Breaking all records in its 32-year history, Seattle welcomed New Year with the longest ever lighting displays as well as drone and pyrotechnics show with the iconic Space Needle Tower serving as the backdrop.

Seattle skies lit up in glowing colours against the Space Needle tower as the city in Washington State of the United States welcomed New Year 2024 with an 18-minute display of spectacular light, drone and pyrotechnics show for the West Coast and the world to see. 

According to a press statement, this year’s T-Mobile New Year’s extravaganza at the Needle was the longest show in the event’s 32-year history.

It says that more viewers were able to tune in than ever before with the event broadcast live for the first time in Portland and Spokane, in addition to Seattle. The show was broadcast across the Pacific Northwest.

According to the statement, 500 drones took flight next to the Space Needle to create this cosmic formation, including an astronaut, rocket ship and UFO landing on top of the drone-illustrated Space Needle. As the drones counted down to midnight, an elaborate lighting and explosive pyrotechnic finale marked the new year in Seattle, all choreographed to a soundtrack of Pacific Northwest favourites and 2023’s biggest cultural moments.

Adding to the show were live musical performances atop the Space Needle by West Seattle girl-pop rock band Them and Pacific Northwest artist Black Belt Eagle Scout. The show also celebrated the hitmakers of 2023 like singer Taylor Swift, Time Magazine’s Person of the Year, Beyoncé and tracks by Harry Belafonte and Tina Turner.

Other artists featured in this year’s show included trending artists like Macklemore, Odesza and Modest Mouse along with Dua Lipa, Lil Nas X, Spanish rapper Quevedo, and K-pop supergroup IVE.

“This year’s spectacle was our biggest yet, and the Space Needle is proud to be at the heart of so many New Year’s traditions. We hope those who joined the countdown in-person at Seattle Centre and from across the Pacific Northwest watching at home experienced the awe, possibility and joy of sharing this moment together as we look toward a bright 2024,” says Randy Coté, Chief Marketing Officer for the Space Needle. 

“On behalf of the Space Needle and the millions that watched from across the region, a huge thank you goes out to our creative and production partners, and to T-Mobile for sponsoring this event for the 11th year in a row,” adds Coté.