1,200 drones form 200-metre images over Düsseldorf as Rheinkirmes fireworks return with new safety measures

A sky full of Düsseldorf

On the penultimate evening of the Rheinkirmes, 1,200 drones lifted off from the Oberkassel meadows, 200 more than the fleet deployed in 2025. The swarm, programmed by AO Multimedia & Drones, painted images that reached 200 metres in height and 100 metres in width, visible across the city. The 20-minute show, titled "Düsseldorf feiert", cycled through the Rheinturm, the Rhine bridges, and the crests of local sports clubs. Two unexpected figures, "Dr. Rick und Dr. Nick" with exaggerated lips, floated into view and immediately became a talking point. The display was set to music and followed a more artistically inclined drone show on Tuesday that had rendered a giant Joseph Beuys portrait.

An absolute success - especially in combination with the fireworks.

Fireworks return with tighter safety

The drone performance transitioned directly into a fireworks display of roughly 20 minutes. This year's pyrotechnics were governed by a new safety protocol introduced after an accident during the 2025 fair, when stray fireworks injured 19 spectators. Launch ramps were placed inside trough containers with side walls over two metres high, and the containers were additionally fixed with sand to prevent movement. Organisers said the concept was designed to contain any misfired shells and protect the hundreds of thousands gathered on the riverbank. The seamless handover from silent drones to explosive fireworks was a deliberate artistic choice, according to show designer Jan Ising.

A tradition augmented by technology

The Rheinkirmes first added a drone show to the fireworks in 2025, and this year expanded the fleet from 1,000 to 1,200 drones. The combination has quickly become a marquee event, drawing crowds that rival the fair's opening weekend. The 2026 edition ran for ten days and will conclude on Sunday, 26 July. More than 300 showmen operate rides, game booths, and festival tents on the left bank of the Rhine, directly opposite Düsseldorf's Altstadt. The fair is among the largest in Germany, and the Friday night spectacle has cemented its place as the climax of the closing weekend.

Public reaction and the "Dr. Rick und Dr. Nick" moment

Among the city motifs, the appearance of the two lip-injected figures generated the most chatter. RP Online reported that the images "sorgte beim Publikum für mächtig Gesprächsstoff" (provided ample material for conversation). The earlier Tuesday drone show had taken a more high-art approach with a Joseph Beuys portrait, making Friday's playful motifs a deliberate contrast. The music accompaniment and the seamless handover to fireworks drew applause from the riverbank crowds. Organisers had expected more than a million visitors for the evening, and the dense crowds along the Rhine suggested that estimate was met.