Lightpool

05/09/2026

💡 The lights are on!

Which can only mean one thing… 4️⃣6️⃣ sleeps until Lightpool begins!

And this year is extra special as we’re celebrating 10 amazing years of Lightpool!

The festival takes place over the October half-term holidays, and we can’t wait to share what we’ve got planned.

Our full programme will be revealed very soon, so watch this space for exciting new commissions, returning favourites and plenty of light, colour and magic!

04/09/2026

Happy Switch-On Day! 💡 Let's kick off an extraordinary four-month Blackpool Illuminations season with a bang tonight!

See what’s happening at tonight’s event: https://bit.ly/switchon2026

📷 Gregg Wolstenholme Photography

02/09/2026

BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS SWITCH-ON COMPETITION

It’s Blackpool’s biggest night of the year this Friday and we’re giving you a chance to win one of five family tickets to Switch-On! Even better, the tickets are Golden Circle, placing you in the front section of the arena.

Watch all the action up close, including performances from headliners Five, The Feeling and Lucy Spraggan, before Paddy McGuinness flicks the famous switch.

Enter via our VisitBlackpool website here: https://bit.ly/switchoncompetition

Competition closes at 10am on Thursday. T&Cs apply – good luck!

28/08/2026

📢New Commission Announcement!

We are excited to announce that Blackpool’s iconic Wedding Chapel will come alive with LUCA, a spectacular new projection mapping artwork by Bristol-based creative studio Limbic Cinema at Lightpool Festival 2026 (21–31 October).

🧬 Inspired by the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA), the shared common ancestor of all life on Earth – this vibrant projection uses colour, pattern and movement to explore our connection to one another. DNA-inspired shapes repeat, shift and multiply, creating a mesmerising visual journey through billions of years of evolution and a reminder that all life is connected.

Limbic Cinema said: “What excites us most is the chance to make the invisible visible – taking the microscopic, scientific concept of LUCA and exploding it into a rhythmic canvas of light and colour.”

🔗 Visit the link in our comments to discover more about Luca and the artists behind the commission.


Arts Council England Your Blackpool Wedding Arts Council England Light Up the North

28/08/2026

28/08/2026

Can you believe it? We’re just one week away from Blackpool's biggest night when the famous Illuminations turn on.

Taking place on Friday 4 September, this year’s Switch-On celebration will see pop favourites Five headlining, joined by The Feeling and Lucy Spraggan. We also have BBC Introducing, shining a spotlight on some of the best local talent.

KEY INFORMATION

🎫 Ticket holders
Were you successful in the ballot? Congratulations! We hope you’ll make a weekend of it and enjoy everything Blackpool has to offer. Check out accredited places to stay, attractions and shows here: https://bit.ly/thisisblackpool

🎫⛔ Non-ticket holders
Didn’t get tickets? Don’t worry, there are two ways you can enjoy the night:

⭐ Golden Circle tickets – this is your last chance to be in the front section of the arena. Limited availability. £12 each: https://bit.ly/goldencircleswitchon

🗼 The Blackpool Tower Ballroom Watch Party – catch all the action live on the big screen in the Tower Ballroom. Free entry but pre-booking is essential: https://bit.ly/switchonwatchparty

TRAVEL
Switch-On night is one of the busiest evenings of the year in Blackpool, so please plan ahead and allow extra time for your journey. You can find a full list of car parks here: www.blackpool.gov.uk/CarParks

However you join us, whether it’s in the main arena, along the Promenade or watching on the big screen in the Ballroom, we can’t wait to welcome you to the start of the Illuminations season!

📷 Gregg Wolstenholme Photography

26/08/2026

SWITCH-ON WATCH PARTY - THE BLACKPOOL TOWER

Big news for Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On night! 🌟

Didn't get lucky in the ballot? For the first time ever, The Blackpool Tower is hosting an official Switch-On Watch Party inside the iconic Ballroom on Friday 4 September!

Watch all the action live on the big screen, including performances from Five, The Feeling and Lucy Spraggan, right up to Paddy McGuinness flicking the famous switch!

Space is free but tickets are first-come, first-served. Standing and seated options are available on the night.

🎫https://bit.ly/switchonwatchparty

23/08/2026

📢 Just under 2️⃣ months to go!

📅 Lightpool Festival returns to Blackpool from 21–31 October and it’s our 10th anniversary year!

Get ready for 24 incredible artworks and events across 11 spectacular nights.

Discover brand-new commissions, returning favourites, live performances and so much more!

👀 Watch this space – our full programme and Light Art Trail announcement is coming soon!

22/08/2026

✨ Calling artists with a connection to Barnsley, Blackpool and Wigan!

Lightpool Lightlab is a skills development programme offering artists the opportunity to learn from sector specialists, meet established artists and producers, and gain practical experience in creating and touring light art.

We’re looking for artists living and/or working in or near Barnsley, Blackpool and Wigan. You don’t need previous experience of working with light – we welcome artists from a diverse range of creative backgrounds who are keen to explore new ideas and develop their practice.

The programme includes….

💡 10 places for artists
📍 Tour of Lightworks, the home of Blackpool Illuminations
💷 A £350 artist honorarium, plus accommodation for selected dates
✨ 5 artists will be selected for further R&D, receiving a £1,500 fee and mentoring support
📍 Workshops and festival visits at Lightpool (21-31 October), Barnsley Bright Nights (20-21 November), and Light Night Wigan (20-22 November)

📅 Deadline to apply: 14 September 2026, 5pm

🔗 Find out more and apply – link in the comments.

Arts Council England Visit Barnsley Things That Go On Things Light Up the North