DIFF 2026 is creating unprecedented heat in the festival's history, continuously recording "sold out" status for many competition nights. The third competition night themed "Culture" held on the evening of June 13th achieved 100% occupancy, with all stands filled very early, showing the special attraction of the confrontation between two fireworks superpowers, Japan and Italy.

Not only attractive in terms of audience numbers, this year's DIFF season is also evaluated by experts and fireworks enthusiasts as one of the highest quality seasons to date. With the participation of top world teams, each competition night brings its own color, continuously creating surprises with new performance techniques, emotionally rich stories, and creative approaches. Many spectators liken the entire DIFF 2026 qualifying round to a series of "early finals," where any competition night deserves to be a top-tier match.

Japan "plays" with fireworks and music, Italy asserts the class of the former champion

Considered one of the most anticipated matchups of DIFF 2026, the third competition night witnessed a showdown between Japan's Tamaya Kitahara Fireworks – representing the world-famous traditional Hanabi art – and Italy's Martarello Group S.L.R – a "living legend" of DIFF, having won the championship twice consecutively.

The Japanese team "weaves" shimmering golden Kamuro silk ribbons onto the sky of Da Nang

Bringing a performance rich in the spirit of Wabi-sabi, the Japanese team leads the audience on an emotional journey, where beauty is perceived through subtlety, harmony, and poetic pauses. The signature Nishiki Kamuro fireworks are likened to soft golden silk ribbons descending from the sky, continuously appearing to create layers of elegant light imbued with the identity of the land of the rising sun.

Notably, the Japanese team's music became a highlight that caused the stands to erupt multiple times. Alongside melodies deeply rooted in Japanese culture such as “New Genesis”, “Always With Me”, or the soundtrack of “Ryomaden”, the team also surprised by selecting a series of globally popular soundtracks and songs like the theme music from “Stranger Things”, “Running Up That Hill”, the Kpop song that recently won an Oscar “GOLDEN”, and the Vietnamese song “Những Ngày Trời Bao La” (Vast Sky Days).

The fireworks displays were like a grand feast of light and color from artists from Japan

The combination of fireworks precisely programmed to the rhythm of music and familiar hit songs turned Japan's performance into a true "light concert". Each segment created a strong connection with the audience, especially the youth, in line with the spirit of cultural exchange that the competition night aimed for.

Meanwhile, the Italian team presented a performance titled "Echoes Becoming Future", continuing to leverage the cinematic storytelling strength that has made Martarello a renowned brand for over a century.

An epic, cinematic fireworks display by the Italian team over the Han River sky

Starting with grand European classical melodies like “Lacrimosa” or inspired by Vivaldi, Italy’s performance gradually led the audience from the depth of European cultural heritage to contemporary vibes. An interesting surprise was the Italian team’s skillful integration of Vietnamese “hot trend” songs like “See Tinh”, creating moments of emotional connection with the audience.

Multi-layered fireworks effects, dramatic cinematic climaxes, and the perfect synchronization between music and light transformed the Han River sky into a giant art stage. Each segment was like a film telling the story of humanity’s cultural journey, where traditional values are constantly renewed to embrace the future.

Team Italy asserts its championship level with a spectacular fireworks display for all audiences DIFF 2026

Not only visually stunning with top-notch performances, many audiences were also particularly delighted by how the two teams used music to tell cultural stories.

"I was truly surprised when the Japanese team used very famous songs. It felt like watching a large-scale concert combined with fireworks, not just a competition. Those songs made young audiences like us connect with the performance from the very first minutes," shared Ms. Nguyen Thao Vy, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City.

Meanwhile, Mr. Le Hoang Nam (Hai Phong) commented: "This is like an early final. Japan made the entire stands continuously cheer because of songs that are very viral globally, while Italy was truly European with grand fireworks segments like a movie. This year's 'Culture' theme was told in a very relatable way, not dry at all, but made audiences of all ages able to feel it."

A grand stage of art connecting cultures

Not only fireworks, the third competition night was also a vibrant music festival of cultural colors by the Han River.

Meritorious Artist Quang Hao brings to the DIFF stage an epic ballad about the history and beauty of Vietnam

The program opened with the performance “Soul of Stone” by Meritorious Artist Quang Hao, along with artists and a dance troupe. Folk elements blended with contemporary melodies recreated the beauty of the land, history, and Vietnamese consciousness, creating an emotional anchor for the entire evening.

From the roots of Vietnamese culture, the audience was then transported to Japan through the immortal melody “Kokoro no Tomo”. The graceful movements of the dance troupe and the emotionally rich music recreated the delicate and elegant beauty of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Hoang Thuy Linh bursts in a performance of youthful and modern cultural colors

The youthful highlight of the show belonged to Hoang Thuy Linh with two songs, “See Tình” and “Bo Xì Bo”. The lively melodies, energetic staging, and modern stage effects made the atmosphere by the Han River explode. Particularly, “See Tình” – a song that once created a phenomenon on global social media platforms – has become proof of how Vietnamese culture is spreading powerfully to the world through contemporary music.

Audiences were also immersed in the vibrant Mediterranean colors through the performance “Đêm vũ điệu Tarantella” (Night of the Tarantella Dance). The fast, strong, and lively steps recreated the festive spirit characteristic of Italy, creating an inspiring bridge connecting cultures.

After three nights of competition, DIFF 2026 continues to affirm its position as the leading fireworks festival in the region and a summer destination for Asia – worthy of the title Top 9 Most Worthwhile Festivals on the Planet, as recently voted by Travel + Leisure magazine. With the companionship of Sun Group, DIFF is not only a venue for world-class fireworks displays but also a space for international cultural exchange, where each competition night is a unique story told through music, art, and light.



10,000-seat grandstand packed with eager spectators marveling at the light concert of the third competition night

This year, DIFF continues to offer many new experiences for tourists through the Sun Paradise Land application with personalized AI features such as creating stamps and e-postcards from moments with fireworks. These experiences help prolong the emotions after each performance night, while also contributing to making Da Nang the focal point of the Asian summer.

Contributing to the success of the festival are major sponsors such as Vietnam Airlines and Bizman Media (Diamond Sponsor), Chicilon Media (Media Sponsor), along with many other reputable partners such as Pacific Airlines, Hai Tran Media & Airs Group and Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV).

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