The Blackpool Illuminations switch-on is scheduled for Friday, September 4, 2026, with Paddy McGuinness confirmed as the celebrity to perform the honours. The event will feature live music from Lucy Spraggan, The Feeling, and Five, and is expected to draw thousands to the Lancashire coast.
Event details and lineup
Gates open at 4pm, with live performances starting at 4.15pm and the switch-on at 9.15pm. The illuminations will run from September 4 until Sunday, January 3, 2027, stretching from Starr Gate to Red Bank Road.
The free concert at the Tower Festival Headland will see Lucy Spraggan and The Feeling perform, with British pop favourites Five headlining the evening.
How to get tickets
There are 20,000 free tickets available through a public ballot on the VisitBlackpool website. The ballot closes at 11pm on Sunday, August 9. Allocation is limited to four tickets per household.
Golden circle tickets are available for £12, guaranteeing a spot at the front. This is the only way to secure a guaranteed place inside the arena.
Other events and parking
The Lightpool Festival will return from October 21 to 23, featuring light installations, live performances, and 3D projection shows. Christmas by the Sea will run from November 21 until January 4, 2027, with an outdoor skating rink, log cabins, food and drink stalls, and rides.
For those driving, there are numerous car parks in and around Blackpool, including council-run pay and display, on-street meters, and some free on-street bays.
