Hundreds of revellers waiting to watch London's iconic New Year's Eve fireworks display had their view completely obstructed at the crucial moment after a coach pulled up directly in front of them. The incident, which occurred as the clock struck midnight to welcome 2026, was captured on video and sparked a viral social media row involving the transport firm National Express.
A View Ruined at the Stroke of Midnight
As the Mayor of London's 12-minute display commenced over the River Thames, broadcast live to millions on the BBC, a section of the 100,000-strong crowd lining the banks found themselves staring at the back of a stationary coach. Footage shared on TikTok showed the National Express vehicle driving into position and stopping, entirely blocking the spectacle for a large group who had waited for hours.
The coach moved on shortly afterwards, but not before those affected had missed a significant portion of the long-awaited event. Boos could be heard from the crowd in the video, with many attempting to film the fireworks on their phones. The TikTok user who posted the clip wrote sarcastically: 'National Express really said quick how do I make this about me.'
National Express's Unapologetic Social Media Clapback
The transport company responded with a tone that surprised many, leaning into the incident with humour. Commenting on the viral post, the official National Express account stated simply: '2026 is my year'. When the official London Eye account interjected with 'I am so sorry diva,' National Express replied: 'I'm not'.
This cheeky response was praised by some social media users as 'the best comment of the year'. In a separate, more conciliatory gesture, the firm did offer the original poster free travel tickets to compensate for the ruined view. The video rapidly gained traction, amassing 320,000 views and 34,000 likes.
Fireworks Display Itself Faces Criticism
The fireworks, orchestrated by Mayor Sadiq Khan and featuring more than 12,000 pyrotechnics and 400 lights, also drew mixed reviews from viewers at home. A prominent segment celebrated the new Wicked: For Good movie, part of an official 'event partnership' with Universal Pictures.
The sequence included the song 'Defying Gravity', fireworks in the film's pink and green colours, and projected images of characters Elphaba and Glinda. Actress Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba and was recently made an MBE, gave a voiceover message encouraging people to 'embrace the magic that we all have inside'.
Many viewers online criticised this as blatant advertising. One tweeted: 'I found the fireworks boring, and why was there basically an advert for Wicked in the middle?' Another called it a sign that 'late-stage capitalism has gone too far'.
Other notable absences were also pointed out, particularly a tribute to rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, who died in July 2025 aged 76. The display did celebrate other 2025 highlights, including England's women's rugby World Cup win, the Lionesses' Euros victory, and the men's Ryder Cup success.
The soundtrack featured artists like Raye, Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Sheeran, and Coldplay, with voiceovers from personalities including Alison Hammond. The show utilised 'hologauze' technology, projecting 3D-like visuals onto semi-transparent fabric around the London Eye, cementing its status as Europe's largest annual firework display.
