Is bonfire night on the brink of burning itself out?

It is a British tradition dating back centuries but is bonfire night on the brink of burning itself out?

Red tape, increasing costs and legislation to prevent terrorist attacks are taking a toll on the organisers of public events.

Organisers of big displays have said it is becoming increasingly difficult to break even, despite the events being more popular than ever.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s Law, external, is among the elements they have to consider. While they acknowledge the new law is important, it is an extra layer of concern.

It comes as a 12-week public consultation on the sale of fireworks comes to an end on 8 October. The review could lead to the loudest fireworks being limited to organised displays and more pyrotechnic products banned.

Among the victims of the challenges is Truro in Cornwall which has announced its annual fireworks display is off for a second year in a row.

The town council said it made the decision as the event could not be held safely within the available budget.

Similar issues have been raised elsewhere including in Northamptonshire where discussions are ongoing as to whether a free fireworks display in Corby can go ahead.

David Rodda, town clerk at Truro City Council, said it had been a difficult decision to call off the display.

He said some of the issues around the event included it growing from a display attended by 1,000 people to as many as 4,000 when it was last held in 2024, meaning the cost of staging the event safely had increased.

“In a way, it has become a victim of its own success,” Rodda added.

“The council cannot stage an event if we cannot do so safely and in this case the income generated was insufficient to cover the extra costs.”