Cowboy Fireworks at NFA 2026.
After months of preparation, our team arrived at NFA 2026 excited to finally share what we had been working on and spend time with customers, friends, and fellow members of the fireworks industry. This year’s convention was particularly meaningful for Cowboy Fireworks because it marked the beginning of an important new chapter for our company. We had new products to discuss, plans for 2027 to share, a Product Spotlight presentation to give, and an exciting announcement about the future of the Cowboy brand.
Throughout the convention, Booths 40 & 41 gave us a place to reconnect with longtime industry friends while also meeting many people for the first time. Some visitors already knew Cowboy and came by to see what was new, while others were being introduced to the brand for the first time. Those conversations gave us the opportunity to talk about our products and plans, but they also allowed us to hear directly from dealers about their businesses, their customers, and what they would like to see from Cowboy in the future.
Trade shows can easily become centered around products and displays, but for us, NFA has always been just as much about the relationships formed around them. Being able to have those conversations face-to-face was one of the most valuable parts of the entire week, especially as we prepare for what comes next.
A New Chapter for Cowboy Fireworks
One of the biggest pieces of news we brought to NFA this year was the announcement that Cowboy Fireworks is now fully independent. This is an exciting step for our company and one that gives us the opportunity to continue establishing Cowboy as its own brand with a clear identity, direction, and vision for growth in the U.S. market.
As an independent company, we are able to place even greater emphasis on working directly with our customers and responding to what we hear from the market. We want to continue developing products that perform well, packaging that earns attention at retail, and programs that create opportunities for the dealers who carry our products. Just as importantly, we want Cowboy to be a company that customers can communicate with directly and build a lasting relationship with.
NFA gave us the perfect setting to explain what this next chapter means and to hear reactions from the people who will be part of it. The response throughout the week was encouraging, and many of the conversations that began at our booth continued into meetings, meals, and events throughout the convention.
We were also able to share more of the Cowboy story on Thursday during our Product Spotlight presentation, “Reintroducing Cowboy Fireworks.” The presentation gave us an opportunity to go beyond what visitors could see in the booth and provide a closer look at the company behind the products. We discussed Cowboy’s history and manufacturing background, our U.S. operations, the direction of the brand, and the role that product development and retail presentation will play as we continue to grow.
Naturally, we also spent plenty of time talking about fireworks. Attendees got a closer look at Cowboy products and some of what we are developing for 2027. We discussed our approach to packaging and why we believe the experience of a product begins long before a customer lights the fuse. In a retail environment filled with choices, packaging has to earn a customer’s attention, communicate the personality of the product, and give them something they will remember after they leave the store.
NFA also gave us the opportunity to introduce more people to Pyro Bunny, which brings an entirely different personality to our growing portfolio. The line is designed to be colorful, playful, and unpredictable, giving us room to explore concepts that intentionally feel different from the traditional Cowboy identity. Being able to show more of Pyro Bunny in person and hear immediate reactions gave us useful feedback that we can take with us as development continues.
Private label was another recurring topic throughout the convention. We had several conversations with businesses interested in putting their own branding on products and discussed how we can help bring those ideas to market. Every business has its own identity and customer base, and private label gives retailers and wholesalers another way to build on the brands they have already created. Those discussions opened the door to several opportunities that we are looking forward to continuing after NFA.
A Rainy Tuesday Didn’t Stop the Demo
Tuesday’s weather may not have been exactly what anyone ordered for a fireworks demonstration, but the rain did very little to dampen the enthusiasm surrounding the demo. Attendees still came out to watch the products perform, and we were grateful to everyone who was willing to brave the weather with us.
After spending much of the convention discussing products inside, the demo gave everyone a chance to see fireworks where they really matter—in the sky. It was also valuable for our team to be able to hear reactions in real time and continue conversations about products after people had actually seen them perform. There is only so much a catalog, photograph, or product description can communicate, which is why demonstrations remain such an important part of events like NFA.
The weather ultimately became part of the memory rather than an obstacle to it. There was something fitting about seeing a crowd of fireworks professionals standing outside in the rain because they still wanted to watch a show, and we appreciate everyone who came out and helped make Tuesday’s demo such an enjoyable part of our week.
Celebrating the 250th Afterglow
Bandito takes the microphone during the 250th Afterglow.
As the week continued, one of the events we were most excited about was the opportunity for Cowboy Fireworks to host the 250th Afterglow. Reaching the 250th Afterglow was already something worth celebrating, and seeing the turnout that evening made the milestone even more memorable.
The event became one of the most attended Afterglows ever, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who made that possible. Hosting an event is one thing, but the people who choose to attend are what ultimately determine what kind of night it becomes. So many people from across the fireworks industry came out to spend the evening together, and the energy in the room reflected the sense of community that makes NFA special.
Afterglow provides an opportunity to enjoy the relationships behind the business. Throughout the year, many of us communicate through emails, phone calls, orders, meetings, and quick conversations between busy schedules. Having a night where everyone can catch up with old friends, meet new people, and simply enjoy being together is an important part of the NFA experience, and we were proud to play a role in making the 250th such a successful evening.
The night also gave us one of the funniest memories from our entire trip when Bandito, the Cowboy Fireworks mascot, took the stage for karaoke. Seeing our mascot with a microphone in front of a packed Afterglow was not something we had planned when we began preparing for NFA, but it quickly became one of those moments that people were talking about afterward. Between the turnout, the conversations, and Bandito’s unexpected performance, the 250th Afterglow was a fitting way to celebrate an already memorable week.
Taking NFA Home With Us
As we look back on NFA 2026, what stands out most is not one particular product, meeting, presentation, or event. It is the number of meaningful conversations we were able to have throughout the week and the people who took the time to be part of Cowboy’s NFA experience.
We arrived with plenty to talk about, including Cowboy becoming fully independent, our plans for the future, the continued development of Pyro Bunny, private label opportunities, and the products we are preparing for 2027. We left with something equally valuable: direct feedback from the industry, new relationships to develop, existing relationships that grew stronger, and a long list of conversations that we are excited to continue.
For Cowboy, NFA 2026 was more than an opportunity to show what we have been working on. It was an opportunity to introduce the next chapter of our company to the people we hope will be part of it. As we move forward as a fully independent brand, the relationships we build with retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and other members of the fireworks community will continue to be an important part of how Cowboy grows.
We want to thank everyone who stopped by Booths 40 & 41, attended our Product Spotlight, stood in the rain for Tuesday’s demo, talked with our team about products or future opportunities, and joined us for the 250th Afterglow. We appreciate the time you spent with us, the feedback you shared, and the enthusiasm you showed for what Cowboy is building.
NFA may be over, but much of the work that came from it is just beginning. We are returning home with new ideas, new opportunities, and plenty of excitement as we continue working toward 2027 and the next stage of Cowboy Fireworks.
Thank you for being part of NFA 2026 with us. We look forward to seeing you again next year.
— The Cowboy Fireworks Team
