only |
Tip: Cross-reference the Effect “Subtype” column in the table above with the Subtype drop-down filter in the Finale 3D Effects window.
There are no firing system or cue count limitations for the design competition. Assigning firing system addresses is not required. Shows may be designed without regard to the total number of modules or cues.
Each competitor may submit one show entry using the PyroJam 2026 Show Submission Form. Revisions, re-submissions, and multiple entries are not permitted. If more than one entry is submitted, only the first submission will be considered. Show designs must be fully complete at the time of submission.
The show submission deadline is April 1, 2026 23:59:59 (UTC -12).
By participating in the competition, competitors agree that their displays may be set up and fired at PyroJam by Apple Fireworks. Competitors further grant permission for the PyroJam partners (Innovative Pyrotechnic Concepts, L.L.C., JYX Expo, Apple Fireworks, and Finale Fireworks) to use submitted content, in whole or in part, for marketing, training, demonstration, and other purposes.
Competitors’ names and company names (if applicable) may be publicly listed when submission materials are published on YouTube or PyroJam social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and others.
Innovative Pyrotechnic Concepts
Innovative Pyrotechnic Concepts (IPC) is a U.S.-based fireworks display company founded in 2013 and the founder of PyroJam. IPC provides fireworks display design, consulting, and technical services to major events worldwide. For PyroJam, IPC oversees competition administration, rules development, and the official judging panel, ensuring a fair, professional, and globally inclusive event.
Apple Fireworks
Apple Fireworks is a leading Chinese fireworks enterprise with nearly 50 years of industry experience across R&D, manufacturing, international trade, and professional display execution. Apple Fireworks serves as the official fireworks display production partner for the event, responsible for on-site firing operations, safety management, and full technical implementation of the finalist shows.
Fireworks World
Fireworks World, operating under JYXEXPO, serves as a global platform for collaboration and exchange within the fireworks industry. For PyroJam China, Fireworks World supports international coordination, industry outreach, and business development initiatives connected to the event.
