The Da Nang International Fireworks Festival – DIFF 2026 has concluded a brilliant summer by the Han River, marked by world-class fireworks performances, strong tourism appeal and impressive growth figures.
Held from May 30 to July 11, 2026 under the theme “Da Nang – New Rising Era”, DIFF 2026 brought together 10 fireworks teams from Viet Nam, China, France, Japan, Italy, Germany, Macao – China, Australia and Portugal. Across five qualifying nights and the grand finale, the festival took audiences on an emotional journey through the themes of Nature, Heritage, Culture, Creativity, Vision and New Rising Era.
A Historic DIFF Season by the Han River
The year 2026 marked another special DIFF season for Da Nang, as the festival was named by Travel + Leisure among the Top 9 festivals in the world worth travelling for. This recognition not only affirms DIFF’s appeal on the international events map, but also contributes to elevating Da Nang’s image as a festival destination that is creative, dynamic and rich in experiences.
Over nearly two months, DIFF 2026 became a vibrant summer rendezvous for tens of thousands of visitors each competition night, lighting up both banks of the Han River and creating a bustling atmosphere across accommodation establishments, attractions, restaurants, shopping centres and tourism streets throughout the city.
On the evening of July 11, DIFF 2026 came to a dazzling and emotional close as the sky above the Han River lit up with a spectacular final showdown between Jiangxi Yangfeng Art Display Co., Ltd. from China and Macedos Pirotecnia from Portugal. Bursts of fireworks unfolded continuously in harmony with music and light, creating a breathtaking finale that took audiences through many emotional highs. With an uplifting and artistically impressive performance, Portugal was officially crowned the champion of DIFF 2026, while China won the runner-up title.
More than 2.72 Million Visitor Arrivals at Accommodation Establishments during DIFF 2026
The appeal of DIFF 2026 was clearly reflected in outstanding tourism indicators. According to the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, during the 43 days of the festival, the city welcomed more than 2.72 million visitor arrivals at accommodation establishments, an increase of nearly 45% compared to DIFF 2025.
During the six fireworks performance nights alone, the number of visitor arrivals at accommodation establishments reached 688,500. This figure highlights DIFF’s significant role in stimulating summer travel demand, extending visitor stays and enhancing Da Nang’s attractiveness during the peak tourism season.
On the grand finale night of July 11, accommodation establishments across the city served 131,000 visitor arrivals, up 16% over the same period in 2025. Of these, international visitors reached 52,400 arrivals, up 27%, while domestic visitors reached 78,600 arrivals, up nearly 10%.
Hotel Occupancy in Central Areas Reaches 95–98%
Alongside the strong increase in visitor numbers, Da Nang’s accommodation system also recorded positive occupancy rates during the DIFF 2026 grand finale. The citywide average room occupancy reached around 85%, up 6.3% compared to the same period.
Notably, hotel occupancy in central areas, including Hai Chau, Hoa Cuong, An Hai, Son Tra and Ngu Hanh Son, reached 95–98%. This was the highest level recorded in four consecutive years since DIFF 2023.
Beyond providing strong momentum for the accommodation sector, DIFF 2026 also generated positive spillover effects across many other tourism services, including transportation, dining, shopping, entertainment and night-time experiences.
Increased Flights and Dynamic Destination Connectivity
Air transport to Da Nang also showed positive growth during the festival season. On July 10 and 11, the total number of domestic and international flights to Da Nang reached 365 flights, an increase of 30 flights compared to the same period in 2025.
Across the six fireworks performance periods, including each official performance day and the preceding day, the total number of flights to Da Nang reached more than 1,900 flights, up 7%, equivalent to nearly 130 additional flights compared to the same period in 2025. The average flight frequency reached 163 flights per day, an increase of 11 flights per day.
These figures show that DIFF continues to be a signature tourism product capable of creating clear growth momentum for Da Nang, while also promoting air connectivity, increasing visitor flows and strengthening the city’s position on the regional event tourism map.
DIFF – Da Nang’s International Festival Brand
From a fireworks festival by the Han River, DIFF has grown into an international event brand closely associated with the image of a dynamic, creative and constantly renewing Da Nang. Each DIFF season not only delivers spectacular light performances, but also creates a distinctive festive rhythm, connecting visitors with the city through culture, art, cuisine and unforgettable summer experiences.
With its 2026 season, DIFF has once again affirmed its role as a powerful magnet for visitors, contributing to a historic summer for Da Nang tourism. From uplifting fireworks displays above the Han River to impressive growth figures in accommodation visitors, room occupancy and flight frequency, DIFF 2026 has strongly promoted the image of Da Nang – a city of festivals, connections and memorable experiences.
DANANG TOURISM PROMOTION CENTER
