Oslo‘s New Year’s Light Show: A Debate Over Cost and Planning
Unique Pyrotechnic’s acting daily leader, Espen Kolstad, told Aftenposten that Oslo municipality may have “paid too much” for the 2024-2025 New Year’s light show, hinting at potential overspending. "We believe we delivered what we were supposed to, but the procurement process seemed rushed," Kolstad said.
Oslo decided to replace its traditional fireworks with a citywide light show starting from the upcoming New Year’s celebrations. The municipality had initially promised the show would be visible from most parts of the city.
Monica T. Olsen, speaking on behalf of the Bymiljøetaten, acknowledged the haste in revamping the budget, stating, "We had to rush the process." She expressed hope that the light show would reach more people and assured that safety considerations prompted the request for spectators to avoid Rådhusplassen.
While the light show was a visual spectacle, concerns about its cost and planning efficiency have sparked debate. As Oslo continues to evaluate the event, stakeholders hope to learn from this year’s experience to improve future celebrations.
