The New Year countdown at Garuda Wisnu Kencana or GWK Bali will feel different this time. No fireworks. No explosive finale lighting up the sky. Instead, the iconic cultural park in Bali is preparing a quieter yet visually striking way to welcome 2026.
GWK Cultural Park has officially confirmed that there will be no fireworks at the GWK Bali Countdown 2026. The decision follows a nationwide policy to suspend fireworks displays during New Year celebrations across Indonesia. As a result, permits for fireworks events were not issued.
“In light of the nationwide cancellation of fireworks events for the New Year celebration, which has affected the issuance of permits for fireworks displays, we regretfully must cancel the fireworks show at GWK Bali Countdown 2026,” GWK Cultural Park management said in a written statement to the media on Monday (29/12/2025).
Even so, the absence of fireworks does not mean the celebration is being scaled back. The New Year event will still take place as scheduled on December 31, 2025. Organizers confirmed that the full program remains intact, with one notable adjustment at the beginning of the night.
The celebration will open with a joint prayer. This moment is intended as a gesture of sympathy and solidarity for victims of natural disasters in Sumatra. It sets a reflective tone before the countdown begins.
“All New Year countdown programs will be carried out as scheduled, starting with a joint prayer,” the statement continued.
To replace the fireworks display, GWK has prepared a Musical Laser Show. The performance is designed to bring visual excitement and maintain a festive atmosphere for visitors gathering at the cultural park to mark the arrival of 2026.
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“And as a substitute for fireworks, we will present a Musical Laser Show while continuing to prioritize safety and visitor comfort,” the management explained.
With this approach, GWK aims to balance celebration with empathy. The night will still carry music, light, and shared anticipation, just expressed in a different way. A calmer sky. A brighter message. And a new year welcomed with intention.
