We’re just a few weeks away from the start of the 2017 edition of Ignis Brunensis. This year sees the festival, which takes place as usual in beautiful Brno, Czech Republic celebrate it’s 20th year, and as such is being promoted and planned as a jubilee style event.
What is Ignis Brunensis?
Ignis Brunensis is an annual cultural festival held over four weeks from the last week in May. The event traditionally marks the beginning of the summer tourist season in Brno, and attracts visitors from across the Czech Republic as well as from all around the world. Today, the festival is host to a wide range of events and activities, although it still retains it’s original name, which is based purely on it’s origins as a fireworks event.
Ignis Brunensis is the Latin translation of ‘Fire of Brno.’
Ignis Brunensis: From Then to Now
When Ignis Brunensis first started it alternated each year, from being a fireworks competition for Czech fireworks display teams to a non-competitive fireworks exhibition. Since 2003, although the cultural aspect of the event has continued to grow, the fireworks competition element has become a world-renowned, internationally acclaimed event in its own right.
The popularity of Ignis Brunensis’ fireworks competition can be seen in the number of fireworks display teams that attend and take part from across the world.
If you’re heading to Brno for Ignis Brunensis 2017, when are the fireworks displays taking place, and who is performing?
Fireworks at Ignis Brunensis 2017
This year sees seven displays in total taking place, with the competition element of five displays sandwiched by the prelude and the epilogue.
The prelude and epilogue fireworks will be displayed over Špilberk Castle, while each of the five competitive displays will take place at the Brno Dam. All of the displays will commence at 10:30pm local time, with the prelude and epilogue scheduled to last around 12 minutes with the competition displays lasting 17 minutes.
Theatrum Pyroboli
Opening the event is the Czech Republic’s Theatrum Pyroboli, who are opening the event on Friday 26th May.
Ignis Brunensis Team
As is traditional, the Ignis Brunensis team from the Czech Republic will commence the fireworks competition on Saturday 3rd June.
Last year the Ignis Brunensis team was a collaboration between Czech and German teams.
Pyrovision
Pyrovision, from Austria, are the next to fire their competition display on Wednesday 7th June.
IP Innovative Pyrotechnik
German display team IP Innovative Pyrotechnik are third up on Saturday 10th June.
Sugyp & Jin Yi Fireworks
On Wednesday 14th June, the competition will see a collaboration between 2013 overall winners Sugyp, from Switzerland, and China’s Jin Yi fireworks.
Pirotecnia Ricardo Caballer
Closing the competitive fireworks element of Ignis Brunensis 2017 is Spain’s Pirotecnia Ricardo Caballer on Saturday 17th June.
Flash Barrandov SFX
Ignis Brunensis 2017 will be brought to a close on Saturday 24th June by Flash Barrandov SFX, from the Czech Republic.
Ignis Brunensis 2017
If you’re headed to the Czech Republic in May or June we recommend you check out Ignis Brunensis 2017, even if you can only hang around to see one fireworks display the festival as a whole is an amazing experience.