What's On In Blackpool
Shows, festivals, gigs and family days out — everything happening across the town, with somewhere to stay just around the corner.
Featured Event
The Blackpool Illuminations Switch On 2026
The night the season really starts. On Friday 4 September 2026, live music and entertainment lead up to the famous Illuminations Switch-On. Once lit, Blackpool’s six-mile display will brighten the seafront throughout autumn, Christmas and New Year, running until 4 January 2027.
Friday 4 September
Gates open 16:30, switch-on around 21:10
Tower Festival Headland
Free outdoor arena opposite The Blackpool Tower
Live Line-Up
Five, The Feeling and Lucy Spraggan, then Tower fireworks
September
9 events
sep
1
Sport
Ride the Lights
Promenade
The Prom closes to traffic for one night so you can cycle, scoot or skate the full run of the Illuminations.
1 Sept
SEP
1-2
Family
Peppa Pig's Big Family Show
Winter Gardens Opera House
Three days, multiple stages across the Winter Gardens complex.
1-2 Sept
SEP
2
Sport
Blackpool Night Run
Seafront & Promenade
An evening road race along the front under the freshly switched-on lights.
2 Sept
SEP
4
Family
Illuminations Switch-On
Blackpool Seafront
Live music, the countdown, and the Illuminations on for the season. The busiest night of the month for rooms.
1 Sept
SEP
4-6
Music
The British Country Music Festival
Winter Gardens
Two days of shows for younger visitors, right in the middle of town.
4-6 Sept
SEP
2
Sport
St Annes International Kite Festival
St Annes Beach
An evening road race along the front under the freshly switched-on lights.
4-6 Sept
SEP
8-19
Dancing
Dirty Dancing
Winter Gardens Opera House
Twelve-night run of the stage show – matinees on selected dates.
8-19 Sept
SEP
25-26
Music
Blackpool 80s Weekender
Winter Gardens
A full weekend of 80s acts and club nights in the ballroom and arena.
25-26 Sept
SEP
4-6
Sport
Pleasure Beach Late Night Riding
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
The park stays open late – rides after dark with the lights on.
26 Sept
October
6 events
OCT
3-4
Family
PLAY Expo Blackpool
Norbreck Castle Hotel
Retro and modern gaming weekend: arcades, consoles, tournaments and traders.
3-4 Oct
OCT
15-18
Family
Horrible Histories
Grand Theatre
Four days of the stage show, aimed squarely at school-age visitors.
15-18 Oct
OCT
17-19
Dance
Blackpool Sequence Dance Festival
Winter Gardens
Competitive sequence dancing across the weekend in the Empress Ballroom.
17-19 Oct
OCT
21-31
FreeDates tbc
Lightpool Festival
Town Centre
Projection art, installations and street performance through the town centre.
21-31 Oct (tbc)
OCT
24-31
Family
Half Term Week
Town-wide
Attractions run extended hours and the town is at its busiest – worth booking a stay well ahead.
24-31 Oct
OCT
27-31
Theatre
Heathers The Musical
Winter Gardens Opera House
Half-term run of the musical, evenings plus selected matinees.
27-31 Oct
November
3 events
NOV
1
Family
Pleasure Beach Moves To Weekends Only
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
From this date the park opens weekends only – check dates before you travel.
1 Nov
NOV
6-8
Music
Northern Soul Weekender
Winter Gardens
All-nighters and day sessions on the Empress Ballroom’s sprung floor.
6-8 Nov
NOV
27
SeasonalDates tbc
Christmas By The Sea
Tower Festival Headland
Ice rink, big wheel and Christmas market on the seafront through to the new year.
27 Nov – 3 Jan 2027 (tbc)
December
2 events
DEC
4-31
Theatre
Jack And The Beanstalk
Grand Theatre
The Grand’s Christmas pantomime, running daily through December.
4-31 Dec
DEC
9-12
Sport
The Snooker Shoot Out
Blackpool Tower Circus
Four days of one-frame shot-clock snooker in the Tower Circus arena.
9-12 Dec
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