Charlotte's 2026 July 4 show paired the Charlotte Symphony and the WBT SkyShow fireworks at Truist Field. 2027 plans are not out yet; this page will update.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. This page is updated each year. The 2027 Fourth of July plans for Charlotte have not been announced. This guide describes the 2026 celebration, from the Charlotte Knights’ event page and the Charlotte Symphony, so you know what to expect. We will update it when the 2027 details are posted.
Charlotte’s big Uptown Independence Day show in 2026 was Charlotte’s Stars and Stripes Spectacular at Truist Field, home of the Charlotte Knights. The Knights, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and WBT staged it for the nation’s 250th anniversary: a symphony concert led by Music Director Kwamé Ryan, a drone show and the WBT SkyShow fireworks.
Who to call
- Charlotte Knights box office (tickets for the Truist Field show): 704-274-8282
- Charlotte Fire (fireworks safety questions): CharMeck 311, 704-336-7600
- Emergencies, including fireworks injuries and fires: 911
- Event page: Stars and Stripes Spectacular
The 2026 schedule
| Time | What |
|---|---|
| 5:30 or 6 p.m. | Gates open (the symphony listed 5:30 p.m.; the Knights listed 6 p.m.) |
| 7 p.m. | Opening act |
| 8 p.m. | Charlotte Symphony Orchestra |
| 9:15 p.m. | WBT SkyShow program and fireworks |
The show was ticketed. The symphony said the orchestra would play from second base out into the outfield, with no field access or field-level seating for fans, and that there was no rain date: the event was set for Saturday, July 4, 2026, only.
Watching from outside the ballpark
Truist Field is in Uptown, beside Romare Bearden Park. Expect crowds and street closures on the night; the city posts closures on its street closure map, and our road closures page tracks them.
Fireworks at home: the rules
Charlotte Fire’s fireworks guidance recommends going to a show run by a company with a North Carolina pyrotechnic license instead of setting off your own. On what the law allows:
- Illegal to sell or possess in North Carolina: firecrackers, ground spinners, bottle rockets, Roman candles and aerial fireworks. Charlotte Fire’s rule of thumb: anything that explodes or is projected into the air is illegal.
- Generally allowed: sparklers, fountains and novelty items that do not explode, spin or leave the ground, including snakes and glow worms, smoke devices, party poppers, string poppers, snappers and wire sparklers.
Charlotte Fire’s safety tips:
- Buy from reliable vendors, and never alter fireworks or make your own.
- Only responsible adults should handle them. Keep a hose or bucket of water nearby.
- Light one at a time on a paved surface away from grass and trees, then move away. Never relight a dud.
- Never shoot fireworks from a metal or glass container, and never carry them in a pocket.
The department notes that handheld sparklers burn at 1,200 to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why the warnings
Charlotte Fire’s guidance cites the numbers behind its advice: in 2019, 149 people went to North Carolina emergency rooms for fireworks injuries, and more than 9,000 people nationwide were treated for fireworks injuries, 62% of them in the month around the Fourth of July. The department also says fireworks start more than 19,500 reported fires a year.
What this means for you
- Watch for the 2027 announcement in the spring; the 2026 show was announced in April.
- Leave aerial fireworks to licensed shows. They are illegal to possess in North Carolina.
- Plan for Uptown crowds and street closures if you go.
More: things to do in Charlotte this month and parks and trails.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the Fourth of July fireworks in Charlotte?
In 2026 the main Uptown show was Charlotte’s Stars and Stripes Spectacular at Truist Field, with the Charlotte Symphony, a drone show and the WBT SkyShow fireworks. The 2027 plans have not been announced.
What time are the Charlotte July 4 fireworks?
The 2026 schedule put the WBT SkyShow program and fireworks at 9:15 p.m., after an opening act at 7 p.m. and the symphony at 8 p.m.
Are fireworks legal in Charlotte?
Charlotte Fire says firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles and anything that explodes or flies into the air are illegal to sell or possess in North Carolina. Sparklers, fountains and novelty items that stay on the ground are generally allowed.
Was there a rain date for the 2026 Charlotte fireworks?
No. The Charlotte Symphony said the 2026 event was scheduled only for Saturday, July 4.
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