American drone show companies: the biggest names in nighttime entertainment

Drone shows around the world can be fascinating. In South Korea, UVify set the record for most drones flown simultaneously. In the Middle East, drone shows are a massive spectacle, averaging a whopping 401 drones per show. But what about American drone show companies?

As it turns out, the U.S. dominates in terms of sheer number of drone shows by country. North America accounts for 34% of all the world’s drone shows. In fact, there were more than 1,000 drone shows documented across North America over the past year (and most of those coming out of the U.S.). That’s according to the Drone Show Market Analysis, which is a report put out in June 2024 from SPH Engineering made in collaboration with market research group Duamentes Global Alliance.

That’s due in large part to the fact that there simply are so many American drone show companies. Chalk it up to American entrepreneurial spirit, a relatively-flexible regulatory environment, or a fairly robust amount of available business capital. Whether one or all of those things, the American drone light show business is thriving.

North American drone shows occur at all sorts of big public sporting events, concerts and festivals. My first drone show was a Star Wars drone show after an Oakland A’s baseball game. They also exist at major rodeos, county fairs and theme parks.

So with that, here’s your ultimate guide to American drone companies that put on light shows:

By the way, I’ve also highligted other drone show companies around the world.

The biggest drone show companies in the U.S.

What are the biggest drone show companies in the U.S.? According to the SPH Engineering June 2024 report, there are about three dozen drone light show companies in the U.S. These are the biggest names:

Sky Elements

Sky Elements is the biggest drone show company in the U.S. Based out of Texas, they put on shows nationwide. That included the Serena Williams gender reveal drone show, the Houston Rodeo, countless MLB games and a post-Super Bowl drone show on the Las Vegas Strip.

Sky Elements has participated in fun, media events too, which continue to build its brand. For example, Sky Elements sent 1,000 drones into the sky for an America’s Got Talent audition, upon which Simon Cowell pushed the Golden Buzzer.

Sky Elements also nabbed a Guinness World Record when it put on 40 drone shows in a single weekend (that was during the 2023 Fourth of July weekend). The award-winning company nabbed multiple spots in the SPH Engineering International Drone Show Competition. According to SPH Engineering, Sky Elements holds a 22.2% market share among U.S. drone show companies.

Pixis Drones

Pixis Drones is America’s second-largest drone show company, with an estimated 10.9% market share. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, it also has satellite offices in cities including Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, and NYC.

Its clients are mostly corporate clients, ranging from corporate names like Edward Jones and Deloitte, to fun entertainment, leisure, food and travel brands like Hasbro, Fox, Marriott, McDonald’s and Netflix.

Skyworx

Skyworx is not only an American drone show company, but they explicitly use American drones as their preferred aircraft. Skyworx uses custom-built by Texas-based aircraft maker Verge Aero. They’re basically custom versions of the Aero-X1 and Aero-X7.

Verge Aero perhaps most famously put on the drone show for President-Elect Biden’s victory celebration in November 2020.

Verge Aero recently launched a new software tool called Verge Aero Composer. The software has the potential to make the drone show industry more accessible by allowing individuals to create their own drone shows without actually having any technical experience.

Theme park drone shows

Theme parks seem to be the biggest driver in propelling drone show technology forward. Just this summer, Orlando was home to two competing drone shows. Universal Studios Orlando put on CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular which features 600 drones flying to iconic movie soundtracks such as “Harry Potter” and “Ghostbusters.” Though you need a Universal ticket to watch it, the full sensory experience makes use of other features in the theme park. That includes dancing water fountains on the lagoon in the center, fireworks, and projection mapping on the buildings around the lagoon.

But just across the city from Universal Orlando plays the nightly Disney World drone show called “Disney Dreams That Soar.” Perhaps because this one is free to watch (it’s held at Disney Springs, the free outdoor shopping mall on Disney property), it’s been drawing unprecedented crowds.

And though those are two of the biggest U.S. theme parks, other smaller parks have also been crushing the drone light shows, including Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana.

How much does a drone show cost in the U.S.?

Drone shows vary in cost, generally contingent upon how many drones are used. Other factors at play include travel, scope of putting on the show (e.g. complicated permitting) and whether or not custom designs are needed.

That said, many drone show companies price their drone shows per drone. Find that figure, and you can get a sense of what you can afford. For example, SkyWorx charges $200 to $400 per drone used in a show. According to SPH’s report, the average drone show in the U.S. comes out to $233 per drone.

