Élodie Gossuin returns to Masters de Feu to chair the 2026 jury

Some bonds endure through the years without ever truly loosening. Between Élodie Gossuin and Compiègne, the story is long-standing, beloved and deeply heartfelt. On Saturday, September 19, she will write a new chapter by taking the chair of the jury for Masters de Feu 2026.

For this anniversary edition, themed “Le Grand Bal,” the host will support the jurors in a delicate task: weighing up three international creations presented anonymously and naming the Silver Master winner.

A story that begins in Compiègne

Long before becoming a leading figure in television and radio, Élodie Gossuin saw her path take flight in Compiègne.

In 2000, she was elected Reine du Muguet, an honour deeply tied to the city’s history and traditions. This first crown was soon followed by Miss Picardie, Miss France 2001 and Miss Europe 2001.

Since then, Élodie Gossuin has multiplied her experiences across television, radio and major popular events. Yet her attachment to Oise and the Compiègne area has remained unchanged.

Seeing her chair the Masters de Feu jury therefore carries a particular resonance. Beyond her fame, she embodies a direct link between the event, its territory and the public that brings it to life.

A first look at the competition in 2023

Élodie Gossuin will not be discovering Masters de Feu in 2026.

She had already joined the official jury during the sixth edition, held on September 30, 2023. Under the chairmanship of conductor Zahia Ziouani, she took part in assessing the three shows in competition alongside figures from culture, media, sport, craftsmanship and major international events.

That first experience allowed her to discover the competition from the inside: observing the creations without knowing the identity or nationality of the fireworks teams, comparing sensitivities and going beyond the simple impression left by a spectacular effect.

Three years later, she returns with a new responsibility. She will no longer be only one of the jury’s voices: she will lead the discussions and accompany the collective decision.

Chairing without imposing a single viewpoint

Chairing the Masters de Feu jury is not about choosing the most beautiful fireworks alone.

The role requires listening, bringing sensitivities into dialogue and allowing each juror to express what they saw and felt. A pyrotechnic creation can be appreciated in many ways.

Some will be especially attentive to the relationship between music and effects. Others will observe the construction of the tableaux, the use of space, the originality of the colours, the dramatic progression or the emotional power of the show.

The chair must preserve this balance and guide the jury toward a shared decision. A mission well suited to Élodie Gossuin, whose career has always been built on closeness, listening and a natural connection with the public.

This chairing role will also take on full meaning in a competition where the teams perform anonymously. No name, no country and no track record will be revealed before the results are announced. Only the creation in the sky will need to convince.

Figures with complementary sensibilities

Around Élodie Gossuin, the 2026 jury will bring together personalities from very different worlds.

Sandra Lou, television host and producer, will also return to an event she knows well. Her experience in media and popular entertainment will bring a perspective focused on pace, clarity and the emotion shared with the audience.

Actress, author and stage director Françoise Cadol will contribute her understanding of performance and dramaturgy. Her voice, well known to French audiences through theatre and dubbing, has long accompanied characters and stories where every intention matters.

Composer and music producer Jean Tariech will, for his part, be able to observe the way fireworks artists write with music. In a pyromusical show, synchronisation is not limited to following the tempo: it must extend the breaths, the contrasts and the emotions of the soundtrack.

This musical sensitivity will be complemented by that of Jérémy Charvet, actor and singer, accustomed to bringing together stagecraft, performance and presence before an audience.

An international взгляд on pyrotechnic art

The presence of Maria Grazia Gerbaudo will give the jury a particularly important international dimension.

Artistic director of L’International des Feux Loto-Québec in Montreal, she knows intimately the demands of major pyrotechnic competitions. She will be able to appreciate both the artistic identity of a house and the precision of its writing, as well as its ability to deliver a coherent creation on a grand scale.

Her experience will make it possible to place the shows presented in Compiègne within an international culture where every country, every manufacturer and every designer has its own way of working with matter, colour and rhythm.

Sport, the city and the racecourse represented

An emblematic figure of French figure skating, Philippe Candeloro will also return to the honorary jury. His career is built on a principle fireworks teams know well: technical mastery is not enough if it does not create immediate emotion.

The Compiègne area will be represented by Philippe Marini, Mayor of Compiègne, as well as Antoine Gilibert, President of the Compiègne racing society. Their presence recalls the close link between Masters de Feu, the Hippodrome du Putois and the city that has hosted the competition since its creation.

Romane Silva, Reine du Muguet 2026, will extend this local dimension. Twenty-six years after Élodie Gossuin’s election, two generations of Reines du Muguet will thus come together around the same table.

A symbolic handover at the heart of an event that also celebrates its own history.

Spectators invited to become jurors

At Masters de Feu, the public is never merely a witness.

On the evening of the event, spectators will be able to register on site between 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm for a chance to join the jury. A draw will be held at 8:00 pm, a few minutes before the shows begin.

Those selected will experience the competition from the inside, alongside Élodie Gossuin and the invited personalities. They will need to watch each creation closely, compare the proposals and take part in the discussions before the verdict.

This openness to the public is part of the Masters de Feu identity. It is a reminder that pyrotechnics is an art meant to be experienced collectively, and that a spectator’s emotion also has real value.

All spectators will also be able to take part in the People’s Choice Award via the official Masters de Feu app.

Fourteen pairs of eyes turned to the sky

On September 19, three houses will represent Portugal, Poland and the Netherlands. All will have the same time, the same theme and the same compulsory music to win over the jury, without being able to rely on their country’s reputation or track record.

At the head of these combined perspectives, Élodie Gossuin will have the responsibility of guiding a decision where technique meets sensitivity, and where precision must always leave room for wonder.

Having discovered the competition as a juror in 2023, she now returns to Compiègne to chair its anniversary edition.

A return to her roots, but above all a new story to write beneath the Masters de Feu sky.