Drones have soared into prominence in the world of fireworks displays, including previous Macy’s July 4th celebrations. The 2023 event featured a 500-drone light show, and in 2024, hundreds of "pyro-drones" – equipped to mimic the visual effects of fireworks – took center stage in the spectacle on the Hudson River.

The 49th annual extravaganza will have 80,000 total shells firing off 1,000 feet over the Brooklyn Bridge and East River — a considerable jump from the 60,000 shells used last year.