This is a completely exceptional and unprecedented event that took place on the night of December 31, 2025.
1000 drones took off shortly before midnight over the mythical Prato della Valle to celebrate the new year.
A first in Padua
More than 22,000 people came to attend the show in homage to the greatness of the city of Padua, an attendance of more than 10,150 compared to previous years.
A show paying tribute to Padua's heritage
With this show, the creative team Allumee aimed to highlight the richness of Padua's history and heritage. The result: a performance that is both contemplative and festive, a fitting celebration of the arrival of the new year.
A 360-degree show designed to be seen by everyone.
Among the elements represented in the sky: the coat of arms of the city of Padua, the Palazzio della Ragione, the Basilica of Saint Anthony, the city skyline, the Scrovegni Chapel, the representation of Saint Anthony of Padua holding the Infant Jesus, and references to astronomy: Halley's Comet, a telescope.
To end the show and celebrate the arrival of the year 2026, a giant countdown took place, followed by “Buon Anno”.
The emotions were palpable! Indeed, with each scene, the crowd roared. This excitement was amplified by the musical soundtrack that accompanied the show: profound, epic, and full of hope.
The success of the drone show in Padua
1000 drones, a show worthy of a major capital.
This was the first time the city had decided to celebrate the new year with a sound and light show using drones.
Besides the success in the city, the enthusiasm continued on social media with more than 500,000 views of the show on the official account of the Municipality of Padua, and more than 14,000 likes.
On YouTube, videos were shared massively and garnered nearly 40,000 views.
Images from the show were also broadcast on Italian television channels: TG1, TGR, TG5…
A respectful and inclusive celebration
Beyond the wonder, there is a very concrete benefit: a celebration without fireworks that reduces the impact on pets and urban wildlife, and makes the experience more serene for people sensitive to sudden noises, without taking away from the spectacular effect of the countdown with your nose in the air.
The event was organised by the City of Padua in collaboration with L'Arte di Abitare and Industrie Edili, with organisational 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.
«Returning to Padua with a project of this scale is a great source of pride for us.», comments Luigi Onesti, director of Allumee Italia. «Prato della Valle is an iconic place, and transforming it into a canvas of light means giving life to a contemporary, sustainable, and shared celebration, capable of telling the story of the city's identity and accompanying it into the new year with an eye toward the future.»
