SADIQ Khan’s New Year fireworks bash sparked fury last night after viewers accused the Mayor of turning London’s biggest celebration into a giant advert for the new Wicked movie.
A staggering 100,000 revellers watched on in London and millions more tuned in from home as a huge fireworks display was let off to ring in 2026.
However, parts of the annual countdown were branded “disappointing” after the display featured songs, images and messages from Wicked: For Good as part of an “event partnership” with film giant Universal Pictures.
Millions watching on the BBC saw glowing green and pink visuals from the film splashed across the London Eye.
But for many Londoners, the moment it popped up wasn’t magical – just a bit too commercial for comfort.
Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, even appeared in a pre-recorded message telling viewers to “embrace the magic inside” and “come together, for good”.
But plenty of viewers weren’t buying it.
One fumed on X: “I found the fireworks boring, and why was there basically an advert for Wicked in the middle?”
Another blasted: “The Wicked ad in the middle of the fireworks OMFG. Late-stage capitalism has gone too far.”
A third added: “The Wicked ad felt weird though, yes? Why did my fireworks come with a side of marketing?”
The show featured the song Defying Gravity as fireworks exploded in the film’s trademark colours, alongside images of Erivo’s Elphaba and Ariana Grande’s Glinda.
Many did enjoy the fireworks as they begun but were particularly annoyed at the reference to Wicked which they perceived as “sneaky marketing”.
Other viewers complained that there was no reference to Ozzy Osbourne after the Black Sabbath icon died in July aged 76.
One tweeted: “Wicked got a big mention, yet not a single mention or tribute to Ozzy Osbourne. Not even a quick ‘ALL ABOOOOAARRDDD!’ Disappointing.”
Another wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “The fireworks in London tonight were boring as hell. How could they not include Ozzy Osbournebut feature a f***ing advert for Wicked? What a complete misfire. The worst to date.”
And a third said: “No tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, but we celebrate Wicked? Wow! Worst display I’ve ever seen! Shameful.”
A fourth wrote: “So Wicked made the cut, but Ozzy Osbourne, a British icon, didn’t.”
London’s New Year celebrations saw 100,000 people line the banks of the River Thames to welcome 2026 with the capital’s largest fireworks display.
The spectacular display – set to a soundtrack which included the likes of Raye, Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay and featuring voice overs from stars such as Celia Imrie, Andrew Cotter and Alison Hammond – celebrated some of the highlights of 2025.
Among the feats acknowledged in the display were England‘s Women’s Rugby World Cup triumph, the Lionesses retaining the Euros and Europe‘s Ryder Cup win.
More than 400 lights illuminated the night sky around the London Eye, with hologauze animations complementing the largest annual firework display in Europe on the BBC‘s coverage.
