SeaWorld San Diego gets state OK to test drone shows

SeaWorld San Diego will soon light up the night sky over Mission Bay in a whole new way as it embarks on a yearlong test of a more eco-friendly alternative to its frequent fireworks displays.

On Wednesday, the California Coastal Commission approved a coastal development permit for a one-year pilot program - the first of its kind in the state - that allows the San Diego theme park to conduct up to 110, 15-minute drone shows, each using as many as 1,000 illuminated autonomous aircraft.

The permit, which defines the boundaries for the drone show and allows the aerial vehicles to fly up to 660 feet in the sky, also requires the theme park to monitor its first two shows and a portion of the rest to document noise impacts, light levels and bird strikes.

The permit is the first of its kind approved by the state agency, which has not previously considered the use of drones at this scale over sensitive coastal habitat, according to a staff report prepared for the meeting.

Drone usage was, however, framed as a welcome replacement to SeaWorld’s current practice of launching 1,000 to 1,750 fireworks canisters per show. The replacement of the combustible canisters with reusable drones will produce less noise, lessen bird strikes and eliminate water quality impacts, according to the staff report.

“I am pleased to hear that SeaWorld has transitioned to drone shows at other locations across the nation, and that this change has the potential to take place here in the state of California. As was mentioned, San Diego is home to a very important riparian habitat, so seeing the pilot program here today was … wonderful,” said Commissioner Vivian Moreno, who serves as an alternate commissioner representing San Diego on the decision-making body. She is also a San Diego council member. “My understanding is that a drone show is probably not the most economically feasible alternative, but as is the case with this body, we are looking at the environment and also our natural habitat.”

The pilot program was characterized by SeaWorld San Diego Park President Tyler Carter as a conscientious move toward potentially phasing out fireworks.

“This proposal represents more than just a new form of entertainment. It reflects a deliberate step forward. It builds on our longstanding commitment to explore innovative, environmentally responsible alternatives, including the Cirque (Electrique) light show,” Carter told commissioners. “This pilot program allows us to evaluate a technology that has the potential to reduce impacts while still delivering a memorable guest experience. … We are not asking for permanent change today. We are asking for the opportunity to test, to evaluate and continue working in partnership.”

SeaWorld San Diego is currently permitted to operate up to 150 fireworks show per year under the theme park’s master plan. The shows have been a prominent feature of the park’s summer and seasonal festivities since 1968, with operations predating the California Coastal Act of 1976.

Under the drone show pilot program, SeaWorld is allowed to conduct up to 110 drone shows, although commission staff said the marine park intends to host 78 shows during the yearlong period. Each drone show also counts against SeaWorld’s annual fireworks quota, limiting the number of pyrotechnic displays during the pilot program.

The drone shows, as described in the staff report, involve up to 1,000 illuminated aerial drones programmed to autonomously take off up to 660 feet above Mission Bay. The drones will perform for up to 15 minutes, following pre-programmed routes depicting shapes with colored lights, and will be accompanied by music. The theme park is working with drone show company Nova Sky Stories, which was co-founded by Kimbal Musk, brother of tech billionaire Elon Musk, and has put on displays at the FIFA World Cup, the Vatican and outdoor music venues.

SeaWorld is required to monitor 20% of drone shows each month, and must suspend the entertainment option if the shows exceed light and noise thresholds or if a bird is struck by a drone. The Nova drones are said to be equipped with anti-crash technology that will be used to minimize bird strikes and collisions with other drones.

The pilot program comes a year after two environmental groups, San Diego Coastkeeper and the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation, sued SeaWorld over its use of fireworks. The suit accuses the company of illegally discharging pollutants into Mission Bay in violation of the federal Clean Water Act and the park's permit. The lawsuit is still pending, although Livia Borak Beaudin, legal director of CERF and attorney at Coast Law Group LLP, previously told the Union-Tribune that the parties have reached a settlement.

“We’ve been … working for this transition for two decades,” Beaudin said during Wednesday’s public hearing. “We are really thankful to SeaWorld for taking this step. … This is one of those situations where new technology affords an opportunity to do right by the community, by the environment.”

Mitch Silverstein with the coastal-protection group Surfrider Foundation said the organization supports the drone show program, but wants SeaWorld’s nightly fireworks shows stopped completely.

“We’re going to remain opposed to nightly fireworks regardless of the pilot’s outcome,” he said. “I mention that because SeaWorld does have out-of-state leadership, whose decisions a year from now may not reflect the San Diego staff’s enthusiasm to do the right thing.”

In addition to hearing from 13 public speakers, the Coastal Commission received more than 200 comment letters on the agenda item, nearly all in support of the drone show pilot program.

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This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 7:19 PM.