Incredible drone display recreates the Titanic departing Belfast minute-by-minute - as it did 114 years ago

By TARYN KAUR PEDLER, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 01:42, 3 April 2026 | Updated: 01:56, 3 April 2026 A breathtaking light show saw nearly 1,000 drones illuminate Belfast Harbour in a dramatic 'recreation' of the ill-fated RMS Titanic. The stunning aerial display was broadcast at 8pm on Thursday as part of the BBC's 'Made Of Here' campaign, marking the exact date and time the Titanic famously set sail from Belfast in 1912. The initiative celebrates the cities and communities that have shaped some of the broadcaster's most beloved programmes and characters. A spokesperson said: 'At the campaign's heart is a short film that highlights the BBC's unique ability to connect with people across the UK through outstanding homegrown storytelling, whether that's in landmark dramas, laugh-out-loud comedies, or memorable factual programmes. 'The display was inspired by the four-part BBC factual series Titanic Sinks Tonight, which was filmed and produced in Northern Ireland by Belfast-based independent production company Stellify Media. 'Titanic Sinks Tonight, which originally aired in December 2025, has become the BBC's biggest history documentary of 2025/26 so far, with an audience of more than two million viewers across the UK and almost half of viewers watching on BBC iPlayer.' The drone display itself took place at Belfast Harbour on Monday. The series, Titanic Sinks Tonight, has proved a major hit with audiences, shining a spotlight on the ship's tragic final hours. A breathtaking light show saw nearly 1,000 drones illuminate Belfast Harbour in a dramatic 'recreation' of the ill-fated RMS Titanic The stunning aerial display was broadcast at 8pm on Thursday as part of the BBC's 'Made Of Here' campaign, marking the exact date and time the Titanic famously set sail from Belfast in 1912 The drone display itself took place at Belfast Harbour on Monday Titanic Sinks Tonight, which originally aired in December 2025, has become the BBC's biggest history documentary of 2025 and 2026 so far A spokesperson said: 'At the campaign's heart is a short film that highlights the BBC's unique ability to connect with people across the UK through outstanding homegrown storytelling, whether that's in landmark dramas, laugh-out-loud comedies, or memorable factual programmes' Titanic Sinks Tonight, which originally aired in December 2025, has become the BBC's biggest history documentary of 2025 and 2026 so far, with an audience of more than two million viewers across the UK, and almost half of viewers watching on BBC iPlayer.  The docu-drama used personal testimony taken from letters, interviews, personal memoirs, and the accounts of public enquiries to tell the story of the sinking of the Titanic, minute by minute, from the moment it hit the iceberg to the moment it disappeared below the surface of the ocean.  The BBC's Made Of Here campaign is a tribute to the hometowns and cities across the UK that have inspired some of the BBC's most iconic TV shows and characters.  Northern Ireland is the latest stop in the campaign, following similar showcases in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Glasgow. Simon Young said: 'We are so proud to have brought the Titanic back to Belfast in the shape of this extraordinary TV series.  'The city took the production of Titanic Sinks Tonight to its heart, and the result is a gripping second-by-second examination of the ship's final hours. 'There's no better way to mark the construction of the most famous ship in history, and the creation of this epic series, than by bringing Titanic to life in lights on Belfast harbour.' Keiran Doherty, co-CEO of Stellify Media, who made the Titanic Sinks Tonight series, said: 'Filming at home in Belfast gave us something special, a connection to the Titanic that goes beyond the visuals.  'We weren't just imagining the story, we were standing in it.'  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.