In North America, drone shows average 218 aircraft per show, according to the June 2024 SPH report. So, you can expect a SkyWorx show featuring 218 drones to cost a minimum of $43,600, but potentially nearly $90,000.

Meanwhile a 218 aircraft show at $233 per drone (the average based on SPH data) would come out to $52,455 per drone show.

Keep in mind that some drone show companies have a minimum budget, meaning they’ll only do big shows. For example, Pixis Drones — which tends to have big, corporate clients — inherently commands bigger budgets on the outset. This isn’t the company to put on a small show for your wedding. The minimum price tag on their inquiry form is $30,000.

Sky Elements is one of those companies that puts on so many shows, that it’s also willing to do smaller scale shows. Sky Elements drone show prices start at $15,000 for smaller, stock shows — which might work well for an extravagant wedding or even Serena Williams-style baby shower. Of course, prices get much higher for larger, more intricate performances or those with custom designs.

How to pick the best drone show company

We named the biggest drone show companies, but with roughly three dozen American drone show companies and counting, there are plenty to choose from. And ideally, you’ll find one that fits your budget.

When selecting the right drone show company, consider these key factors:

• Show design: Assess the company’s ability to create unique and customized drone light shows aligned with your event’s theme. Though, understand that custom designs generally entail greater cost.
• Inclusive packages: Look for companies that provide comprehensive packages including design, permits, and on-site support. Don’t get caught off-guard by potential hidden fees, like permitting fees.
• Experience and qualifications: Review the company’s portfolio and the scale of previous shows they’ve produced.
• Team qualifications: Ensure the company employs experienced pilots, engineers, and creative directors. With drone shows, a pilot who has a Remote Pilot Certificate is not enough. You want people with experience in IT, design, project management and other skills.
• FAA certification: That said, holding that Remote Pilot Certificate is required of at least one person on the onsite team. Verify that the company and its pilots hold the necessary FAA licenses and permits. Here’s the database to search Part 107-certified pilots. And ensure, the company is cleared to fly in the airspace of your event, assuming it’s in regulated airspace.
• Compliance with local regulations: Besides federal rules, ensure the company is aware of and adheres to all local regulations and airspace restrictions.
• Safety protocols: Inquire about their safety procedures, including emergency plans and insurance coverage.
• Insurance coverage: Verify that the company carries adequate insurance to protect you and your event. Though the FAA doesn’t require drone insurance specifically to fly, a drone light show over a big event should have liability insurance. The company you hire should have comprehensive insurance coverage, including aviation, general liability, workers comp and maybe even automotive insurance. That protects you, them and audience members.
• Industry awards and recognition: Though not always an indicator of a great company, awards at least can indicate a company’s reputation and expertise. The annual International Drone Show Competition from SPH Engineering is one of the biggest competitions to follow.

What will drone shows be like going forward?

The big extra dose of pizzaz to expect in drone shows going forward? Drone shows with fireworks. Earlier this year, Sky Elements received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to be able to attach fireworks to drones. While Sky Elements was the first to receive such a landmark approval, expect more to join now that the precedent has been set.

American drone shows soar as other American drone companies struggle

The American drone show industry is experiencing a meteoric rise, capturing the imagination of audiences and corporate clients alike. Yet, this burgeoning success stands in stark contrast to the challenges faced by U.S. drone manufacturers.

Especially when it comes to American consumer drone companies, the industry has faced intense competition from overseas. Competition is particularly from China, where production costs are significantly lower. That’s led to legislation seeking to give American drone companies a leg up, including the Countering CCP Drones Act, which would outright ban Chinese-made drones. Other proposed legislation has sought to give American drone makers a leg up, such as the Drones for First Responders (DFR) Act. That proposal would add a tariff on Chinese drones, but then grant funding to American drone users to shop from American drone companies.

But at least with light show companies, America is thriving — and the industry continues to grow. That’s due in large part to products that are making light shows more and more accessible. For example, the Drone Blocks light show drone kit turns light shows into a STEM classroom project. Meanwhile, the Drone Dojo light show kit allows you to program a single drone light show for less than $1,000 (and you can buy more drones to put on your own show.

Want to watch a drone show for yourself? I continuously update my drone show events schedule with the biggest and best drone light shows in North America.