Lightpool

20/10/2026

20/10/2026

👉 YOUR QUICK LIGHTPOOL GUIDE!

🥳 Come and celebrate our 10th anniversary this October half-term with 11 nights of spectacular light, art and creativity in Blackpool! Here is a reminder of dates, times and where to get your art trail map from!

📅 21–31 October 2026
⏰ 6–9pm nightly
📍 Across Blackpool
💡 30 artworks, including 10 world premieres
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly events
🎟️ FREE artworks to explore!

👀 Who are you visiting with? Tag them below and click the link in our bio to plan your visit!

20/10/2026

SPOTLIGHT: CRYSTAL TIDE

🌟 WORLD PREMIERE

📍Tower Festival Headland, Blackpool — Map Ref. 31

By artist Anne Bennett, a mirrored lighthouse stands amongst towering crystal shards that shimmer in sunlight and glow with the colours of the Northern Lights after dark. Reflections dance across the landscape as light, sound and drifting mist continually transform the installation, revealing something different with every visit.

Inspired by melting ice caps and rising sea levels, Crystal Tide imagines a future where the familiar coastline has been reshaped by a changing climate. The work balances wonder with quiet reflection, inviting visitors to experience both the beauty and fragility of our planet without telling them what to think.

Like a lighthouse itself, the installation becomes a beacon encouraging us to notice what is changing, what may be lost, and what is still worth protecting.

A Lightpool and Light Up Lancaster commission

🌟 21–31 October
🎟️ Free to explore this half-term
📍 Plan your visit using the link in our bio

20/10/2026

🎙️ Did you hear our Artistic Director, Phil Holmes, on BBC Radio Lancashire earlier today?

With Lightpool starting tomorrow, Phil spoke about what makes Lightpool so special, from new artist commissions and supporting artist development to working with local community groups and schools.

📅 21–31 October 2026
⏰ 6-9pm each night
📍 Across Blackpool
💡 30 incredible artworks including 10 world premieres
💡 Events for all the family
🎟️ Artworks are FREE to explore!

A huge thank you to Arts Council England and Blackpool Council for their continued support in making it all happen!

🎧 Have a listen to Phil talking all things Lightpool ahead of the festival!

20/10/2026

✨ SPOTLIGHT: SPIRO

📍Tower Festival Headland, Blackpool — Map Ref. 30

Brought to you by the home of the Blackpool Illuminations - Lightworks, this family-friendly, immersive walk-through sculptural tunnel of light experience awaits you. This enchanting journey invites visitors to step into a world of dazzling illumination and artistic creativity, perfect for all ages.

This incredible 26-meter-long magical experience is crafted from individually mapped LEDs, which intricately allow complex patterns and vibrant colours to dance around the audience, transforming the atmosphere into a captivating visual spectacle.

Don’t forget to get your camera ready to capture the mesmerising moments, and make sure to soak in the beauty of this unique experience.

🌟 21–31 October
🎟️ Free to explore this half-term
📍 Plan your visit using the link in our bio

20/10/2026

HERITAGE TRAMS RETURN TO PROMENADE

Two of Blackpool’s best-loved trams will return to Blackpool Promenade in time for the Lightpool celebrations later this week.

Working alongside Blackpool Transport engineers, a team of volunteers have worked tirelessly to ensure the Western Train and Frigate trams are ready for static display during one of the busiest weeks of the illuminations season.

Plans were in place for them to be joined by The Rocket, but restoration work on the historic tram has proved more challenging than expected.

Where to spot the trams:

🚋 The Western Train will be on display at the heritage line at North Pier from October 21.

🚋 Frigate, meanwhile, better known as HMS Blackpool, will be on display outside Starr Gate depot every night from 18:30 until 22:30 up to and including October 24. From October 25, it will be on display each night from 17:30 until 22:30.

Read more: https://bit.ly/heritagetramslightpool

20/10/2026

✨ SPOTLIGHT: SKY FOREST

🌟 WORLD PREMIERE - LIGHTPOOL COMISSION

📍Tower Festival Headland, Blackpool — Map Ref. 29

By Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Sky Forest is a delightful light installation where nature and technology come together in harmony. With charming LED cherry blossom trees adorned with thousands of vibrant LEDs, you’ll step into a magical woodland that resembles a starry night or a twinkling forest path. It’s a serene, dreamlike space where the beauty of nature meets the wonders of digital art.

🌟 21–31 October
🎟️ Free to explore this half-term
📍 Plan your visit using the link in our bio

19/10/2026

✨ SPOTLIGHT: ILLUMINATED WORLDS

🌟 WORLD PREMIERE - LIGHTPOOL PHOTO COMPETITION

📍Showtown, Sir Ken Dodd Avenue, Blackpool — Map Ref. 28

Illuminated Worlds is a captivating photography exhibition that invites you to embark on a transformative journey through the art of photography, showcasing light as both a powerful medium and a captivating subject, with a special highlight on the extraordinary Blackpool Illuminations.

Step into the shadows and allow your senses to awaken to a vibrant tapestry of colour, contrast, and pulsating energy.

This remarkable collection of photographs, all captured by the passionate eyes of Blackpool residents, honours the dynamic bond between the town and its enchanting light. More than just the renowned illuminations, these images reveal the delicate, everyday nuances in atmosphere that truly embody Blackpool’s spirit.

Check out the finalists and cast your vote for your favourite photo.

🌟 21–31 October
🎟️ Free to explore this half-term
📍 Plan your visit using the link in our bio

19/10/2026

✨ SPOTLIGHT: GUARDIANS OF THE NORTH

📍Tower Festival Headland, Blackpool — Map Ref. 27

Hic Sunt Dracons (Here be Dragons!)

Returning to Lightpool, three fearsome yet friendly guardian dragons writhe atop medieval turrets, brought to life through a magical mix of digital technology and good old-fashioned Blackpool magic! Watch as these mythical creatures come alive and interact with the spectacular Blackpool Tower projection by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Ant Dickinson, creating a spellbinding spectacle for all ages.

Experience the thrill as these three vibrant dragons come to life, blinking, snarling, and puffing out smoke with confidence, as they engage in lively conversation with the iconic Blackpool Tower during the spectacular projection shows.

And that’s just the beginning! You can be part of the excitement too. Between the Tower Projections, simply scan the QR code on-site, select your dragon, and witness it burst into vibrant life, dancing majestically across the face of the Blackpool Tower in an unforgettable light and projection display.

🌟 21–31 October
🎟️ Free to explore this half-term
📍 Plan your visit using the link in our bio

19/10/2026

🎉STARTS THIS WEEK!

💡Lightpool Festival 2026 is Blackpool's annual celebration of light! Enjoy free-to-see entertainment and a whole load of fun, across 10 days of the half term holidays.

🔮Light-based art installations, lasers, stunning live performances, family-friendly activities, and 3D projection shows. The town’s most iconic landmarks will be illuminated by a breath-taking array of light installations, brought to life by the creative minds of talented artists from around the globe.

📣JOIN our new VFC WhatsApp Channel for what's happening, interesting local information, history, communities, events and much more!