Agreement made on fireworks

Longyearbyen lokalstyre (the local council) has made an agreement on carrying out fireworks for 2026/2027.

Longyearbyen lokalstyre has entered into an agreement with Pyroteknikk AS on the planning and professional execution of a family fireworks display and a New Year fireworks display in Longyearbyen on 31 December 2026.

The agreement covers two fireworks displays: a family event with a planned duration of about five minutes and a New Year fireworks display with a planned duration of about eight minutes.

Pyroteknikk AS is responsible for, among other things, pyrotechnic materials, certified personnel, design, programming, application work, risk assessment, HSE, emergency preparedness and safe execution.

The contract sum is NOK 240,000. Longyearbyen lokalstyre contributes up to NOK 125,000, while the business community's contribution is coordinated by Visit Svalbard (the destination company). A request for a financial contribution to the family event has also been sent to all state agencies and enterprises that have assignments on Svalbard.

"We thank Coop Svalbard SA for previously carrying out the joint fireworks in Longyearbyen. At the same time, we are glad that the agreement on joint fireworks 2026-2027 is now in place. The aim is to facilitate a safe and unifying marking for the whole local community, in cooperation between Longyearbyen lokalstyre, the business community and a professional supplier" (translated), says business manager Lennarth Kvernmo.

Safety comes first. Necessary permits, risk assessments and emergency preparedness plans are to be in place before the event. The final time and launch area will be published when the necessary clarifications have been made. Weather, safety or requirements from the authorities may lead to changes, postponement or cancellation.

"We are very glad that we get to continue the fireworks tradition that we have been part of starting in Longyearbyen. Here the local community has shown how one can create a bigger fireworks display by pooling resources, while the celebration is safe and predictable for everyone. Longyearbyen leads the way as a good example of how a local community can take responsibility for a joint New Year celebration," says Per-Kristian Henriksen of Pyroteknikk AS.

The agreement applies only to the execution in 2026/2027. After the event, the parties are to evaluate the execution by February 2027. Any continuation next year will require a new procurement assessment from Longyearbyen lokalstyre, says Kvernmo.