(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)
Pyrotechnics Guild International is coming to Buchanan.
The guild officially announced that its annual convention will take place at Wisconsin International Raceway, W1460 Outagamie County KK.
3 public show nights
The event’s theme is “Ignite the Night.” The 2026 Wisconsin Fireworks Festival will feature three public display nights, which aim to bring thousands of global firework enthusiasts, master artisans and families to the Fox Cities.
The public is invited to experience three distinctly different, fully choreographed evening spectacles, which will take place on Aug. 8, 12 and 14. The gates are scheduled to open nightly at 6 p.m., shows will begin at dusk.
Attendees will witness massive aerial shells, intense ground fireballs, custom member-made exhibition creations and an array of synchronized drone sky shows.
“We are thrilled to bring the PGI energy back to the historic Wisconsin International Raceway,” said Rick Olivieri, the guild’s marketing manager, in a news release. “Our members travel from all over the world to showcase their craftsmanship. ‘Ignite the Night’ isn’t just a fireworks show – it’s an experiential art form combining technology, music and artistry in the sky. The precision, the music, and the raw scale of these unique pyrotechnic sky shows will create memories that Wisconsin families won’t soon forget.”
Community impact, training and charity
Beyond the evening entertainment, the guild has stated that the organization is “deeply committed to safety and community partnership.”
While in Buchanan, the convention will host specialized pyrotechnic training courses for local fire and safety professionals. Additionally, the guild is collaborating with The Community Blood Center to host a member blood drive during the week.
Discounted group ticket options are also being extended to local schools, youth sports teams and non-profit organizations to help them raise money for community initiatives. Bulk 20-pack discounted tickets are being sold for Wednesday night’s show.
Convention raised ‘mixed feelings’ in Oshkosh in 2023
The Pyrotechnics Guild International annual convention held in 2023 at the Sunnyview Expo Center in Oshkosh lit up a fierce debate whether to invite the guild back to residential areas, after its powerful fireworks startled people and animals and rattled walls and windows as far away as Neenah, a distance of 6 miles.
Residents who were unaware that the convention was happening went outside to investigate the noise, thinking they might see an approaching thunderstorm. Others blamed the booms on the Northern Lightning military aircraft training exercise, which was occurring at the same time across Wisconsin but ended daily activities by 5 p.m.
Ahead of the weeklong convention, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office said it was “aware of some mixed feelings” regarding the event and sought to redirect complaints.
“Although the Sheriff’s Office is not involved in the permitting for any event at Sunnyview Expo Center, we know the proper permits were obtained to hold the event, which allows fireworks displays to occur nightly through 1 a.m.,” it said in 2023 a Facebook post.
How to see the shows
There is no roadside parking and show night parking lots are only open on public nights. The public is asked not to travel to the area on non-public show nights as roadside cars will be ticketed or towed.
Pre-sale tickets are strictly required for entry. Public tickets, family packages, and group fundraising opportunities can be secured online at the official Pyrotechnics Guild International ticket portal at pgi.org/tickets.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Pyrotechnics Guild International show heads to Buchanan
Reporting by Emma Johnson, Appleton Post-Crescent / Appleton Post-Crescent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Emma Johnson, Appleton Post-Crescent | USA TODAY Network
