We still wait for an official release of the 2024 competition schedule by La Ronde. At this time, neither the dates, nor the competitors, have been disclosed by the organizers.

That being said, the “Quebec Gateaways” («Québec Vacances») website, a portal managed by Événements Attractions Québec (a network which includes La Ronde among its members), indicates that L'International des Feux Loto-Québec 2024 would run from Thursday, June 27 to Thursday, August 1st.
https://www.quebecgetaways.com/linternational-des-feux-loto-quebec

Normally, I would not trust too much a website which basically replicates the dates of the previous season (even from a such organization). However, I do note that an exact replication of the 2023 calendar would lead to a June 27-August 8 timeframe, that is, seven Thursdays and one Sunday.

There are only 6 Thursdays in the timeframe above. So it appears possible that La Ronde is about to replicate the 2023 calendar, with the minor adjustment of a 2nd Sunday show instead of one.

With no Saturday shows, countless people have criticized the 2023 schedule on social media, including on La Ronde and the IFLQ Facebook pages, for not being convenient and family friendly. The attendance has also appeared to be very low for most of the shows (the weather was also an issue for many of them).

Of course, this scenario should be considered with caution as La Ronde has not disclosed any information at this time, and I don't have any second source than the aforementioned website.

Fred

2024 schedule from Laronde.com:

4 Thursdays, 2 Sundays and 2 Saturdays

June 27
July 4, 7, 11, 14, 20, 27
Aug 1

Indeed, La Ronde has posted the park hours for the 2024 season on its website, and the aforementioned dates are those with the 11:30pm closing time.

I had a preference for the Saturdays/Wednesdays combinaison, but I am glad to know that some Saturdays are back.

Fred

We have an update up on the countries competing in Montreal! https://www.sixflags.com/larondeen/linternational-des-feux/program

Tribute to Boy & Girl Bands: Thursday, June 27, 2024

Japan: Thursday, July 4, 2024

Italy: Sunday, July 7, 2024

Austria: Thursday, July 11, 2024

Mexico: Sunday, July 14, 2024

Canada: Saturday, July 20, 2024

France: Saturday, July 27, 2024

Tribute to Coldplay: Thursday, August 1st, 2024

The full schedule (that is, with the name of the contestants) was released on May 16 in 2023. I believe that was the latest release date in the competition history, as this record from the 20 previous years shows:

2023 - May 16, 2023
2022 - April 27, 2022
2019 - April 23, 2019
2018 - April 12, 2018
2017 - April 5, 2017
2016 - March 18, 2016
2015 - March 26, 2015
2014 - April 24, 2014
2013 - February 28, 2013
2012 - February 22, 2012
2011 - February 7, 2011
2010 - February 10, 2010
2009 - March 19, 2009
2008 - December 13, 2007
2007 - December 16, 2006
2006 - December 13, 2005
2005 - December 15, 2004
2004 - January 28, 2004

We are still waiting for the full announcement, so a new record has been broken this year!

Fred

Salut tout le monde

J'ai bien lu ton dernier article au sujet de la saison des feux 2024.

Pourrais-tu m'ecpliquer m'expliquer pourquoi la Ronde tarde tant a nommer les firmes en compétition ainsi que le thème de chacun des spectacles et les trames sonores ??

Nous sommes loin de l'efficacité de Martine.

Roger

Je n'ai aucune explication, mais je doute énormément que l'explication soit liée à la retraite de Martyne Gagnon: les données ci-haut montrent que c'est le prolongement d'une tendance de fond.

Frédérick

For those of us who wish to plan trips to Montreal to view the fireworks and need to make housing and travel arrangements these very late show postings can be a costly. Hotel availability declines and prices soar as the summer approaches, and last minute airline fares can be prohibitive. The competition portrays itself as an international event, but by not providing information earlier discourages international visitors. The show managers must be aware they’re creating difficulties for some prospective visitors, but it seems they just do not care.

I hear your pain Bob. I did make some enquiries and it's, unfortunately, due to some of the competitors being slow to complete all the required information. I do believe that the list will finally be released this week. I also have some hope that the procedure will change in the future, for various reasons and we should get a more timely announcement of all of the details.

Paul.

One starts to wonder if the competing companies in this years competition will only be announced just before their presentation, but it seems safe to assume the non-competitive “Boy and Girl Band” show will be delivered by Royal Pyrotechnie since they were scheduled to give this show last year. So – does anyone have some ‘insider’ information regarding who any of the other competitors might be? This would be very useful information for those of us who want or need to schedule our visits to Montreal in advance.

BobFF

i think i have made a post somewhere here about the effects on potential visitors of delaying the announcement of the participants and the full schedule. Either that or i wrote it to someone from the forum in facebook.

It is a pity since most competitors use this festival as a platform to boost their companies to do greater things. Many past firm found great success after competing in Montreal.

May I suggest a new concept? “Guess who the winner is!” Entrants are going to be assessed through a blind review process and the audience will be invited to guess who has performed each show!

Seriously, I do believe that a such delay is very annoying. As Vander just wrote above, some competitors broadly advertise their involvement in the competition, between the release of the schedule and their show, especially on social media. Such PR is good for them and good for the competition. As BobFF wrote, some seasoned international travelers want to know who the competitors are to make their plans and book their arrangements. And I add that as a local aficionados, the release of the line up is an event which fuels excitement, where you mark your calendar and start the anticipation for your favorites.

In response to Roger, I wrote previously that posting the schedule later than usual had probably nothing to do with Martyne Gagnon's retirement, as it is a long term trend. However, since we are less than 3 weeks before the opening, I may have to revise this opinion. Martyne hasn't been properly replaced (I do believe the tasks of her position have been dispatched between other people already there) and a such delay may be related to a general job overload. (I have the same reasoning for the many glitches which appeared around the start of most shows in 2023.)

Fred

Do you think six flags having more control over at la ronde has to do with the trend of poorer marketing and later releases of the schedule?

They even used to have their own website... Even as a landing page, having no website dedicated to the biggest fireworks competition in this day & age is kind of sad.

vander

Here is some information I found on the HIBIKIYA OMAGARI FIREWORKS Co., Ltd
website.

Team Omagari will make its debut at the International Fireworks Competition to be held in Montreal this summer to represent Japan.

The team comprises four local companies: Kitanihon Hanabi Kogyo Co., Komatsu Fireworks Co., Hibikiya Omagari Fireworks Co. and Wabiya Inc.

Billed as one of the world’s top fireworks contests, the Canadian event also attracts pyrotechnicians from Italy, Austria, Mexico, Canada and France.

The Japanese team will be the first to unveil its works, titled “The Greatest Hanabi Show,” on July 4.


OK - that's one ticket I'm going to buy. C'mon folks. Somebody has got to have an inkling who the Canada displayer will be.

BobFF

The following links now work for me.

https://www.sixflags.com/larondeen/linternational-des-feux/program/Jap an

https://www.sixflags.com/larondeen/linternational-des-feux/program/Ita ly

https://www.sixflags.com/larondeen/linternational-des-feux/program/Aus tria

Mexico, Canada and France, not yet.

BobFF