ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Organizers of PyroJam, a large-scale fireworks and pyrotechnics competition that has drawn thousands to Southern Maryland in recent years, announced Jan. 17 that the event will not return to the region in 2026 after their request to use Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum was denied.
In a letter posted to supporters, event organizers said they were informed following the 2025 event that their application for a 2026 show at the park would not be approved. According to the statement, officials cited concerns from the Maryland Historical Trust and the Maryland Department of Planning regarding the long-term protection of the site.
The letter quoted park officials as saying there was a “strong opinion” among state agencies that while the partnership had benefited both the park and organizers, the event was “walking a dangerous line in regards to the protection of the resources on the site,” describing it as a “when, not if” scenario despite efforts to minimize impact.
Organizers said the decision came as a surprise, noting that no damage had occurred during the four previous events held at the park and that they had not been made aware of significant issues beyond a small number of complaints from neighboring properties.
The timing of the decision, they said, left little opportunity to secure an alternate venue in time for 2026. PyroJam’s design competition requires detailed, site-specific planning to ensure fireworks shows can be executed safely and legally, a process that depends on having a confirmed location well in advance.
“As a result, we will not be able to produce a 2026 event in Southern Maryland,” the organizers wrote, adding that they intend to bring the event back to the United States in 2027, though not necessarily to Southern Maryland due to the limited number of venues large enough to accommodate the show.
The announcement also confirmed that PyroJam’s 2026 event will instead take place in Liuyang, China, a city widely regarded as the global center of the fireworks industry. Organizers said international expansion had long been part of their vision and that discussions for a China-based event were already underway before the venue decision in Maryland.
While the original plan had been to host events in both the United States and China in 2026, the lack of a domestic venue led organizers to consolidate the event overseas for the year.
In their message, PyroJam organizers emphasized that the move was not intended as a departure from their U.S. audience, thanking local supporters and families who attended the event over the past four years. They said additional details about the 2026 event will be shared on the organization’s social media pages in the coming weeks as planning continues.
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China took our jobs and now our fireworks?!